11.23 million foreigners visit India, Agra top attraction: Government

NEW DELHI: As per Archaeological Survey of India, Taj Mahal in Agra had the maximum number of 6.48 lakh foreign visitors with percentage share of 23.1 per cent, followed by Agra Fort with 3.43 lakh visitors and a share of 12.3 per cent during 2014, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma said the number of foreign tourist arrivals during May 2014 to October 2015 stood at 11.23 million.

Delhi's Qutab Minar had 2.76 lakh foreign visitors while nearby Humayun Tomb attracted 2.56 lakh foreigners, he said.

Fatehpur Sikri in Agra received 2.31 lakh visitors while Red Fort in Delhi attracted 1.22 lakh foreign visitors and the excavated remain at Sarnath had 88,173 tourists, Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra had 78,528 such visitors, while Western group of Temple at Khajuraho attracted 74,706 foreigners during 2014.

In another reply, he said the number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2014 showed an increase of 10.2 per cent growth with 7.68 million FTAs, against 6.97 million in 2013 when there was a growth of 5.9 per cent.