CITYE-visa a hit: 1,040% jump in tourist inflow
TNN | Jan 15, 2016, 02.10 AM IST
According to tourism ministry data 23.81% of tourists came from the UK, 19.59% from the US, followed by Russia... Read More
NEW DELHI: Over 4.45 lakh tourists arrived in India last year through the online visa scheme registering a growth of 1040.4%. The highest number of tourists came from the UK followed by the United States and Russia.
Though the growth figures are high, tourists using online facilities are still a small fraction of the total foreign tourist arrivals. India attracted about 70 lakh tourists in 2015 at a growth of 4.5%. During December, 2015, a total of 1,03,617 tourists arrived on e-tourist visa as compared to 14,083 during December, 2014, registering a growth of 635.8%.
Between January-December, 2015 a total of 4,45,300 tourist arrived as compared to 39,046 during January-December, 2014 registering a growth of 1040.4%, according to tourism ministry data. The facility for applying for visas online was started in November 2014.
"This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-tourist visa for 113 countries...'' the ministry said in a statement.
One of the immediate impact of the decision has been that India has moved 13 positions ahead — from 65th to 52nd rank — in the Tourism and Travel Competitive Index as per the World Economic Forum report.
According to tourism ministry data 23.81% of tourists came from the UK, 19.59% from the US, followed by Russia (9.33%), Australia (5.44%) and Germany (4.86%). Other countries include France (4.44%), Canada (4.40%), China (3.10%), Republic of Korea (1.83%) and Ukraine (1.67%).
The maximum number of arrivals were predictably at New Delhi airport where 36.23% of the foreign tourists landed. This was followed by Mumbai airport (21.90%), Goa airport (16.54%), Bengaluru airport (5.54%) and Kochi airport (4.68%). Other airports that drew foreign travellers included Chennai (4.21%), Kolkata (2.74%), Hyderabad (2.68%), Trivandrum (2.05%) and Ahmedabad (1.79%).
There were initial teething problems with the online visa facility, initially called "visa-on-arrival".
Many tourists landed in the country only to be turned back for inadequate documentation. Inundated by complaints, the ministry changed the nomenclature to e-tourist visa. Starting with 40 countries the facility has now bee extended to 113 countries. The tourism ministry now plans to extend it for medical visas as well.
Though the growth figures are high, tourists using online facilities are still a small fraction of the total foreign tourist arrivals. India attracted about 70 lakh tourists in 2015 at a growth of 4.5%. During December, 2015, a total of 1,03,617 tourists arrived on e-tourist visa as compared to 14,083 during December, 2014, registering a growth of 635.8%.
Between January-December, 2015 a total of 4,45,300 tourist arrived as compared to 39,046 during January-December, 2014 registering a growth of 1040.4%, according to tourism ministry data. The facility for applying for visas online was started in November 2014.
"This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-tourist visa for 113 countries...'' the ministry said in a statement.
One of the immediate impact of the decision has been that India has moved 13 positions ahead — from 65th to 52nd rank — in the Tourism and Travel Competitive Index as per the World Economic Forum report.
According to tourism ministry data 23.81% of tourists came from the UK, 19.59% from the US, followed by Russia (9.33%), Australia (5.44%) and Germany (4.86%). Other countries include France (4.44%), Canada (4.40%), China (3.10%), Republic of Korea (1.83%) and Ukraine (1.67%).
The maximum number of arrivals were predictably at New Delhi airport where 36.23% of the foreign tourists landed. This was followed by Mumbai airport (21.90%), Goa airport (16.54%), Bengaluru airport (5.54%) and Kochi airport (4.68%). Other airports that drew foreign travellers included Chennai (4.21%), Kolkata (2.74%), Hyderabad (2.68%), Trivandrum (2.05%) and Ahmedabad (1.79%).
Top Comment
How is it that the Positive news about Indian government or overall India come out only when most of India goes to sleep... Read MoreThere were initial teething problems with the online visa facility, initially called "visa-on-arrival".
Many tourists landed in the country only to be turned back for inadequate documentation. Inundated by complaints, the ministry changed the nomenclature to e-tourist visa. Starting with 40 countries the facility has now bee extended to 113 countries. The tourism ministry now plans to extend it for medical visas as well.
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