Tourism shrugs off slowdown blues

NEW DELHI: The Indian tourism industry seems to be on recovery path. The sector saw a 7.6% positive growth in foreign exchange earnings in April this year compared to the same period previous year. The growth has been positive after three consecutive months of negative growth, as per government data.

The month also saw a significant improvement in foreign tourist inflows, though it registered a negative growth in foreign tourist arrivals compared with the same period last year. The country registered only a 3% decline in foreign visitors in April 2009 compared to a sharp decline of 18% in January. Besides economic slowdown, tourism was hit by the Mumbai terror attacks in November last year.

As per an official in the tourism ministry, a slew of measures taken by the government to attract foreign tourists helped in ���arresting the declining trend.���

The promotional activities also helped in getting more revenue per visitors that augmented the inflow of foreign exchange, said the official, who didn���t wish to be named. The promotional activities include free air ticket for companion of a foreign tourist, travel to additional places and extended stay at hotels. Road shows organised by the ministry in major markets such as the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia bore desired results, he added.

The government has also finalised a proposal that would offer free treatment for any additional ailments to a person visiting India for any major surgery. For sight seeing, the ministry has finalised a package that would offer a luxury tour to southern India on the Deccan Odyssey. The government has declared 2009 as `Visit India Year��� to promote the country as one of the top foreign tourist destination.