Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has announced that India receives less than one per cent international tourists annually and their average stay in the country has come down by two days. The minister said efforts have been made to attract more and more international tourists to the country. Various initiatives have been taken by the government to attract more foreign tourists that include e-tourist visa, providing financial assistance to state governments launching 12 theme based tourist circuits.

The Minister said in 2011-12, on an average foreign tourists in India used to stay 20-22 days at a stretch which has come down to 18-20 days now. Sharma said Tourisim Ministry has launched a new scheme ‘Swadesh Darshan’ for development of theme-based tourist circuits in a way that caters to both mass and niche tourism in a holistic manner.

The 12 circuits are North-East India circuit, Buddhist circuit, Himalayan circuit, Coastal circuit, Krishna circuit, Desert circuit, Tribal circuit, Eco circuit, Wildlife circuit, Rural circuit, Spiritual circuit and Ramayana circuit.

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