347.5% Growth in Tourists arrival on e-Tourist Visa in March 2016 over the same period in 2015

New Delhi: 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 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.

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%).

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.