Over 770 per cent increase in e-Tourist visa arrivals

A total of 21,476 tourists arrived in the country this July on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 2,462 during the same month last year, registering a quantum jump of 772.3 per cent.
Tourism Ministry attributed the high growth to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 77 countries as against coverage of earlier visa-on-arrival scheme for 12 countries.
Currently e-Tourist Visa facility is available for citizens of 77 countries including US, Germany, France and Russia arriving at nine airports in India.
According to Tourism Ministry data, there were a total of 1,47,690 tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa during January- July this year as compared to 14,415 during corresponding period last year, a growth of 924.6 per cent.

The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facility during July were USA (33.67 per cent) followed by Australia (7.74 per cent), France (7.13 per cent), Germany (6.80 per cent), UAE (6.71 per cent), Canada (6.30 per cent), Republic of Korea (5.57 per cent), Mexico (2.80 per cent), Japan (2.38 per cent) and Russian Federation (2.29 per cent).