In terms of tourism receipts and expenditure towards tourism development too, India's position has dropped in 1997 as compared to 1985.

India emerged as the sixth biggest earner in 1997 (fourth in 1985) with receipts totalling $ 3,152 million and was the seventh biggest spender in 1997 (sixth in 1985) with $ 1,011 million.

The study has put Thailand as the top tourist destination in the region in 1997 with 7.3 million arrivals, about 18 per cent of the total arrivals in the region. Thailand is followed by Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia and Australia as the top six destinations in the region.

Australia has emerged as the top earner in the region in 1997 with $ 9,324 million and Singapore as the top spender with $ 6,139 million, or 24.5 per cent of allexpenditure of the region.

The study has identified continuation of liberalisation policies; better industry awareness about tourism; development of new products and areas; liberal aviation policy on charter and private operators and formulation of focused marketing strategies on the basis of market research among the major factors responsible for tourism development in India in 1997. However, slowing down of industrial growth has been identified as the sole negative factor by the study.

Interestingly, the study mentions that one out of two tourists travelling to South Asia visits India, which is also the destination where foreign tourist stay longer.

It forecasts a continued higher than worldwide average rate of expansion in inbound tourism to the South Asian region. An average annual growth rate of 6.1 per cent between 1985 and 2020 is forecast producing a volume of arrivals of 19 million in 2020, almost four-and-a half times the level in 1995. The 10 million mark will be achieved for the first timein 2009, the study predicts.

The WTO study forecasts a sustained above average rate of expansion in tourism in the 22 countries in, or with coastlines bordering the Indian Ocean, with an average annual rise of 6.3 per cent between 1995 and 2020.

According to the study, the volume of international tourist arrivals in the region will increase to 179 million in year 2020, representing a growth in global market share from 6.9 per cent in 1995 to 11.2 per cent in 2020.