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Slump in tourist arrivals in June

CHENNAI: Foreign tourist arrivals to the country recorded an increase of 3.6 per cent in the first half the current calendar year. The corresponding increase in foreign exchange earnings was 11.8 per cent in rupee terms and 6.7 per cent in dollar terms.

According to provisional figures released by the Press Information Bureau, 13,10,386 foreign tourists visited the country till June this year as against 12,64,498 visitors during the corresponding period last year. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism during the January-June period this year are provisionally estimated at Rs 7,319.11 crore ($1,604.21 million).

June this year saw a fall in tourist arrivals. Only 1,62,756 foreign tourists visited the country in June as against 1,68,716 last year, recording a negative growth of 3.5 per cent. However, there was marginal to moderate rise in tourist arrivals during the first five months of the calendar year.

January recorded the highest increase of 8.3 per cent with 2,89,190 foreigners visiting the country as against 2,53,125 visitors during the corresponding period in 1999 and 2,66,972 in 2000.

The highest rise in foreign exchange earnings from tourism was also recorded in January. In rupee terms, the month recorded an impressive 20.5 per cent rise (16.3 per cent in dollar terms). Despite the slump in tourist arrivals in June, the foreign excha nge earnings was up 4.5 per cent in rupee terms during the month though it recorded a marginal negative growth of 0.7 per cent in dollar terms. -- Our Bureau