Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India surged by 49.3 percent to Rs.8,623 crore in January year-on-year on the back of 9.2 percent growth in the number of tourist arrivals, official data showed Monday.

Foreign exchange earnings in January 2012 were Rs.8,623 crore as compared to Rs.5,777 crore in January 2011 and Rs.5,593 crore in January 2010, according to data released by the ministry of tourism here.

This is a significant jump in the earnings from tourism when compared with the previous year's data. The annual growth in January 2012 was 49.3 percent while it was just 3.3 percent in January 2011.

In dollar terms, the foreign exchange earnings from tourism rose to $1.68 billion in January 2012 as compared to $1.27 billion during the corresponding month of last year, registering a growth of 32.1 percent.

Some 6.81 lakh foreign tourists visited India in January this year as compared 6.24 lakh in the corresponding month of last year, registering a growth of 9.2 percent.

Total foreign tourist arrivals in January 2010 were 5.69 lakh.