India’s tourism ranking gets an upgrade

21 May, New Delhi

India’s ranking as a tourist destination has vaulted several places.Ranked 41st and 40th in 2014 and 2015, respectively, Incredible India’s tourist growth is now pegged at 24th in both 2014 and 2015.

The correction in ranking in the International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) has also increased from 0.68 per cent (based on FTAs) to 1.12 per cent in 2015.The upward tweak is based on the latest UNWTO Barometer for March 2017 ranking India in International Tourist Arrivals.

Though belatedly, India has started started compiling the data arrivals of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), also.So far only the figures of FTAs were compiled in the country. As per the UNWTO definition, International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) comprises two components namely Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Arrivals of Non-Resident Nationals.

UNWTO in its barometer ranks countries in terms of their ITAs.The number of NRI arrivals during 2014 and 2015 were 5.43-million and 5.26- million, respectively.Accordingly, the numbers of ITAs in India during 2014 and 2015 were 13.11-million and 13.28-million, respectively.

The data of ITAs, containing both the arrivals of NRIs and FTAs, is now as per International recommendations, the Tourism Ministry said in a release.