Hyderabad records 76% foreign tourist arrivals in 2017
Hyderabad has registered a 76 per cent rise in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2017 owing to the rise in the number of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) in the city. The city’s domestic tourist arrivals (DTAs) shot up by 16 per cent last year.
According to Telangana tourism department, 2017 ended on a high note with as many as 2.47 lakh foreign tourists visiting mana sheher, against 1.63 lakh who travelled to Hyderabad in 2016. Domestic tourist arrivals rose from 2.33 crore in 2016 to 2.71 crore last year. Maximum tourist arrivals were recorded between September and December.
The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) hosted by Hyderabad also contributed to the rise in tourist footfalls. Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) and Hitex Exhibition Centre together hosted about 100 meetings, conferences and exhibitions in 2017. Hyderabad’s growing reputation as a medical tourism destination also contributed to the rise in FTAs. The state government has promoted Hyderabad as a MICE and medical tourism hub, and that has clearly reflected in the rise in number of FTA and DTA.
The state government is planning to attract a million plus foreign tourist footfall count by 2025. The state is also going to host the country’s biggest exhibition and convention centre in Hitex by the end of this year. The convention centre, which is estimated to cost Rs 125 crore, will be able to hold 8,000 people.
