India registers 10 per cent growth in foreign tourists arrival in March
Chennai: The Chennai airport continues to be the third among the airports in India in terms of receiving foreign tourists during March 2016. The tourists’ arrivals was the highest at Delhi airport (33.82 %) followed by Mumbai airport (15.97 %), and Chennai airport (7.30 %).
The Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTAs) during January - March 2016 were 25.08 lakh with a growth of 10.0 % as compared to the FTAs of 22.81 lakh with a growth of 3.5% in January- March 2015 over January - March 2014, across the country. During March this year, the country had received 8.17 lakh footfalls as against FTAs of 7.29 lakh in March 2015, as per the data available with the tourism ministry.
The top 15 countries that attract foreign nationals are: Bangladesh (14.07%) followed by UK (13.16%), USA (11.84%), Germany (3.74%), Canada (3.57%), Sri Lanka (3.48%), Malaysia (3.45%), Russia (3.19%), China (2.92%), France (2.92%), Australia (2.83%), Japan (2.43%), Nepal (1.72%), Singapore (1.67%) and Thailand (1.60).
According to sources, Tamil Nadu has been receiving a large number foreign nationals and the state is likely to retain its first position in terms of arrivals in 2015. Though the year-end had spoiled the revelries due to the massive inundation in December 2015, the travel and hospitality sector in the state is anticipating a boom time ahead, said sources. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) during March 2016 were Rs 13,115 crore as compared to Rs 11,133 crore in March 2015 and Rs 10,479 crore in March 2014.
Bengaluru airport (5.44%), Goa airport (4.05%), Kolkata Airport (4.02%), Cochin airport (3.76%), Hyderabad airport (2.72%), Gede Rail (1.67%), Amritsar airport (1.63%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.63%), Trivendrum airport (1.48%), Tiruchirapalli airport (1.34%) and Gaya airport (0.96%) also contributed to the FTAs.
