New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI): More than 10 lakh foreign tourists visited India in January, around eight percent higher than the corresponding month last year, the tourism ministry said in a statement today.

The number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in January 2018 was 10.66 lakh as compared to FTAs of 9.83 lakh in January 2017, and 8.45 lakh in January 2016. "The growth rate in FTAs in January 2018 over January 2017 was 8.4 percent, compared to 16.4 percent in January 2017 over January 2016," the statement said.

The percentage share of FTAs in India during January 2018 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (16.36 percent) followed by the USA (14.10 percent), the UK (10.81 percent), Canada (4.63 percent) and the Russian Federation (4.49 percent).

The ministry compiles monthly estimates of FTAs, including those with e-tourist visas, on the basis of their nationality and the port. The estimates are based on data received from the Bureau of Immigration (BOI).

The percentage share of FTAs in India during January 2018 among the top 15 ports was highest at the Delhi airport (28.03 percent) followed by the Mumbai airport (17.47 percent), the Haridaspur Land Check Post (7.63 percent), and the Chennai Airport (7.17 percent).

During the month of January 2018, a total of 2.40 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-tourist visas as compared to 1.52 lakh during the month of January 2017 registering a growth of 58.5 percent.

The percentage share of top 15 source countries availing of e-tourist visa facilities during January 2018 was the UK (18.6 percent), the USA (10.6 percent), the Russian Federation (6.5 percent), France (5.4 percent), Canada (5.3 percent) and China (4.8 percent).