New Delhi, India (BBN)-Bangladesh continued to top the list of six neighbouring countries in terms of number of foreign tourists arriving in India, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Bangladesh held the apex position in this regard during the last three years, reports PTI.

A total of 1,139,238 people from six neighbouring countries Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh visited India in 2013, Tourism Minister Shripad Naik said in a written reply.

There were 4,63,543 visitors from Bangladesh in 2011 which increased to 4,87,397 in 2012 and the number increased to 5,24,923 in 2013.

Visitors from Pakistan also increased from 59,846 in 2012 to 1,11,794 in 2013.

However, as per Sri Lanka, 2,96,983 tourists came in 2012 which decreased to 2,62,345 in 2013.

Naik said the Tourism Ministry as part of its ongoing activities carry out media campaigns in the domestic and international markets under the ‘Incredible India’ brand to promote various tourist destinations of the country and to increase foreign tourist arrivals.

BBN/ANS-23July14-5:55pm (BST)