6,500 tourists availed visa on arrival in 2010
By IANSFriday, January 7, 2011
NEW DELHI - As many as 6,549 tourists from five countries visited India in 2010 by availing the visa on arrival scheme, the tourism ministry said Friday.
The visa on arrival scheme was introduced Jan 1, 2010 for citizens of five countries - Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore.
According to a ministry statement, 1,944 tourists from New Zealand, 1,814 from Singapore, 1,457 from Japan, 1,263 from Finland and 71 from Luxembourg availed this scheme.
In December alone, 905 such visas were issued. The country-wise break up was New Zealand (340), Japan (216), Singapore (191), Finland (140) and Luxembourg (18).
The maximum number of such visas was issued at the Delhi airport - 3,493. This was followed by Mumbai - 1,511, Chennai - 1,211 and Kolkata — 334.
Last month, the home ministry announced that tourists from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines can also avail the visa scheme from Jan 1, 2011.
The visa will be allowed for a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility by immigration officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports on payment of a $60 fee or equivalent amount in Indian rupees per passenger - including children.
