Extension of E-Visa to Boost Tourism
The Government of India has launched e-Tourist Visa on 27.11.2014 with a view to facilitate foreign tourist visiting India. Initially, the scheme was introduced for 43 countries. However, the scheme has since been extended to 150 countries. A list of these countries is attached as Annexure-I. The visa service under the scheme is being rendered in time bound manner and decision is communicated to applicant via e-mail within 72 hours of making online application.
The e-Tourist Visa has simplified the procedure for seeking India visa for international tourists. The e-Tourist Visa enables the prospective visitor to apply for an Indian Visa from his/her home country online without visiting the Indian Mission and also pay the visa fee online.
As a result, the year 2015 witnessed a growth rate of 4.5% in terms of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India. During 2015, FTAs were 8.03 million as compared to 7.68 million in 2014. FTAs during the period January-March 2016 were 25.08 lakh with a growth of 10.0% as compared to the FTAs of 22.81 lakh in January-March 2015. The foreign exchange earnings during January – December 2015 was Rs.135193 crore as compared to Rs.123320 crore during 2014 thereby registering the growth of 9.6%.
The e-Tourist Visa has been extended to 150 countries w.e.f. 26.02.2016. During January-December 2015 a total of 4,45,300 tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 39,046 during January-December 2014 registering a growth of 1040.4%. During the month of January-March 2016, a total of 3,21,049 tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 75,859 during the month of January-March 2015 registering a growth of 323.2%.
Sr. No. | Name of Country | Serial.No | Name of Country |
1 | Albania | 45. | Germany |
2. | Andorra | 46. | Ghana |
3. | Anguilla | 47. | Greece |
4. | Antigua & Barbuda | 48. | Grenada |
5. | Armenia | 49. | Guatemala |
6. | Aruba | 50. | Guinea |
7. | Australia | 51. | Guyana |
8. | Austria | 52. | Haiti |
9. | Bahamas | 53. | Honduras |
10. | Barbados | 54. | Hungary |
11. | Belgium | 55. | Iceland |
12. | Belize | 56. | Indonesia |
13. | Bolivia | 57. | Ireland |
14. | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 58. | Israel |
15. | Botswana | 59. | Jamaica |
16. | Brazil | 60. | Japan |
17. | Brunei | 61. | Jordan |
18. | Bulgaria | 62. | Kenya |
19. | Cambodia | 63. | Kiribati |
20. | Canada | 64. | Laos |
21. | Cape Verde | 65. | Latvia |
22. | Cayman Island | 66. | Lesotho |
23. | Chile | 67. | Liberia |
24. | China | 68. | Liechtenstein |
25. | China- SAR Hongkong | 69. | Lithuania |
26. | China- SAR Macau | 70. | Luxembourg |
27. | Colombia | 71. | Madagascar |
28. | Comoros | 72. | Malawi |
29. | Cook Islands | 73. | Malaysia |
30. | Costa Rica | 74. | Malta |
31. | Cote d’lvoire | 75. | Marshall Islands |
32. | Croatia | 76. | Mauritius |
33. | Cuba | 77. | Mexico |
34. | Czech Republic | 78. | Micronesia |
35. | Denmark | 79. | Moldova |
36. | Djibouti | 80. | Monaco |
37. | Dominica | 81. | Mongolia |
38. | Dominican Republic | 82. | Montenegro |
39. | East Timor | 83. | Montserrat |
40. | Ecuador | 84. | Mozambique |
41. | El Salvador | 85. | Myanmar |
42. | Eritrea | 86. | Namibia |
43. | Estonia | 87. | Nauru |
44. | Fiji | 88. | Netherlands |
89. | Finland | 139. | Vatican City-Holy See |
90. | France | 140. | Venezuela |
91. | Gabon | 141. | Vietnam. |
92. | Gambia | 142. | New Zealand |
93. | Georgia | 143. | Nicaragua |
94. | Palau | 144. | Niue Island |
95. | Palestine | 145. | Norway |
96. | Panama | 146. | Oman |
97. | Papua New Guinea | 147. | Zambia |
98. | Paraguay | 148. | Zimbabwe |
99. | Peru | 149. | Argentina |
100. | Philippines | 150. | Honduras |
101. | Poland | ||
102. | Portugal | ||
103. | Republic of Korea | ||
104. | Republic of Macedonia | ||
105. | Romania | ||
106. | Russia | ||
107. | Saint Christopher and Nevis | ||
108. | Saint Lucia | ||
109. | Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | ||
110. | Samoa | ||
111. | San Marino | ||
112. | Senegal | ||
113. | Serbia | ||
114. | Seychelles | ||
115. | Singapore | ||
116. | Slovakia | ||
117. | Slovenia | ||
118. | Solomon Islands | ||
119. | South Africa | ||
120. | Spain | ||
121. | Sri Lanka | ||
122. | Suriname | ||
123. | Swaziland | ||
124. | Sweden | ||
125. | Switzerland | ||
126. | Taiwan | ||
127. | Tajikistan | ||
128. | Tanzania | ||
129. | Thailand | ||
130. | Tonga | ||
131. | Trinidad & Tobago | ||
132. | Turks & Caicos Island | ||
133. | Tuvalu | ||
134. | UAE | ||
135. | Ukraine | ||
136. | United Kingdom | ||
136. | Uruguay | ||
137. | USA | ||
138. | Vanuatu |
This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.