Progress of Tourist Visa on Arrival Scheme in May 2012

During the month of May 2012, a total number of 812 Visa on Arrival (VOAs) were issued as compared to 865 VoAs during the month of May 2011, registering a decline of 6.1% . During the period January-May 2012, a total number of 5857 VoAs were issued as compared to 5004 VoAs during corresponding period of 2011 registering a positive growth of 17%. The number of VOAs issued under this scheme, during May 2012 for nationals of the eleven countries were Japan (218), New Zealand (137), Indonesia (130), Philippines (131), Singapore (111), Finland (40), Vietnam (26), Cambodia (7), Luxemburg (5), Myanmar (5) and Laos (2).

The number of VoAs issued, during January- May 2012 were New Zealand (1256), Japan (1392), Indonesia (940), Philippines (831), Singapore (752), Finland (483), Vietnam (76), Myanmar (41), Luxemburg (36), Cambodia (44) and Laos (6). During the period January- May 2012, the maximum number of VoAs were issued at Delhi airport (3439), followed by Mumbai (1283), Chennai (789) and Kolkata (346).

As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government launched a Scheme of “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. The Government extended this Scheme for the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.