A report compiled by the marketing and research team of the ministry of tourism suggests that there has been an inflow of tourists from countries where Modi has visited in the past one year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign tours have provided dividends to the economy, if not through Foreign Direct Investment but through the inflow of tourists from the countries that he has visited.
A report compiled by the marketing and research team of the ministry of tourism suggests that there has been an inflow of tourists from countries where Modi has visited in the past one year.
The tourism ministry is of the view that Modi's public addresses and connecting with Indian diaspora in the countries he has visited has helped in boosting tourism. The industry is, however, not very happy and feels that while there is an increasing trend but the targets are afar.
The data compiled by the ministry of tourism suggest that tourism has increased at least by six per cent from countries where the Prime Minister has visited. Comparing the inflow of tourist between January to June 2014 with January to June 2015, ministry suggests that tourism has increased by five per cent from France, six per cent from Canada and 10 per cent from the US. A steep increase of 12 per cent has been recorded from Brazil. The report further suggests that there is an increase in tourists from countries including Germany, China and Japan.
"While the overall increase in tourism has been about four to five per cent, countries where the Prime Minister has visited have seen a steep rise," explained an officer of the ministry.
Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma too attributes the increase to the Prime Minister. "Prime Minister has been our ambassador to the places he has visited. He has carried a very positive image of India to the world," said Sharma.
The industry however feels that stories on beef ban, mob lynching and intolerance towards the minorities are sending out a negative message globally. But the minister feels otherwise. "It is difficult to say whether such incidences affect tourism, but I can assure you that everything will happen within the ambit of the Constitution," said Sharma.
The industry however is not too happy with the figures and feels that much more needs to meet the target that the industry is aiming it. "We are targeting 10 million tourists by next year. To achieve the target we need an increase of at least 15 per cent every year," said Sarabjit Singh, Vice President of Indian Association of Tour Operators.
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