Arrival of foreign tourists to the country has registered more than 9 per cent increase in October this year over the same period in the last year,according to the Tourism Ministry. A total of 4.87 lakh foreign tourists visited India as against 4.46 lakh during October 2009 and 4.50 lakh in October 2008,the Ministry's data said. There has been a growth of 9.2 per cent in October this year over the same month last year as compared to a negative growth of 0.9 per cent registered in October 2009 over October 2008. In September this year,3.69 lakh foreign tourists had visited the country. Allaying the apprehension of decline in influx of foreign tourists during the Commonwealth Games here,the Delhi airport has witnessed an increase of 5.1 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals in October 2010 compared to October 2009. There were total 43.22 lakh foreign tourists during the period of January-October with a growth rate of 9.9 per cent,as compared to 39.34 lakh and a negative growth rate of 6.7 per cent during January-October 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism during January- October 2010 were Rs 51,334 crore with a growth rate of 21.1 per cent,as compared to Rs 42,395 crore with a growth of 4.1 per cent during January-October 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
