Tourism News 

Domestic Tourism Increases by More than Nineteen Percent During 2012 Foreign Tourist Arrival also Goes up by Over Six Percent Andhra Pradesh Continues to be Most Popular Destination Among Domestic Tourists While Maharashtra Most Favoured State of Foreign Tourists

The number of domestic tourist visits (DTVs) to States/UTs registered an increase of 19.87% during the year 2012 over 2011 as compared to an increase of 15.6% in 2011 over 2010. According to the latest statistics on tourism in India released by Ministry of Tourism here today during the year 2012, the number of domestic tourist visits to the States/ UTs was 1036 million as compared to 865 million in 2011 and 748 million in 2010. The top ten States in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions), during 2012, were Andhra Pradesh (206.8), Tamil Nadu (184.1), Uttar Pradesh (168.4),Karnataka (94.1), Maharashtra (66.3), Madhya Pradesh (53.2), Rajasthan (28.6), Uttarakhand (26.8), Gujarat (24.4) and West Bengal (22.7). The contribution of these States was about 84.5% to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2012.Andhra Pradesh has occupied the first rank in terms of DTVs in 2012, whereas Tamil Nadu, which was at third rank in 2011, has moved to the second rank. Uttar Pradesh which was at first rank in 2011 has moved down to third place. Though the top ten States in terms of DTVs in 2012, remained the same as those in 2011 the rank of some to the States, changed slightly (by one place). The number of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to States/UTs registered a growth of 6.33% during the year 2012 over 2011 as compared to a growth of 8.9% in 2011 over 2010. The number of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to the States/ UTs was 20.7 million in 2012 as compared to 19.5 million in 2011 and 17.9 million in 2010. The top ten States in terms of number of FTVs (in millions) during 2012 were Maharashtra (5.1), Tamil Nadu (3.6), Delhi (2.3), Uttar Pradesh (2.0), Rajasthan (1.5), West Bengal (1.2), Bihar (1.1), Kerala (0.8), Karnataka (0.6) and Himachal Pradesh (0.5). The contribution of these States was about 90.1% to the total number of FTVs in the country during 2012. The top ten States in terms of FTVs in 2012, remained the same as those in 2011. Chiranjeevi to Visit Australia Next Month to Promote Bilateral Tourism Union Tourism Minister Shri K Chiranjeevi called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ajit Singh here today and discussed the preparations and a joint campaign strategy, in the run up to the launch of the Air India’s maiden Dream liner flight from Delhi to Sydney and Melbourne on August 29, 2013. The launch of the Dream liner service between India and Australia could further increase the tourist traffic between the two countries. Australia already ranks among the top ten source destinations for in-bound tourists to India. The Number of Australians visiting India has significantly risen in the last five years, from 1, 35, 925 in 2007 to 1, 86, 002 in 2011. Besides the large Indian diaspora in Australia will also be benefited through this service. Both the Ministers are scheduled to travel on the Air India’s maiden Dream liner flight to Australia next month and participate in the road shows in Sydney and Melbourne to spread awareness and boost the prospects of bi-lateral tourism. It may be recalled that the then Australian Tourism Minister Mr. Martin Ferguson had met Shri Chiranjeevi in December last year and had requested for direct air connectivity to boost tourism between the two countries. The launch of the Dream liner service is a significant step in this direction. To effectively leverage the launch of the Dream liner, Ministry of Tourism will be organizing road shows in Australia, with the participation of Air India and the Travel and Tourism Industry to build on the better connectivity between two countries. Taj Mahal to be Adopted under Campaign Clean India under Ministry of Tourism The Campaign Clean India will be extended to cover the World Heritage Site, Taj Mahal which would be adopted by ONGC in the presence of Shri K Chiranjeevi,Union Minister for Tourism at a function to be held tomorrow at Agra. Taj Mahal a world heritage site and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the Crown Jewel among the tourist destinations in India and naturally is a priority destination under the Campaign Clean India programme. Tourism Minister Shri K Chirnajeevi has strongly felt the need to undertake sustained operations to ensure clean and hygienic environment, commensurate with the stature of this prestigious destination. At the initiative of Ministry of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has agreed to the proposal of ONGC for adopting five more monuments under the Clean India Campaign which include Ellora & Elephanta Caves – Maharashtra, Red Fort – Delhi, Golkonda Fort – Hyderabad and Mahabalipuram – Tamil Nadu. The Ministry of Tourism launched Clean India Campaign as part of Government strategy for 12th Five Year Plan for improving the quality of services and environs in and around tourist destinations across India. The campaign is aimed at undertaking both sensitization and action at field level on bringing tourism destinations and their surroundings to an expectable level of cleanliness and hygiene. The campaign is being implemented with the involvement of private and public sector stakeholders. 706 pilgrims leave for Amarnath shrine A small batch of 706 pilgrims left Jammu base camp for Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas on Tuesday. A convoy of 25 vehicles, carrying 706 devotees, left from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu at around 4.45 AM towards Amarnath to pay obeisance at the shrine, police said on Tuesday. The 26th batch of pilgrims, including 550 male, 116 women and three children, apart from 37 sadhus, are en route twin base camps of Pahalagam and Baltal in Kashmir valley. With Tuesday’s batch a total of 46,447 pilgrims have left Jammu base camp for Amarnath so far.