<p class="title">India was one of the highest-growing tourist economies in the world in 2017, Tourism Minister K J Alphons informed Parliament on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Alphons said in 2017, India had registered a growth of over 14 per cent in the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) over 2016, along with a 19.2-per cent increase (in US dollar terms) in Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"In 2017, Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism was Rs 1.77 crore. India ranks 26th in the world in arrivals of global tourists. India was among the highest-growing tourist economies in the world in 2017," the minister said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He further informed the House that under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the tourism ministry had sanctioned 69 projects worth Rs 5,711.79 crore for 29 states and Union territories.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the PRASHAD scheme, the ministry had identified 26 sites in 19 states for development and till date, 24 projects worth Rs 727.16 crore were sanctioned, Alphons said.</p>
<p class="title">India was one of the highest-growing tourist economies in the world in 2017, Tourism Minister K J Alphons informed Parliament on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Alphons said in 2017, India had registered a growth of over 14 per cent in the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) over 2016, along with a 19.2-per cent increase (in US dollar terms) in Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"In 2017, Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism was Rs 1.77 crore. India ranks 26th in the world in arrivals of global tourists. India was among the highest-growing tourist economies in the world in 2017," the minister said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He further informed the House that under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, the tourism ministry had sanctioned 69 projects worth Rs 5,711.79 crore for 29 states and Union territories.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the PRASHAD scheme, the ministry had identified 26 sites in 19 states for development and till date, 24 projects worth Rs 727.16 crore were sanctioned, Alphons said.</p>