India: Foreign visitor numbers up by 2.62 million

NEW DELHI, India – Market Research Division of Ministry of Tourism compiles data on foreign and domestic tourist visits to States/Union Territories (UTs) received from Departments of Tourism of various State Governments and UT Administrations.

Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) to States/ UTs during 2014, the number of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to the States/ UTs was 22.57 million as compared to 19.95 million in 2013 and 18.26 million in 2012.

The number of FTVs to States/UTs registered in 2014 a growth of 13.12% over 2013 as compared to a growth of 9.24% in 2013 over 2012.

The top 10 States in terms of number of FTVs (in millions) during 2014 were Tamil Nadu (4.66), Maharashtra (4.39), Uttar Pradesh (2.91), Delhi (2.32), Rajasthan (1.53), West Bengal (1.38), Kerala (0.92), Bihar (0.83), Karnataka (0.56) and Haryana (0.55). The contribution was about 88.8% to the total number of FTVs in the country.

The top 10 States in terms of FTVs in 2014 almost remained the same as those in 2013 except Goa which was at 10th position in 2013 got replaced by Haryana.

Domestic Tourist Visits to States/ UTs during 2014, the number of domestic tourist visits to the States/ UTs was 1282 million as compared to 1145 million in 2013 and 1045 million in 2012.

The number of domestic tourist visits to States/UTs registered in 2014 a growth of 11.93% over 2013 as compared to growth of 9.59% in 2013 over 2012.

The top 10 States in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions), in 2014, were Tamil Nadu (327.6), Uttar Pradesh (182.8), Karnataka (118.3), Maharashtra (94.1), Andhra Pradesh (93.3), Telengana (72.4), Madhya Pradesh (63.6), West Bengal (49.0) Jharkhand (33.4) and Rajasthan (33.1).

The contribution of top 10 States was about 83.28% to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2014. Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have maintained the first and second rank respectively in terms of DTVs in 2014, whereas Karnataka and Maharashtra have come at 3rd and 4th position, respectively due to split of the state of Andhra Pradesh (dropped down to 5th rank) and Telengana (6th rank).

Madhya Pradesh has slipped to rank 7th in 2014 from rank 6th in 2013 where as West Bengal has improved to rank 8th in 2014 from rank 9th in 2013. Jharkhand has entered into top 10 States improving its rank to 9th in 2014 from 14th in 2013.