Identify the region whose growth rate of foreign tourist arrivals in 2008 was…

Concept — growth rate of a part versus the growth rate of the whole

The growth rate of any quantity from one year to the next is (later value minus earlier value) divided by the earlier value, expressed as a percentage. Every rate is therefore measured against that quantity's own earlier base. A component of a total grows faster than the total only when its own percentage rate exceeds the aggregate's percentage rate; because the bases differ, a large absolute increase does not by itself mean a faster rate.

Application — 2007 to 2008 growth rates read off the table

1. All-India total FTAs: (5282603 - 5081504) / 5081504 x 100 = 201099 / 5081504 x 100, which is about 3.96%. This is the benchmark rate the stem asks every region to be compared against.

2. Western Europe: (1799525 - 1686083) / 1686083 x 100 = 113442 / 1686083 x 100, which is about 6.73%.

3. North America: (1027297 - 1007276) / 1007276 x 100 = 20021 / 1007276 x 100, which is about 1.99%.

4. South Asia: (1051846 - 982428) / 982428 x 100 = 69418 / 982428 x 100, which is about 7.07%.

5. East Asia: (355230 - 352037) / 352037 x 100 = 3193 / 352037 x 100, which is about 0.91%.

Cross-check and contrast

Ranked by their own rates, the four listed regions come out as South Asia about 7.07%, Western Europe about 6.73%, North America about 1.99% and East Asia about 0.91%. South Asia has the highest rate of the listed regions and also sits well above the 3.96% all-India rate, so South Asia is the region the stem asks for. One trap is worth carrying forward: Western Europe records the largest absolute rise among the listed regions (113442 extra arrivals) and its rate also clears the all-India benchmark, yet at about 6.73% it still grows more slowly in percentage terms than South Asia. The largest absolute increase is not the same thing as the highest growth rate, because each region's rate is measured on its own 2007 base.

Answer: South Asia.