Monthly figures for October show 212,191 arrivals, 16.8% more than the same month last year and the first year-on-year rise since September 11.

But the figures show India is still well short of the 230,978 foreigners who visited the country in October 2000.

In the first 10 months of 2002, India's tourist industry earned $2,176bn, 13% less than in the same period the last year.

International tourism declined dramatically after the attacks, but countries such as India were harder hit because of their proximity to Afghanistan.

Troubled region

An attack on India's parliament blamed on Pakistani-backed militants, riots in the Gujarat region and tensions with Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region almost resulting in a war, also scared off visitors.

The British and US governments also advised their citizens to avoid the region this year.

In total, 1.8 million tourists have arrived in India so far this year compared with 2.1 million in the first 10 months of 2001.

India accounts for barely 0.4% of the global tourism market, attracting just 2.4 million visitors last year, World Travel and Tourism Council figures show.

The WTTC has predicted India would see double-digit growth in arrivals after 2003.