Visa on arrival: India sees 421.6% jump in tourist arrivals in December

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

CHENNAI: The central government's effort to boost inbound tourism by including more countries under the visa on arrival scheme has paid off.

In December alone, the country saw a 421.6% jump in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2013.

The government issued 14,083 visas in December 2014 compared with 2,700 visas in December 2013, according to data from the ministry of tourism.

For the year 2014, India saw a 92.4% increase in tourist arrivals compared with the number in 2013. The government issued 39,046 visas under the visa on arrival scheme between January and December 2014, compared with 20,294 visas issues during 2013.

India saw maximum tourist influx from the US (24.26%), followed by Russian Federation (15.06%), Republic of Korea (11.01%), Ukraine (8.16%), Australia (7.98%), New Zealand (5.08%), Japan (4.30%), Singapore (4.27%), Germany (4.05%) and the Philippines (3.10%).

In November last year, the government opened up visa on arrival for 43 countries enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Prior to it, the regular visa on arrival scheme had been in operation for 12 countries.

Visa on arrival: India sees 421.6% jump in tourist arrivals in December - The Times of India

 

[Indo-guy]

CHENNAI: The central government's effort to boost inbound tourism by including more countries under the visa on arrival scheme has paid off.

In December alone, the country saw a 421.6% jump in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2013.

The government issued 14,083 visas in December 2014 compared with 2,700 visas in December 2013, according to data from the ministry of tourism.

For the year 2014, India saw a 92.4% increase in tourist arrivals compared with the number in 2013. The government issued 39,046 visas under the visa on arrival scheme between January and December 2014, compared with 20,294 visas issues during 2013.

India saw maximum tourist influx from the US (24.26%), followed by Russian Federation (15.06%), Republic of Korea (11.01%), Ukraine (8.16%), Australia (7.98%), New Zealand (5.08%), Japan (4.30%), Singapore (4.27%), Germany (4.05%) and the Philippines (3.10%).

In November last year, the government opened up visa on arrival for 43 countries enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Prior to it, the regular visa on arrival scheme had been in operation for 12 countries.

Visa on arrival: India sees 421.6% jump in tourist arrivals in December - The Times of India

Great news .

I am sure this trend will continue ...

Masterstroke by Modi govt !!!

 

[sree45]

Greaat news.. India's image around the globe has gone up by more than a few notches since May last year...

 

[Star Wars]

Holy fack !!

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Great news .

I am sure this trend will continue ...

Masterstroke by Modi govt !!!

I think it's about economics. Just introducing some visa on arrival won't create such a change. I think because of recent recovery, people have a little (not a lot) of money to spend so they have come to India. It helped that it was easy to come.

 

[Indo-guy]

I think it's about economics. Just introducing some visa on arrival won't create such a change. I think because of recent recovery, people have a little (not a lot) of money to spend so they have come to India. It helped that it was easy to come.

Visa on arrival ...makes travels quite hassle free .
It is an added incentive .

 

[notsuperstitious]

The news heading is misleading. Its only talking about visa on arrival, not overall tourist inflows that matters.

Of course without a shadow of doubt, visa on arrival is a great incentive though.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Visa on arrival ...makes travels quite hassle free .
It is an added incentive .

it is an 'added' incentive certainly.

 

[Judge]

We lack the infrastructure to ensure that most Tourists have a great time.

Better roads and cleaner cities will make the difference whether they recommend others and/or come for repeat visits.

For example, I am highly surprised UP Government or GoI is not thinking about extending the Agra-Lucknow expressway (currently under construction) to Varanasi and Budhist pilgrimage places in East UP and Bihar.

That would make a massive impact, a high quality expressway starting from Delhi and running the length of UP to Bihar/Bodhgaya.

 

[13 kumaon]

Thanks modi for pulling the country out of Panja of congress now we need better infrastructure and safety for tourists.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

We lack the infrastructure to ensure that most Tourists have a great time.

Better roads and cleaner cities will make the difference whether they recommend others and/or come for repeat visits.

For example, I am highly surprised UP Government or GoI is not thinking about extending the Agra-Lucknow expressway currently under construction to Varanasi and Budhist pilgrimage places in East UP and Bihar.

That would make a massive impact, a high quality expressway starting from Delhi and running the length of UP to Bihar/Bodhgaya.

The single biggest change to make is to get garbage collection and area cleanliness handed over to large 'utility' companies like that in the US. You don't do that, cities will remain unclean.

 

[13 kumaon]

We lack the infrastructure to ensure that most Tourists have a great time.

Better roads and cleaner cities will make the difference whether they recommend others and/or come for repeat visits.

For example, I am highly surprised UP Government or GoI is not thinking about extending the Agra-Lucknow expressway currently under construction to Varanasi and Budhist pilgrimage places in East UP and Bihar.

That would make a massive impact, a high quality expressway starting from Delhi and running the length of UP to Bihar/Bodhgaya.

For Buddhist tourist places there is separate plan Buddha tourist circuit envisaged years ago but the current govt.discontinued it and rather more interested in Lucknow Agra expressway and its not GOI project.

 

[Judge]

The single biggest change to make is to get garbage collection and area cleanliness handed over to large 'utility' companies like that in the US. You don't do that, cities will remain unclean.

True
Though more than cleanliness, I think about access.

If we can provide easy access to areas, then the area gets developed and tourists have an easy time. The more an area remains closed off/difficult to get to, it remains unclean, poor and full of touts.

Having great road (new expressways, not the jugad roads we call National Highways) and rail infrastructure running from Delhi, spanning UP and Bihar to say Sikkim.
The few billions required to invest here would pay itself back in barely a couple of years by increased tourism inflows!

For Buddhist tourist places there is separate plan Buddha tourist circuit envisaged years ago but the current govt.discontinued it and rather more interested in Lucknow Agra expressway and its not GOI project.

I know its not a GoI project, but I dont understand that why GoI is now not interested in extending the expressway from Lucknow (being built by UP Government) to Allahabad and then to Varanasi and then on to Patna.

Or heck why is UP Govt itself is not focusing on taking the expressway forward.

Just imagine, it would transform the economy and translate tourism potential to actual increased tourist inflows.

 

[Levina]

This is good news but there's still lots to be done.
Recently the rape of a Japanese girl was highlighted in the foreign media and I heard Japanese and British embassy's had warned its citizens against travelling to India...or something to that effect.

 

[Star Wars]

This is good news but there's still lots to be done.
Recently the rape of a Japanese girl was highlighted in the foreign media and I heard Japanese and British embassy's had warned its citizens against travelling to India...or something to that effect.

Rapes happen everywhere, not just in India. There is nothing you can do to prevent a rape. Only place you can make a difference is swift justice. Nothing more than the west with its usual white knight attitude.