Tag Archives: Foreign Tourist Arrivals

Over 18 mn int’l tourist arrivals in 2023: Centre

 

India recorded 18.89 million international tourist arrivals in 2023 as foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) through tourism last year surged to Rs 2,31,927 crore, the government said on Wednesday.

Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2023 were 9.52 million and domestic tourist visits (DTVs) were 2,509 million, according to data released by the ministry of tourism. The ministry sanctioned a total of 76 projects for an amount of Rs 5,287.9 crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, of which 75 projects are physically complete.

Under this, 40 projects worth Rs 3,295.76 crore were approved under special assistance to states for capital investment (SASCI) for development of iconic tourist centres to global scale across 23 states, and 34 projects were sanctioned for Rs 793.2 crore under the ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0’ (SD2.0) initiative.

The Swadesh Darshan Scheme has been revamped as SD2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist and destination-centric approach.

 

Source: IANS

IATO seeks budgetary support for overseas promotion to revive inbound travel

The Inbound Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has sought immediate government assistance as tour operators continue to suffer in the wake of sluggish FTA’s which still remain below 2019 levels.

The major reason for little revival in this sector can be attributed to lack of budgetary support for publicity abroad and withdrawal of incentives to tour operators which could be utilised for promotion in the key source market like the UK, Canada, the USA, Germany, Australia, France and Russia, the apex body said.

There is no gain saying that the tourism sector suffered the most during the pandemic. However since then, there has been a robust revival in Domestic Tourism and outbound travel. This is mainly due to pent up demand, allure of foreign locations and incentives like visa fee waiver announced by multiple countries. They have wooed our tourists as that boosts their economy but unfortunately there have been no such measures from our country and that has led to lack of foreign tourist numbers in India. Besides, the incentives announced by neigbouring countries have also weaned some foreign tourists away from our country, the association states.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said, “In 2018 and 2019, India had 10.56 million and 10.93 million foreign tourist arrivals, 2023 which was a normal year the figure was 92.36 lakhs. Even this year we are not expecting 2019 level’s to be reached. At best we are expecting 7-9 percent growth over 2019 levels.”

He added, “Travel and Tourism created 79.86 million (direct + indirect) jobs and 15.34 per cent of jobs in the 2019–2020 year. Forex earnings in 2020 were in the tune of USD 7 billion In terms of GDP during 2019–2020, tourism contributed 5.19 per cent (direct + indirect). These figures indicate potential both in terms of contribution to GDP as well as the tourism potential. By that yardstick we can easily assess the huge opportunity lost for the country”.

In the wake of this, IATO urges the government to restore, if possible, hike the budget for promotion abroad. Overseas advertisements both electronic and print and road shows abroad should resume. Besides, a PLI on the lines introduced for the manufacturing sector can be given to tour operators as that can help in earning foreign exchange and with this money they can promote the destinations abroad. Besides, the government should consider visa fee waiver as the resultant increase in numbers would easily offset the revenue lost in terms of visa fees.

These measures together can help in restoring FTA’s in India, IATO says.

India records 9.1% growth in FTAs during Jan-May: MoT

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has reported an increase in tourism statistics for the first five months of 2024, demonstrating a 9.1 per cent boost in both Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and 22.52 per cent growth in Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs).

In May 2024, FTAs reached 6.00 lakh, a slight increase from 5.98 lakh in May 2023, reflecting a growth of 0.3 per cent.

More impressively, the cumulative FTAs for the period from January to May 2024 were 40.72 lakh, up from 37.32 lakh in the same period of 2023.

The Foreign Exchange Earnings during May 2024 amounted to INR 17,762 crores, compared to INR 17,206 crores in May 2023, marking a growth of 3.23 per cent.

For the January-May 2024 period, FEEs totaled INR 1,08,362 crores, significantly higher than the INR 88,441 crores recorded in the same timeframe in 2023, indicating an impressive growth of 22.52 per cent.

These trends underscore the positive impact on the overall economic growth and development of India’s tourism sector. The consistent increase in FTAs and FEEs suggests a robust and expanding industry, contributing significantly to the country’s economy.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented this data in a written reply to the Lok Sabha yesterday, highlighting the positive trajectory of India’s tourism sector and its potential for continued growth and development. (ANI)

Need to seize job opportunities created by tourism sector, says Economic Survey

India needs to seize the opportunity provided by the tourism sector that represents a relatively low-hanging fruit for job creation amid a challenging environment in services and manufacturing industries due to the rise of AI, protectionism and supply concerns, the Economic Survey said on Monday.

India’s tourism industry showed positive signs of revival post-pandemic and witnessed over 92 lakh foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, implying a YoY increase of 43.5 per cent, while the hospitality industry has risen to meet the increasing number of tourists’ needs by creating the highest amount of new supply in 2023 with the addition of 14,000 rooms, it noted.

Citing the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024 Report, the Economic Survey 2023-24 emphasised the need for improvements in tourist services and infrastructure and the development of a skilled workforce.

“In a challenging environment for employment generation in services due to the rise of AI and manufacturing due to rising protectionism, transportation costs and supply concerns, the tourism sector represents a relatively low-hanging fruit for job creation. India has to seize the opportunity,” the Survey, tabled in Parliament on Monday, asserted.

To formalise employment within this sector, the Ministry of Tourism has initiated the Incredible India Tourism Facilitator Certificate Programme. It aims to create a skilled cadre of tourist facilitators nationwide through a digital platform that offers online learning opportunities and certification courses, it noted.

The Survey acknowledged that India’s travel and tourism (T&T) sector has been influenced by global inflationary pressures and delays in the recovery of capacity, similar to other economies.

“However, the decline in price competitiveness since 2021 has been minimal compared to its peers, with only a 0.7 per cent drop. India’s decline is particularly slight at just 0.1 per cent from 2021 levels, which reflects the government’s consistent efforts to maintain stability despite the slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.

India has significantly earned foreign exchange receipts amounting to over Rs 2.3 lakh crore through tourism, indicating a 65.7 per cent YoY increase. The country’s share of foreign exchange earnings in world tourism receipts increased from 1.38 per cent in 2021 to 1.58 per cent in 2022, the Survey noted.

Similarly, it said the hospitality industry has risen to meet the increasing number of tourists’ needs and to elevate the
“In 2023, the highest amount of new supply was created with the addition of 14,000 rooms, bringing the total inventory of chain-affiliated rooms to 183,000 in India,” the Survey said adding, that hoteliers are increasingly leveraging technology to personalise guest experiences and improve operational efficiencies.

Hotels are also adopting innovative operational strategies, such as leasing or managing external restaurant, spa, and lounge brands, to capitalise on established concepts that attract hotel residents, thereby boosting revenue. In FY24, the average daily rate increased from Rs 6704 to Rs 7616, marking a YoY growth of 13.6 per cent, it said.

Noting that the tourism sector has embraced the digital revolution, the Survey said, “One such initiative is E-Marketplace, designed to facilitate interactions between tourists and certified tourist facilitators and guides through web and mobile applications.”

Thailand extends hotel fee waiver for 2 more years

In a bid to bolster its pandemic-hit tourism sector, the Thailand Cabinet has announced an extension of the waiver on operating fees for hoteliers for an additional two years. The exemption, which covers an annual fee of THB 40 per hotel room, will be effective from July 2024 to June 2026. Deputy spokesman Karom Phonphonklang disclosed during a news conference that this extension will incur a cost of THB 54 million in foregone revenue for the government.

The decision aims to alleviate financial burdens on hotel operators who continue to struggle amidst the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. This support comes as Thailand’s economy lags behind its regional counterparts, grappling with high household debt, borrowing costs, and subdued export performance.

Tourism remains a crucial pillar of Thailand’s economic recovery strategy, with the government targeting a 3 per cent GDP growth in 2024, following a modest 1.9 per cent expansion in 2023. The sector has shown signs of recovery, evidenced by a 36 per cent year-on-year increase in foreign tourist arrivals, totaling 16.84 million visitors from the beginning of 2024 until June 23, 2024. These tourists contributed THB 795 billion to the economy, according to data from the tourism ministry, with China emerging as the largest source market with 3.31 million arrivals during the period.

Looking ahead, the government aims to attract 36.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, aiming to rebound close to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, when nearly 40 million tourists visited Thailand.

 

 

FTAs to Kashmir increase by 300% last year: Govt

The footfall of foreign tourists have increased by nearly 300 % as a total of 55,000 tourists from outside the country visited Jammu and Kashmir last year while the government said that it was exploring the entertainment industry to promote the state worldwide.

Yasha Mudgal, Secretary Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, said the department is eyeing music concerts and other forms of entertainment to attract tourists. “Jammu and Kashmir tourism is achieving newer heights every year with numbers increasing in the form of domestic and international tourists. So, through entertainment industry, we are promoting the tourism of the union territory. The focus is to give all kind of experience to the tourists visiting here from different corners of the world,” she said on the sidelines of a music concert organised by Jammu and Kashmir Tourism in collaboration with Big FM, reports Kashmir News Observer.

The Tourism Department and Big FM roped Fame Gurukul fame Qazi Touqeer, who belongs to city Khanyar area.
The Secretary Tourism said the department is planning more such concerts by roping local artists and celebrities. “Today our main artist was Qazi Touqeer who is an inspiration for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. So, through such events we are giving a stage ot our local artists while promoting the tourism of Jammu and Kashmir,” she added.

Mudgal said the department’s Sunburn music festival in Jammu proved success as tourists from different regions attended it.

“People from Chennai and other parts had come to attend the festival. So, the idea is to make much such collaborations in future. Tourism, apart from agriculture, is a contributor to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. So, efforts are being made to further imp[rove the flow of tourist to Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

The Secretary Tourism said that infrastructure is being developed to make Jammu and Kashmir a world-class tourist destination. “Last year, we witnessed an increase of 300 per cent in the foreign tourist arrivals as 55000 tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. So, Gulmarg, which is the main attraction for foreigners and domestic tourists, is being developed as world-class skiing destination. Pahalgam and Patnitop is also being promoted. Equal thrust is being given to alpine lakes and other unexplored areas,” she said.

Pertinently, Kashmir this year is again breaking records of receiving maximum tourists as half a million visitors visited Kashmir till mid-May.

As such the government has launched a blitzkrieg to promote the offbeat and unexplored destination of Kashmir.