India has recorded a 4.5 per cent rise in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in the year 2012 as compared to the year before. In 2012, 6.57 million foreigners grabbed tickets on flights landing at various international airports of the nation.
India is making more number of foreigners to book tickets on flights to the country. As per official figures, foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) to India increased by approximately 4.5% from 6.30 million in 2011 to 6.57 million in 2012.
Although the growth is not ideal for a burgeoning India tourism industry but it is still double the world average, as per a senior official with the country’s tourism ministry.
USA remains the top most source country from where around one million tourists booked tickets on flights landing in India. In comparison, lesser number of holiday makers booked tickets aboard India flights from United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and Malaysia in 2012. From the UK, 0.78 million fliers grabbed flights and landed in India.
Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, and Australia complete the top 10.
Despite the rise in the number of foreigners lapping up air tickets for India travel, the ancient country’s share of international arrivals continues to be about 0.64% in the world. However, future seems to a bright for the country. According to official sources, recent amendments in tourist visa regulations like allowing visa-on-arrival for group visas and the lifting up of the obligatory two-month gap between successive India visits are expected to boost growth and are likely to tempt more people to jump aboard India bound flights.
Further, there are plans to include more number of countries in the visa-on-arrival programme and incentives are being contemplated for those booking flights tickets for India travel for medical treatment.