36 million foreign tourists visited India in 2008. The first five months of 2009 showed a sharp decline in the numbers of foreign tourists arrivals in the country as compared to the same period in 2008. But from June onwards, a slight increase was witnessed, officials said.

In June this year, about 341,000 foreign tourists visited the country as compared to 340,000 in June 2008 and 310,000 in June 2007.

The statement said that the foreign exchange earnings (FEE) during the July was Rs.4,983 crore as compared to Rs.3,870 crore in July 2008.

'An improvement was observed in the growth rate of FEE (in Rupee terms) in July 2009 (28.8 percent) as compared to June 2009 (11.5 percent), May 2009 (8.7 percent) and April 2009 (7.6 percent),' the statement added.