OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2016. A total of 68,487 tourists arrived in July 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 21,476 during the month of July 2015 registering a growth of 218.9%.

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.

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 July, 2016:

(i) During the month of July, 2016 a total of 68,487 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 21,476 during the month of July, 2015 registering a growth of 218.9%.

(ii) During January- July 2016, a total of 5,40,396 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1,47,690 during January-July 2015, registering a growth of 265.9% .

(iii) This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 77 countries.

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

UK (17.7%), USA (16.2%), France (6.7%), UAE (5.9%), China (5.4%), Spain (4.0%), Australia (3.9%), Germany (3.5%), Canada (3.4%) and Netherland (2.9%).

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

New Delhi Airport (44.00%), Mumbai Airport (20.77%), Chennai Airport (9.43%), Bengaluru Airport (9.10%), Kochi Airport (5.10%), Hyderabad Airport (3.68%), Kolkata Airport (2.50%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.38%), Trivandrum Airport (1.35%) and Amritsar Airport (0.99%).