According to the Foreign Tourist Arrivals Statistics, the number of persons visiting to tourism places reached 3.17lakh, 4.1% lower than corresponding month of 2008.
Mr. Sultan Ahmed said, In spite of tourist in flow adversely hit in aftermath of economic problem and terror attacks, the foreign exchange earnings from tourism witnessed a 3% increase current year. The numbers of tourist to foreign places this year maintain a best record of growth. In the use of foreign exchange earnings for the moment January to September this year was Rs 37,589crore as against Rs 36,464crore in past year during the same period.
Ahmed told PTI, It will take more efforts would be made to develop the tourism requirements of the Foreign Tourism Administration. He said, the total foreign tourist arrivals between period January to September 2009 was 35.75lakh as against 38.71lakh during the same period in 2008.
The Minister said the main slump in the foreign tourism sector is viewing a reversal in the current trend. Sultan Ahmed said, this centre is mainly concentrating on niche tourism products which included Heliport Tourism aimed at Promoting Tourism in remote and hills areas.