Indian Tourism has registered a significant growth in the recent years. As against 1951 where foreign tourist arrival stood merely at 17,000, in 2006 the figure surpassed 4 million. Tourism today is the 3rd largest net earner of foreign exchange for the country recording earnings of US$5731 million in 2005, a growth of 20.2 percent over 2004. According to the Ministry of Tourism, between January - December 2006, total inbound arrivals was 44,299,15 as against 39,186,10 in 2005. The total foreign exchange earnings earned during this period was US$6569.34 million against US$ 5730.86 million for the same period in 2005.