(a) whether the Tourist Visa-on-Arrival (TVOA) scheme has made any impact in the arrival of foreign tourists in the country;
(b) if so, the progress made in the tourists influx since its inception;
(c) the name of the countries and airports for which such facility is available at present;
(d) whether the Government proposes to extend the scheme to some more countries and airports in the country; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)(DR. K. CHIRANJEEVI)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.33
ANSWERED ON 23.11.2012 REGARDING TOURIST VISA-ON-ARRIVAL
(TVOA) SCHEME.
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. As a facilitative measure to attract more
foreign tourists to India, the Government launched a scheme of
“Tourist Visa on Arrival†(TVOA) in January 2010. During the periods
January – December 2010, January – December 2011 and January –
October 2012 a total of 6549, 12761 and 12273 TVOA were issued,
respectively, under the scheme.
(c): At present, TVOA facility in India is available for the citizens of
eleven countries, viz. Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Laos,
Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and
Vietnam visiting India for tourism purposes.
TVOA facility is available at the international airports of
Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.
(d) & (e): In order to promote tourism, the Tourist Visa on Arrival
(TVOA) scheme was introduced for the nationals of five countries,
namely, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore
with effect from 01.01.2010 for one year. The scheme was found to
be useful by foreign nationals. The Government of India extended the
Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for the nationals of the above
mentioned five countries. Further, the TVOA scheme was extended
to the nationals of Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam with
effect from 01.01.2011 and for the nationals of Indonesia and
Myanmar with effect from 28.01.2011. Presently, the Scheme is
available to the nationals of 11 countries.
Thus it will be seen that the extension of the TVOA facility to
other countries & airports within India is an ongoing process based
on various factors.