635.8% Growth in Tourists Arrival on E-Tourist Visa in December, 2015 Over the same Period in 2014

UK Continues to Occupy Top Slot Followed by USA and Russia Amongst the Countries Aviling E-Tourist Visa Facility.

A total of 1,03,617 tourists arrived in India on e-Tourist Visa in December, 2015 as compared to 14,083 during the month of December, 2014 registering a growth of 635.8%. UK continues to occupy top slot followed by USA and Russia Fed. amongst the countries availing e-tourist visa facility.

Commencing from 27th November 2014 e-Tourist Visa facility is presently available for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 Airports in India.

The following are the important highlights of e-Tourist Visa during December, 2015:

(i) During the month of December, 2015 a total of 1,03,617 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 14,083 during the month of December, 2014 registering a growth of 635.8%.

(ii) During January- December, 2015 a total of 4,45,300 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 39,046 during January- December, 2014 registering a growth of 1040.4% .

(iii) This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 113 countries as against coverage of earlier ETA enabled TVoA scheme for 43 countries.

(iv) The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during December, 2015 were as follows:

UK (23.81%), USA (19.59%), Russian Fed. (9.33%), Australia (5.44%), Germany (4.86%), France (4.44%), Canada (4.40%), China (3.10%), Republic of Korea (1.83%) and Ukraine (1.67%).

(v) The percentage shares of top 10 ports in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during December, 2015 were as follows:

New Delhi Airport (36.23%), Mumbai Airport (21.90%), Goa Airport (16.54%), Bengaluru Airport (5.54%), Kochi Airport (4.68%), Chennai Airport (4.21%), Kolkata Airport (2.74%), Hyderabad Airport (2.68%), Trivandrum Airport (2.05%) and Ahmedabad Airport (1.79%).