1,70,000 foreign tourists visit India on e-tourist visa, 893% growth

New Delhi, IANS

At least 1,70,000 foreign tourists have arrived in India on e-tourist visa this year till August, registering a 893 percent growth over last year, with the maximum number of tourists from the US, a statement said.

After the government launched tourist visa on arrival, known as the e-tourist visa, scheme last year, the facility has been made available for 113 countries, the ministry of tourism statement said.

During the period of January-August this year, a total of 1,69,976 tourists arrived on e-tourist visa, as compared to 17,120 during the same period last year, registering a growth of 892.9 percent.

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And during August alone, 22,286 tourists arrived as compared to 2,705 last year.

Of the total number of tourist arrivals, the percentage share of US was 25.93 percent, Germany (10.00 percent), UAE (8.92 percent), France (8.76 percent) and Australia (7.20 percent).

The percentage share of these tourists arriving at New Delhi was 42.67 percent, Mumbai (23.40 percent) and Bengaluru (10.37 percent). (IANS)

Full note(PIB):

Government of India launched Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), presently known as e-Tourist Visa scheme on 27th November 2014. At present e-Tourist Visa facility is available for citizens of 113 countries (including 36 countries for which the facility was extended on 15th August, 2015) arriving at 16 Airports in India (includes 7 airports added from 15th August, 2015).

The following are the important highlights of e-Tourist Visa during August, 2015:

(i) During the month of August, 2015 a total of 22,286 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 2,705 during the month of August, 2014 registering a growth of 723.9%.

(ii) During January- August, 2015 a total of 1,69,976 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 17,120 during January-August, 2014 registering a growth of 892.9% .

(iii) This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 113 countries as against coverage of earlier TVoA scheme for 12 countries.

(iv) The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facility during August 2015 were as follows:

USA (25.93%), Germany (10.00%), UAE (8.92%), France (8.76%), Australia (7.20%), Canada (6.39%), Republic of Korea (4.23%), Japan (3.41%), Russian Federation (2.37%) and Singapore (2.22%).

(v) The percentage shares of different ports in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during August 2015 were as follows:

New Delhi (42.67%), Mumbai (23.40%), Bengaluru (10.37%), Chennai (9.07%), Kochi (5.44%), Hyderabad (4.21%), Kolkata (2.38%), Trivandrum (1.87%) and Goa (0.58%).