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Vimala Vasan

Abu Dhabi , Sept. 30

THERE has been a significant jump in foreign tourist arrivals in India between January and June this year compared with the same period last year, even as proactive measures are underway to promote India's tourist attractions in the Gulf region and other parts of the world.

Figures made available by the India Tourism Office in Dubai indicated that a total of 12,55,503 foreign tourist arrivals were registered between January-June, 2003, compared with 11,25,048 foreign tourists in the same period in 2002, recording a 11.6 per cent growth.

The largest number of foreign tourists arrived in the months of January (278,298) and February (272,688), recording a 22 and 13.1 per cent rise respectively, over the same months in 2002. There was also a big jump of 27.5 per cent in the month of June this year, when 171,571 foreign tourists arrived, compared with 134,566 tourists in the same month last year. Foreign exchange earnings also shot up to $1.58 billion between January-June this year, rising by 14.5 per cent, compared with $1.38 billion in the same period last year. The year 2001 however, recorded the highest number of foreign tourist arrivals in the Jan-June period, with 13,08,173 arrivals, earning foreign exchange earnings of $1.612 billion.

Tourists from the Gulf States to India have been rising in the past few years and several promotional campaigns are being held to promote India's various tourist attractions. Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Agra and some hill stations in the north are among the most popular destinations for visitors from this region.

Meanwhile, in a message from the World Tourism Organisation's Secretary,

General Francesco Frangialli on the occasion of World Tourism Day, observed this week, a call was made to boost tourism's role in poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony. "By selecting `Poverty Alleviation,' `Job Creation' and `Social Harmony' as the World Tourism Day theme for 2003, our 14th General Assembly firmly expressed its will to fully support one of the key issues stated in the UN Millennium Development Goals and, at the same time, recalled the fundamental role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the reduction of poverty, the creation of job opportunities as well as contributing to social harmony. There is an evident ethical need for tourism to support such goals," he said in the message.

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