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Special News |
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Soon, e-visa for
another 36 countries |
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Riding high
on the success of
the e-tourist visa
scheme, the Union
tourism ministry
plans to extend
online visas to 36
countries including
Iran, Italy, Egypt
and Nigeria among
others. According to
sources, the
proposal has been
sent for approval to
the ministry of home
affairs. If
accepted, 186
countries will now
be able to access
online visa to
travel to India.
Among the countries
that have been
shortlisted are:
Iran, Egypt, Qatar,
Bahrain, Saudi
Arabia, Maldives,
Italy, Nigeria,
Turkey, Ethiopia,
Kazakhstan and
Morocco. The online
visa scheme that was
launched in November
2013 has been
steadily expanded
and has become a
popular alternative
for tourists.
Tourism ministry
data shows that
during January-June
2016, a total of
4,71,909 tourists
arrived on e-tourist
visa as compared to
1,26,214 during
January-June 2015,
registering a growth
of 273.9%. The high
growth may be
attributed to
introduction of
e-tourist visa for
150 countries in
February 2016 as
compared to 76
countries earlier,
the ministry said.
A total of 36,982
tourists arrived in
June 2016 as
compared to 15,557
during the same
period last year
registering a growth
of 137.7%.
A statement by the
ministry said that
the e-visa facility
was most popular
with the United
States, that drew
the maximum number
of tourists (23.22%)
followed by UK
(14.16%), China
(6.91%), Australia
(5.59%) and France
(4.10%) in May 2016. |
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