• Foreign tourist arrivals up in India, 3.9 million during January – April this year

    Foreign tourist arrivals up in India, 3.9 million during January – April this year

    TravelBizNews Correspondent —

    New Delhi: India has reported that a total of 38,76,021 foreign tourists visited India during the period January-April 2018 compared to 34,98,969 in the same period last year registering a growth of 10.8 per cent.

    Over 700 thousand (7 lakhs) foreign tourists visited the country in April 2018, registering a growth of 4.4 per cent over the same month in 2017.

    The growth in foreign tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa in April 2018   was 37.2 per cent over April 2017.

    Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) and FTAs on e- Tourist Visa on the basis of information received from Bureau of Immigration .

    According to the Ministry and PIB, foreign tourist arrivals in April 2018 were 7,49,477 as compared to 7,17,899 in April 2017.

    The percentage share of foreign tourist arrivals in India during April 2018 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh followed by USA , UK , Sri Lanka, Australia , Malaysia, China , Canada, Germany , France, Japan , Russian Federation , Thailand , Afghanistan and  Nepal.

    During January-April 2018, a total of 9,18,792 tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 5,81,783 during January-April 2017, registering a growth of 57.9 per cent.

    Similarly , Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism  during the period January- April 2018 were Rs. 68,629 crore (US$ 10.621 billion ) with a growth of 14.2 per cent .

    FEEs during the month of April 2018 were Rs. 15,713 crore ( US$ 2.393 billion ) as compared to Rs. 14,260 crore (US$ 2.211 billion) in April 2017.

    May 23,2018

    Image : Kohima , Nagaland / Ministry of Tourism

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      Spain said last week that a record 94 million foreign tourists flocked to the Iberian nation in 2024, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

      France, which hosted the Olympic Games in July – September 2024, welcomed two more million visitors in 2024, an increase of two percent compared with 2023.

      But although France had more visitors, they spent less than those in Spain — 71 billion euros ($74-billion) compared with 126 billion euros in Spain.

      France’s takings from international tourists rose by a total of 12 percent year-on-year, driven largely by Belgian, English, German, Swiss and US citizens, the tourism ministry said in a statement.

      Despite the return of customers from Asia, the number of Chinese visitors to France remained 60 percent lower than before the pandemic.Thirty percent fewer Japanese visited the country than in 2019.

      Good snowfall in late 2024 meanwhile drove a rebound for the end-of-year holidays as snow sports lovers flocked to the French ski slopes.

      “The outlook for the first quarter of 2025 is very good, with visitor numbers on the rise,” the ministry statement added.- enca.com ,22 January 2025

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      Under the revised rules, every two climbers must hire a guide to climb any mountain over 8,000 metres, including Everest.Under the revised mountaineering regulations, the royalty fee for foreigners climbing Everest from the normal south route in the spring season (March-May) has been raised to $15,000 from the current $11,000 per person.

      The autumn season (September-November) climbing fee has increased from $5,500 to $7,500. At the same time, the permit cost per individual for the winter (December-February) and monsoon (June-August) seasons has risen from $2,750 to $3,750.The new rates will take effect on September 1, 2025.

      The last royalty fee revision was made on January 1, 2015, when the government switched from a group-based system to a uniform fee of $11,000 per climber for the spring season from the normal route.

      For Nepali climbers, the royalty fee for the normal route during the spring climbing season has doubled from Rs75,000 to Rs150,000.Climbing permits, previously valid for 75 days, will now be limited to 55 days. The reduced validity is aimed at streamlining climbing activities.

      As per the amended rules, from the upcoming spring season, Everest climbers will be required to bring their poop back to base camp for proper disposal. Climbers must carry biodegradable bags to collect waste in the upper reaches.

      Base camps typically have designated toilet tents with barrels to collect human waste during expeditions. However, in higher camps, only a few agencies provide similar facilities, while others rely on pits. Very few climbers use biodegradable bags to transport waste from the summit.

      The government has also hiked the insurance coverage for high-altitude workers.Insurance coverage for high-altitude guides has gone up to Rs2 million ($14,400) from Rs1.5 million ($10,800), and for base camp workers, it has been raised to Rs1.5 million ($10,800) from Rs800,000 ($5,760).

      According to the Himalayan Database, which records all expeditions and deaths in the Himalayas, more than 200 people died on the Nepal side of Everest between 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first scaled the peak, and 2022.

      Nearly 8,900 people have summited the world’s highest peak from Nepal’s side since 1953.- Kathmandu Post , January 22, 2025

      Bangkok named the world’s

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      The ranking, based on surveys of city dwellers worldwide, highlights culture, food, affordability and overall happiness as key factors in making a city truly great.

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      With its blend of tradition and modernity, Bangkok is more than just a tourist hotspot – it’s a city where people genuinely love to live. Whether you’re exploring hidden street-food gems, temple-hopping, or dancing the night away, Bangkok remains a city of endless possibilities. -The Nation ,January 20, 2025

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