Terror attacks in Malegaon in Maharashtra and elsewhere have not affected the inflow of foreign tourists which recorded a 13.1 per cent growth in the country this year, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
"The foreign tourist arrivals to India during January to October 2006 are estimated at 34.10 lakh, up from 30.15 during the corresponding period of the previous year, showing a growth of 13.1 per cent," Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said in a written reply.
During the last six months, the arrivals were estimated at 18.58 lakh, up from 16.59 lakh for the same period last year, she said.
To another query, the minister acknowledged that tourist potential of ecnomically backward state of Orissa has not been exploited fully.
"But it is gradually picking up in the state as is apparent from the annual growth of 8.4 per cent, 11.5 per cent and 12.3 per cent, against the corresponding figures for 2003, 2004 and 2005." she said.
The minister agreed that Orissa held a great attraction for tourists for its great treasures, art, architecture and a rich cultural heritage in terms of festivals, dances, handicrafts, countryside, wildlife and beautiful beaches.
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