India Tourism Outperforms Rest of the World in 2011

India tourism grew by 8.9 per cent in 2011, outperforming 4-5 per cent growth projection for World by UNWTO. India also performed better than other Asian countries and welcomed 6.29 million foreign tourists in 2011.

Union Tourism Ministry in a statement said that India welcomed 6.29 million tourists in 2011 comparing to 5.74 million in 2010. However India could not sustain 11.8 per cent growth of 2010 and came down to 8.9 per cent for 2011.

Despite that growth remained in line with 9 per cent projection for Asia Pacific by the UNWTO. Indian tourism remained strong despite travel advisories during Diwali and global economic slowdown. While visa on arrival remained non factor throughout the year, several road shows and new markets like Gay tourism helped India post strong growth for 2011.

The December alone was great month for tourism with growth of 5.2 per cent comparing to 4.7 per cent in November. In December 715,000 foreign tourists visited India. In 2010 680,000 tourists visited for the same month.

Tourism Ministry as well the tour operators expects another strong year for India tourism despite growing economic worries around the world.