Incredible India 2.0 campaign, 5 special tourism zones in budget

The government today said it would launch Incredible India 2.0 Campaign across the world, besides setting up five special tourism zones in the country.

"Tourism is a big employment generator and has a multiplier impact on the economy. Five special tourism zones anchored on SPV (special purpose vehicle) will be set up in partnership with the states," Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech for 2017-18.

Incredible India is a flagship programme of the Tourism Ministry aimed at boosting tourism in the country.India at present account for less one per cent in the global tourism market.

Foreign tourist arrivals in India surged by 13.6 per cent to 10.37 lakh in December on year-on-year basis.Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during December 2016 were 10.37 lakh as compared to 9.13 lakh during December 2015.

The US accounted for the highest share of tourists arrivals, followed by Bangladesh and the UK the last month.

The growth in overseas tourist arrivals in 2016 stood at 10.7 per cent with a total of 88.90 lakh as compared to 80.27 lakh in 2015