Foreign tourist arrivals hit an all-time high of 10 million last year,

Foreign tourist arrivals hit an all-time high of 10 million last year, bringing in over $27 billion, The Times of India reports. As a result, the country's rank on the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index has risen to 40 in 2017 from 65 in 2013. The government feels the improvement is on account of infrastructure development and promotion of theme-based and religious circuits. Tourism contributes 6.88% to the country’s GDP and accounts for 12% of total jobs, tourism minister Alphons Kannanthanam said.