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Tourism sector remains active amid Kargil unrest

Despite the Kargil conflict, the number of foreign arrivals to India grew by 6.8 per cent in July, the tourism ministry said today.

Last month, 187,000 visitors came into the country, taking the total number of overseas tourists since the beginning of the year to 1.36 million, a 4.3 per cent increase from 1998. And there are five more months in 1999 that have to be accounted for.

Foreign exchange earnings during July were $ 222.26 million (Rs 9.57 billion), up 10.4 per cent from July 1998. In 1999 so far, the foreign exchange earnings have been $ 617.77 million (Rs 69.13 billion).

Only in April, there was a dip in tourism in comparison to the corresponding period last year. Otherwise, in all other months till now, there has been an increase. February and June recorded almost nine per cent growth.

UNI

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