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The number of foreign tourists who arrived in India using e-visa doubled to 1,62,250 in December 2016 compared to 1,03,617 during the month of December 2015, registering a growth of 56.6 percent, though expectations were that the demonetisation would have affected the overall tourism sector in November and December 2016.
Britain (22.4%) continues to occupy top slot followed by USA (16.4%) and Russia (7.7%) in the order of foreign tourists who availed e-tourist visa facility last month, said the latest figures released by the government, without pondering on the demonetisation issue that rocked the whole nation. The facility of e-Visa has been made available to the citizens of 161 countries, arriving at 16 International Airports in India.
Some of the figures speak for themselves for the increase in tourists in December 2016:
In the month of December 2016, a total of 1,62,250 foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1,03,617 during the month of December, 2015 registering a growth of 56.6%.
In the calendar year from January to December 2016, a total of 10,79,696 tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 4,45,300 during January-December 2015, registering a growth of 142.5%.
The high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 161 countries as against the earlier coverage of 113 countries, said a government statement.
The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during December, 2016 were:
UK (22.4%),
USA (16.4%),
Russia (7.7%),
China (5.3%),
Australia (4.6%),
France (4.1%),
Germany (4.0%),
South Africa (3.7%),
Canada (3.7%) and
Republic of Korea (2.0%).
The percentage shares of top 10 ports in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during December, 2016 show that the national capital still leads in attracting the tourists or being the first point of visit to the country, followed by Mumbai and Goa. All other destination airports still attract tourists in sigle digit percentage points.
New Delhi Airport (36.6%), Mumbai Airport (23.1%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport (13.6%), Chennai Airport (6.0%), Bengaluru Airport (5.1%),Kochi Airport (4.7%), Kolkata Airport (2.5%), Hyderabad Airport (2.4%), Trivandrum Airport (1.9%) and Ahmadabad Airport (1.7%).
