India plans to attract over 10 million tourists in 2015

The Dollar Business Bureau

Foreign Tourist Arrivals to India in January - November 2014 are up about 7%

  The Indian government is planning to attract 11 million or about 1% of the total 1.1 billion international tourists to India by next year with the help of a slew of reforms in the sector, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of Tourism, said today. That’s a massive jump of around 57% from an estimated seven million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India this year. According to the Ministry of Tourism, FTAs during January- November 2014 stood at around 6.58 million, up about 7.1% from around 6.15 million in the corresponding period last year, the best rate of growth in Asia. The foreign exchange earnings for India from tourism is estimated at around $17.6 billion during January- November 2014, up about 5.2% from around $16.7 billion recorded during the corresponding period last year. Speaking at the “Make in India” National Workshop on Tourism, Media, and Entertainment in New Delhi today, Sharma said that the government is considering various steps to achieve the target, including coordination among different ministries, e-ticketing facilities, public programs and development of theme based circuits at important tourist attractions in the country. Sharma said, “Five theme based-circuits i.e., Ganga, Krishna, Buddha, North East and Kerala circuits being developed by the Ministry of Tourism which has allotted Rs. 500 crore for the development of these circuits.” Sharma added that under a multi-pronged strategy, the government is focusing on improving cleanliness, hospitality and safety in India along with the help of other ministries. Connectivity is also a focus of the government to boost tourism in India and a “Cruise plan” is expected to be ready soon. Medical tourism and wildlife tourism are also sectors that could get a fillip next year, along with training to the dhabas (food joints) along the highways which are popular among the tourists, said Dr. Sharma. Growth in tourism is expected to boost India's economy with direct benefit to several sectors such as handicrafts, SMEs, hospitality and transport.    

This article was published on December 29, 2014.