Chennai: There has been a surge in e-Tourist Visa arrivals in the country and encouraging increase in foreign nationals' footfalls. And Chennai has been a significant contributor.
During April, 2017, a total of 1.14 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as against 0.7 lakh during the corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 63.4%. From January- April 2017, a total of 5.82 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa compared to 3.91 lakh during January-April 2016, registering a growth of 48.8%.
The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during April 2017 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (23.07%) followed by USA (10.65%), UK (10.51%), Germany (3.28%), Australia (3.15%), Malaysia (2.98%), China (2.95%), Sri Lanka (2.85%), Russian Fed. (2.78%), Canada (2.43%), France (2.33%), Japan (2.14%), Afghanistan (1.69%), Singapore (1.69%) and Nepal (1.61%).
While Chennai's share in tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during April, 2017 is 5.1%, New Delhi Airport (48.6%), topped the list followed by Mumbai Airport (20.4%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport (7.2%) and Bengaluru Airport (5.4%).
The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during April 2017 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (29.20%) followed by Mumbai Airport (15.48%), Haridaspur Land checkpost (12.88%) and Chennai Airport (6.56%).
Bengaluru Airport (5.67%), Kolkata Airport (5.01%), Cochin Airport (4.06%), Gede Rail Land checkpost (2.89%), Goa Airport (2.86%), Hyderabad Airport (2.60%), Ghojadanga land checkpost (1.69%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.35%), Trivandrum (1.34%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.31%) and Amritsar Airport (1.23%).
However, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has claimed that the FTAs have not really picked-up as much as one would have hoped for despite the Government's easing up of Visa policies for a host of countries.
