Foreigners arriving on e-Tourist Visa up by 179%

A total of 43,833 tourists arrived this May on e-Tourist Visa compared to 15,659 during May 2015, the report said today.

During the January-May period this year, a total of 4,34,927 tourists arrived on as compared to 1,10,657 during the same period last year, registering a growth of 293.0 per cent, the report said.

Commencing from November 27, 2014, the e-Tourist Visa facility was available until February 25, 2016 for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.

After that, the Government of India has extended this facility for citizens of 37 more countries from February 26, 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries.

This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries, the report stated.

The US, with 18.52 per cent, stands top of the list among the top 10 countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during this May, the report said.

The UK with 15.63 per cent is second on the list while China is third with 8.17% per cent availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during the same period.

France contributed 5.16 per cent, followed by Germany (4.91%), Australia (4.50%), Canada (4.49%), UAE (3.01%), Russian Fed (2.79%) and Malaysia (2.12%), the report said.

On the percentage shares of top 10 airports in the tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during the same period, New Delhi Airport is the leader with 45.11 per cent while Mumbai recorded 22.50 per cent and Bengaluru 9 per cent.

Among other airports, Chennai registered 6.63 per cent, while Kochi witnessed 3.68 per cent, Goa (2.86 per cent), Hyderabad (2.75 per cent) Kolkata (2.63 per cent) with Trivandrum (1.42 per cent) and Ahmadabad (1.26 per cent), the report said.