The move is among many incentives offered to encourage repeat visitors to India.

About 5.36 million foreign tourists visited India in 2008.

The first five months of 2009 showed a sharp decline in the numbers of foreign tourists arrivals in the country as compared to the same period in 2008. But from June onwards, a slight increase was witnessed, officials said.

In June this year, about 341,000 foreign tourists visited the country as compared to 340,000 in June 2008 and 310,000 in June 2007.