Lok Sabha Question No. 1331 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: Inclusion of  More Countries in ‘Tourist Visa on Arrival’ Facility
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1331 ANSWERED ON 25.11.2019

## INCLUSION OF MORE COUNTRIES IN 'TOURIST VISA ON ARRIVAL' FACILITY

1331. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  has  been  any  increase  in  the  foreign  tourist arrivals owing to the e-tourist visas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  there  are  any  plans  to  include  more  countries  in 'Tourist Visa on Arrival' facility;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  projects  or  schemes  currently  being  implemented  by  the Government for developing avenues and increasing tourism in Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) and (b): Yes,  Sir.  As  per  the  information  received  from Bureau  of  Immigration,  there  has  been  significant  increase  in  the foreign  tourist  arrivals  (FTAs)  through  e-tourist  visas,  details  of which are given below:

| Year              |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 |
|-------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| FTA (in Millions) |   1.18 |   1.74 |   2.09 |

(c) & (d): There is no proposal to extend visa on arrival facility to more countries.

(e): Development  of  tourism  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration. However,  Ministry of Tourism, Government  of  India under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies, provide central financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territories/Central Agencies for development of tourism  infrastructure  and  facilities in the country. Details of tourism projects sanctioned by Government of India under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD in Uttar Pradesh are at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1331 ANSWERED ON 25.11.2019 REGARDING  INCLUSION  OF  MORE  COUNTRIES  IN  'TOURIST  VISA ON ARRIVAL' FACILITY

|   Sr. No. | Scheme Name     | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Buddhist Circuit - Srawasti, Kushinagar, &Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh.                                                                                                                                                                         |
|         2 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur as Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                               |
|         3 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Spiritual Circuit (Shahjahanpur-Basti- Ahar-Aligharh- Kasgunj-Sarosi-Pratapgarh-Unnao- Kaushambi- Mirzapur-Gorakpur- Kairana- Doamriyagunj- Bagpat-Barabanki- Azamgarh)                                                                        |
|         4 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Spiritual Circuit -II(Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi) in Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme |
|         5 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Heritage Circuit(Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- MarharDham (SantKabir Nagar)- ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- MavaharSthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut) in Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                      |
|         6 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Jewar-Dadri-Sikandrabad- Noida-Khurja-Banda in Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|         7 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Gorakhnath Temple(Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj)                                                                                                                                                |
|         8 | SWADESH DARSHAN | Development of Ayodhya under Ramayana Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                 |

|   9 | PRASHAD   | Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)         |
|-----|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  10 | PRASHAD   | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan, Distt. Mathura |
|  11 | PRASHAD   | Development of Varanasi                                                  |
|  12 | PRASHAD   | Cruise Tourism in River Ganga, Varanasi                                  |
|  13 | PRASHAD   | Development of Varanasi- Project - II                                    |
|  14 | PRASHAD   | Development of Govardhan, Mathura                                        |

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