According to the Ministry of Tourism, the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in February, 2017 was 9.56 lakh as compared to FTAs of 8.47 lakh in February, 2016 and 7.61 lakh in February, 2015. The growth rate in FTAs in February, 2017 over February, 2016 is 13 per cent compared to 11.3 per cent in February, 2016 over February, 2015.
FTAs during the period January- February 2017 were 19.40 lakh with a growth of 14.7 per cent, as compared to the FTAs of 16.91 lakh with a growth of 9 per cent in January- February 2016 over January- February 2015.
The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during February 2017 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (17.46%) followed by UK (12.20%), USA (11.83%), Russian Fed. (4.29%), Canada (4.26%), France (3.25%), Germany (3.11%), China (2.96%), Sri Lanka (2.91%), Australia (2.62%), Malaysia (2.55%), Japan(2.26%), Thailand (1.83%), Afghanistan (1.73%), and Nepal (1.50%).
The percentage share of FTAs in India during February 2017 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (31.86%) followed by Mumbai Airport (16.10%), Haridaspur Land checkpost (9.44%), Chennai Airport (6.72%), Goa Airport (5.58%), Bengaluru Airport (5.14%), Kolkata Airport (4.75%), Cochin Airport (2.61%), Hyderabad Airport (2.49%), Gede Rail Land checkpost (2.43%), Ahmadabad Airport (2.03%), Amritsar Airport (1.49%), Trivandrum (1.37%), Ghojadanga land checkpost (1.24%) and Gaya Airport (1.24%).
FTAs on e-Tourist Visa
During the month of February, 2017 total of 1.70 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1.17 lakh during the month of February 2016 registering a growth of 45.2 per cent. During January- February 2017, a total of 32.18 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 20.54 lakh during January-February 2016, registering a growth of 56.7 per cent.