After the Narendra Modi led government extension of India e tourist visa for about 76 countries, now the experts hope India e-tourist visa will give tremendous impetus to the country’s tourism sector.
Earlier, India had offered the visa on arrival to the citizens of twelve countries.
The tourism industry in this fiscal year is expecting a growth of 15 percent in the foreign arrivals than the previous year. While, during the past 3 years the tourism sector had only registered 10 percent growth annually.
In the last fiscal year 2014-15, the tourist arrivals had registered 8.2 percent over the previous year accounting 77 Lakh foreign tourists.
Under e-tourist visa scheme, foreign citizens can apply a visa by uploading their photograph and passport along with the payment through online. The tourist would receive the e-tourist visa within the next 72 hours.
According to the tourism ministry, the number of foreign tourists coming under the e-visa scheme grew about 1, 26,214 in the first six months to June.
The Indian tourism industry has been in stagnation following the economic slowdown. Several hotels had registered a fall in the tourist arrivals and also the declining room rentals.