New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS): India has witnessed a growth of 2.3 percent in foreign tourist arrivals that rose to 5.89 lakh in August, contributing Rs.10,471 crore in foreign exchange earnings to the exchequer, official data showed.

The maximum number of people, who visited India during August, were from Bangladesh which was followed by the US and Britain.

"There has been a growth of 2.3 percent in August 2015 over August 2014," the tourism ministry said in a statement.

As many as 5.76 lakh people had come to India in August 2014.

Of the total foreign tourist arrivals, percentage share of Bangladesh was 15.79 percent, the US (12.52 percent), Britain (9.71 percent) and Sri Lanka (7.25 percent).

In August 2015, the tourists inflow brought foreign exchange earnings of Rs.10,471 crore to the Asia's third largest economy against Rs.10,385 crore during the corresponding month of last year, the statement said.

During the first eight months of this calendar year, foreign tourist arrivals surged by 4.5 percent to 50.68 lakh as compared to 48.51 lakh for the same period of time last year.