UK continues to occupy top slot followed by USA and Russia amongst the countries availing e-Tourist Visa facility during March 2016

A total of 1,15,677 tourists arrived in March 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 25,851 during the month of March 2015 registering a growth of  347.5%.

Commencing from 27^th November 2014 e-Tourist Visa facility was available until 25^th February 2016 for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 Airports in India. The Government of India has extended this scheme for citizens of 37 more countries w.e.f 26^th February 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries.

The following are the important highlights of e-Tourist Visa during March, 2016:

(i)                 During the month of March, 2016 a total of 1,15,677 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 25,851 during the month of March, 2015 registering a growth of  347.5%.

(ii)               This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries.

(iii)             The percentage shares of  top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities  during  March, 2016  were as follows:

UK (27.74%), USA (13.41%), Russian Fed. (7.04%), France (6.55%), Germany (5.18%), China (4.49%), Canada (3.89%), Australia (3.79%), Spain (1.99%) and Ukraine (1.66%).

(iv)             The percentage shares of top 10 ports in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during  March, 2016  were as follows:

New Delhi Airport (46.76%), Mumbai Airport (18.75%), Goa Airport (11.11%), Chennai Airport (5.55%), Bengaluru Airport (5.03%), Kochi Airport (2.82%), Kolkata Airport (2.38%), Amritsar Airport (2.12%), Hyderabad Airport (2.07%) and  Trivandrum Airport (1.33%).

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Sanjay Kumar/jk/Tourism/12-04-2016