New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) India has earmarked Rs.275 crore for tourism promotion abroad to attract more visitors, the Lok Sabha was informed Friday.
In a written reply, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said of this amount, nearly Rs.68 crore has already been spent on overseas promotions.
She said in 2007, the amount earmarked was Rs.165 crore, which went up to Rs.220 crore in 2008, while in 2009, Rs.240 crore was earmarked for overseas promotions.
‘The ministry as part of its ongoing activity releases campaigns in the international source markets, under the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of India, to increase foreign tourist arrivals,’ the minister said.
Selja said from 2002, the year when the Incredible India brand line was launched, till 2009, arrival of foreign tourists to the country increased from 2.38 million to 5.11 million.
She also said that foreign exchange earnings have increased from Rs.15,064 crore to Rs.54,960 crore, while the domestic visits during the same period increased from 269.60 million to 650.04 million.
