Foreign exchange earnings from tourism rises 22% from last year

Government has earned 83,938 crore rupees as foreign exchange from tourism as against 68,721 crore rupees last year. This amounts an increase of 22 per cent this year. The visa-on-arrival scheme drew 13,903 tourists as against 11,121 visitors in 2011, a rise of about 25 per cent this year.

Exploring possibilities of giving export industry status to the tourism sector and to meet the demands of the Indian Tour operatrors, the ministry announced that a comprehensive study will be carried out on impact of taxation on the sector.

With an aim to develop integrated tourism circuits in south India, the ministry has formed Southern Zonal Tourism Council comprising Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.