New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) The number of foreign tourists visiting India increased for the third consecutive year in 2011 while domestic tourism too has been witnessing double digit growth, the tourism ministry said Tuesday.
“During 2011, the number of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) to Indian states/union territories was 19.5 million as compared to 17.9 million in 2010 and 14.4 million in 2009,” said a statement by the ministry.
“This year, the number of FTVs registered a growth of 8.85 percent over 2010 as compared to a growth of 24.6 percent in 2010 over 2009,” it added.
Domestic tourism continued to grow at a double digit rate in 2011.
“Number of domestic tourist visits during 2011 was 851 million as compared to 748 million in 2010 and 669 million in 2009 increasing at a rate of 13.8 percent over 2010 as compared to increase of 11.8 percent in 2010 over 2009.”
Uttar Pradesh dislodged Andhra Pradesh from the number one spot in terms of domestic tourist visits in 2011. Andhra Pradesh was followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
As far as foreign tourists were concerned, Maharashtra topped the chart followed by Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
