(a) whether the Government has extended the ‘Visa on Arrival’ facility to promote tourism sector;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the number of foreign tourists has increased after expansion of ‘Visa on Arrival’ facility; and
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has any proposal to enlist more countries under the said scheme to increase foreign tourism in the near future; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (d): Presently nationals of Japan, South Korea & UAE have been granted the facility of visa-on-arrival (VOA). This facility can be availed by such nationals for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes.
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L.S.US.Q.NO. 3714 FOR 17.03.2020
Number of VOA passengers from these countries during the period 2017 to 2019 is given below:
2017 2018 2019
Japan 12025 13053 13810
South Korea - 7735 28098
United Arab Emirates - - 434
(e) & (f): Expansion of VOA facility is an ongoing process which is taken up after appropriate consultation with all stakeholders.
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