Lok Sabha Question No. 103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: e-Tourist Visa Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.103 ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## E-TOURIST VISA SCHEME

## 103.  SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has included some more countries under the ambit of 'EVS (e-tourist Visa Scheme);
- (b)
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether footfall of international tourists has increased on account of this scheme; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a): Government  of  India  introduced  e-Tourist  Visa  (earlier  known  as Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by ETA) on 27.11.2014 to facilitate the nationals  of  the  43  countries  visiting  India.  The  e-Tourist  Visa  as  on 26.02.2016 is available for nationals of 150 countries.
- The list of 150 countries eligible for e-Tourist Visa to India  is at
- (b): Annexure.
- (c): Does not arise.
- (d) and (e):  Yes, Madam. 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.

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%.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.103 ANSWERED  ON  25.04.2016  REGARDING  ETOURIST VISA SCHEME.

List  of  150  countries  whose citizens are eligible for e-Tourist Visa Facility to India:

Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba,  Australia,  Austria,  Bahamas,  Barbados,  Belgium,  Belize, Bolivia,  Bosnia  &  Herzegovina,  Botswana,  Brazil,  Brunei,  Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, ChinaSAR  Hongkong,  China-  SAR  Macau,  Colombia,  Comoros,  Cook Islands,  Costa  Rica,  Cote  d'lvoire,  Croatia,  Cuba,  Czech  Republic, Denmark,  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican  Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia,  Georgia,  Germany,  Ghana,  Greece,  Grenada,  Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel,  Jamaica,  Japan,  Jordan,  Kenya,  Kiribati,  Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,  Luxembourg, Madagascar,  Malawi,  Malaysia,  Malta,  Marshall  Islands,  Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat,  Mozambique,  Myanmar,  Namibia,  Nauru,  Netherlands, New  Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue Island, Norway, Oman,  Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Macedonia, Romania,  Russia,  Saint  Christopher  and  Nevis,  Saint  Lucia,  Saint Vincent  &  the  Grenadines,  Samoa,  San  Marino,  Senegal,  Serbia, Seychelles,  Singapore,  Slovakia,  Slovenia,  Solomon  Islands,  South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks  &  Caicos  Island,  Tuvalu,  UAE,  Ukraine,  United  Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam., Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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