For USD 60, avail Visa-on-Arrival scheme

New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) With the aim of attracting
more tourists during the Commonwealth Games, government of
India has decided to charge a fee of USD 60 per person for the
grant of Visa-on-Arrival scheme.
The scheme has been extended to five countries --
Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore -- on a
pilot basis for a year beginning January.
"Though we have sought more countries to be included
in the scheme, these five countries are being granted the
Visa-on-Arrival facility as a pilot project. Depending upon
the response, more countries are likely to be included later
on," a senior official of the Tourism Ministry said.
While 92,908 Singaporeans visited India in 2007, the
number increased to 1,00,351 in 2008. From New Zealand 30,266
tourists came in 2008 against 27,498 in 2007.
Arrivals from Japan also registered a growth in the
last two years. India received 1,50,732 Japanese tourists in
2008 against 1,45,538 in the previous year.
However, the arrival from Finland saw a decline in
2008. While 34,364 visited the country in 2007, the number
decreased to 30,889 in 2008.
"We expect a good response during the Commonwealth
Games here in October as a large number of visitors are
expected to come from these countries, specifically from
Singapore and New Zealand, which are Commonwealth countries,"
the official said.
Tourists from these countries can avail the scheme for
a maximum of 30 days with single entry facility by the
Immigration Office at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata
airports, as per the Visa-on-Arrival guidelines finalised by
the government.
Tourists shall be allowed entry for a maximum of two
times in a calendar year with a minimum gap of two months
between each visit under the scheme.
The Tourism Ministry of India has launched the Visit
India Year 2009 scheme in overseas markets with effect from
April 2009 till March 2010 whereby attractive incentives are
being offered by airlines, hotels, and tour operators to
tourists.
The year 2009 was not good for the sector as arrival
was affected due to several reasons including the Mumbai
terror attack, swine flu and travel advisories issued by many
countries during this period.
We have undertaken a series of promotional overseas
campaign specially in the Commonwealth countries and we are
hopeful that foreign tourist arrivals will gain momentum in
the coming months and also during the Games in the Indian
capital Delhi, the official added. PTI ARU