Growth of 28.1% in tourists availing of âTourist Visa on Arrivalâ (VoA) Scheme
A growth of 28.1 percent has been recorded in the number of tourists availing of the tourist Visa on Arrival(VoA) Scheme during the period January to September, 2013. A total number of 13,859 VoAs have been issued in this period as compared to 10,816 VoAs during the corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 28.1 per cent.
The following are the other important highlights of VoAs issued during September, 2013:
(i) During the period January to September 2013, a total number of 13,859 VoAs were issued as compared to 10,816 VoAs during corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 28.1%.
(ii) During the month of September, 2013, a total number of 1,683 VoAs were issued under this Scheme as compared to 1,404 VoAs during the month of September, 2012, registering a growth of 19.9%.
(iii) The number of VoAs issued under this scheme during September 2013 for nationals of the eleven countries were Japan (578), New Zealand (325), Indonesia (248), the Philippines (228), Singapore (219), Finland (47), Vietnam (16), Myanmar (8), Luxembourg (7) Cambodia (6), and Laos (1).
(iv) The number of VoAs issued under the Scheme during January to September, 2013 were Japan (4,868), New Zealand (2,490), Indonesia (1,936), the Philippines (1,880), Singapore (1,557), Finland (693), Vietnam (142), Luxembourg (109), Myanmar (86), Cambodia (84), and Laos (14).
(v) During the period January to September 2013, the highest number of VoAs were issued at New Delhi (7,830) followed by Mumbai (2,892), Chennai (2,029), Kolkata (968), Bangalore (72), Kochi(33), Hyderabad (23), and Trivandrum(12).
As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government launched the âVisa on Arrivalâ (VoA) Scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. The Scheme was extended to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.
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