Quantum jump in foreign tourist arrivals through VoA scheme

The number foreign tourist arriving in India has increased by 1161 per cent in February as compared to the same month the previous year since Visa on Arrival (VoA)-enabled electronic travel authorisation scheme become operational.
A total 24,985 foreign tourists arrived in the country availing the scheme in February this year as compared to 1,980 during the month of February 2014, registering a growth of 1161.9 per cent, according to Tourism Ministry data.
Government has launched Visa on Arrival enabled ETA on November 27, 2014 for 43 countries.
The scheme was further extended to the citizens of Guyana in January this year.

Continuing the growth trajectory, Incredible India campaign has attracted 50,008 foreigners who availed the scheme during January-February 2015 as compared to 3,883 in the same period last year, registering a growth of 1187.9 per cent.
This high growth may be attributed to introduction of ETA enabled VoA for 44 countries as against coverage of earlier scheme for 12 countries only.