86.4% growth in Foreign Tourists arrival on E-Tourist Visa in October 2016

86.4% growth in Foreign Tourists arrival on E-Tourist Visa in October 2016 over the same period in 2015 . UK continues to occupy top Slot followed by USA And France amongst countries availing E-Tourist Visa facility during October 2016 . A total of 1,05,268 foreign tourists arrived in October 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 56,477 during the month of October 2015 registering a growth of

86.4%. UK (22.9%) continues to occupy top slot followed by USA (12.1%) and France (6.6%) amongst countries availing e-tourist visa facility During October 2016.

The facility of e-Tourist Visa has been made available by the Government of India to the citizens of 150 countries, arriving at 16 International Airports in India. The number of e-Tourist Visa availed by foreign tourists visiting India during the month of October, 2016 has registered a substantial growth rate over the corresponding month of 2015. The salient highlights of e-Tourist Visa for and upto the month of October during 2016 are as follows:-

(i)            During the month of October, 2016 a total of 1,05,268 foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 56,477 during the month of October, 2015 registering a growth of 86.4%.

(ii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    During January- October 2016, a total of 7,80,570 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 2,58,182 during January-October 2015, registering a growth of  202.3% .

(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  October, 2016  were as follows:

UK (22.9%), USA (12.1%), France (6.6%), China (5.8%), Russian Fed (5.6%), Germany (5.5%), Australia (4.5%), Canada (3.6%), Spain (2.3%) and Netherlands (2.1%).

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

New Delhi Airport (51.67%), Mumbai Airport (18.65%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport (6.20%), Bengaluru Airport (5.18%), Chennai Airport (4.97%), Kochi Airport (3.15%), Amritsar Airport (2.42%) Hyderabad Airport (2.18%), Kolkata Airport (2.08%) and Trivandrum Airport (1.28%).