66097 Tourists Arrived in August 2016 on e Tourist Visa

196.6% Growth in Tourists Arrival on e-Tourist Visa in August 2016 over the Same Period in 2015 

UK Continues to Occupy Top Slot followed by USA and China Amongst Countries Availing e-Tourist Visa Facility During August 2016 

A total of 66,097 tourists arrived in August 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 22, 286 during the month of August 2015 registering a growth of 196.6%

Commencing from 27th November 2014 e-Tourist Visa facility was available until 25th 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 26th February 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries. Status of achievements in respect of e-Tourist Visa availed by International tourists visiting India last year in 2015 has been surpassed in the first 06 months of the current calendar year 2016.

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

(i) During the month of August, 2016 a total of 66,097 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 22,286 during the month of August, 2015 registering a growth of 196.6%.

(ii) During January- August 2016, a total of 6,06,493 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1,69,976 during January-August 2015, registering a growth of 256.8% .

(iii) This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 113 countries.

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

UK (19.4%), USA (13.2%), China (6.7%), France (6.4%), Spain (6.1%), UAE (5.5%), Germany (4.6%), Australia (3.7%), Canada (3.5%) and Korea Republic of (2.4%).

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

New Delhi Airport (45.30%), Mumbai Airport (21.53%), Chennai Airport (8.82%), Bengaluru Airport (7.58%), Kochi Airport (4.60%), Hyderabad Airport (3.52%), Kolkata Airport (2.07%), Amritsar Airport (2.01%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.44%) and Trivandrum Airport (1.36%).

Over 66,000 travellers arrived in India on e-tourist visa in August this year, recording a growth of about 197 percent over the same period last year. Among the countries availing e-tourist visa facility, the UK occupied the top slot, followed by the US and China, the Union Tourism Ministry said in a statement. "During the month of August, 2016 a total of 66,097 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 22,286 during the month of August, 2015 registering a growth of 196.6 percent," it said. During January-August this year, a total of 6,06,493 tourist arrived on e-tourist visa as compared to 1,69,976 during the corresponding period last year, witnessing a a growth of 256.8 percent. "This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-tourist visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 113 countries," the statement said. Launched on November 27, 2014, the facility was initially available for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.It was later extended for citizens of 37 more countries. Among the top 10 source countries availing the facility in August, the UK share was maximum with 19.4 percent, followed by the US (13.2 percent), China (6.7 percent), France (6.4 percent), Spain (6.1 percent), UAE (5.5 percent). The share of Germany was 4.6 percent, while that of Australia 3.7 percent, Canada 3.5 percent and Korea 2.4 percent.