Ministry of Tourism compiles data on tourist arrivals and visits to States/ Union Territories (UTs) on the basis of details received from various sources namely Bureau of Immigration and States /UTs.

While surpassing the growth rate of 6.8% in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) observed in January 2016 over January 2015, a significantly higher double digit growth rate of 16.5% has been witnessed correspondingly in the month of January 2017 over January 2016. A similar higher growth rate is also observed in the Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) during 2016, recording a marvelous growth rate of 15.5% over 2015.

The data for DTVs, every year, is compiled by Ministry of Tourism based on the inputs received from all States/UTs. While complete data for each calendar year from all States/ UTs is received in the Ministry of Tourism sometime around in the months of April- May of the succeeding year, Ministry of Tourism has come out at present with provisional figures for DTVs on the basis of whatever information/ data is made available thus far by the concerned States/UTs coupled with estimation undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism for the missing/ incomplete data segments. The estimation process basically entails the Methods of prevailing growth rates and proportionate contributions.

Following are the salient features of the provisional figures for DTVs to States/ UTs during the year 2016:

·         During 2016, the number of DTVs to the States/ UTs was 1653 million (provisional) as compared to 1432 million in 2015 registering a growth of 15.5 %.

·         The contribution of the top ten States/ UTs during 2016 stands at about 84.2% to the total number of Domestic Tourist Visits as against 83.62% recorded in 2015.

·         The top ten States in terms of number of DTVs (in millions), during 2016, were Tamil Nadu (344.3), Uttar Pradesh (229.6), Madhya Pradesh (184.7), Andhra Pradesh (158.5), Karnataka (129.8), Maharashtra (115.4), West Bengal (74.5), Telangana (71.5), Gujarat (42.8) and Rajasthan (41.5).

·         Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have maintained the first and second rank respectively in terms of DTVs in 2016.

·         Madhya Pradesh has gained several ranks to reach the third position leaving Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra at the succeeding fourth, fifth and sixth positions. 

·         West Bengal surpassed Telangana to attain the seventh position rendering Telangana at the eighth, followed by Gujarat and Rajasthan.

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  Sanjay Kumar/jk/Tourism-01/02-03-2017