Foreign nationals from over 45 countries received their e-tourist visa on arrival at Tiruchi international airport since the launch of the facility here last year.
Over 3,600 foreign nationals have landed at Tiruchi airport making use of the e-tourist visa after the facility was launched on August 15, 2015, airport sources told The Hindu .
Tiruchi is one of the 16 airports in the country where e-tourist visa facility is available to overseas nationals touring India for various reasons such as sightseeing, business visit or to undergo short-term medical treatment.
Although the facility was in vogue only at nine major airports initially, the Centre subsequently extended it to seven non-metro international airports, including Tiruchi on August 15 last year.
The Centre had extended the facility to seven more international airports to boost tourism across the country. The Airports Authority of India, the Bureau of Immigration, and the National Informatics Centre had created required infrastructure at Tiruchi airport for the introduction of the facility.
Sources said Malaysians, Singaporeans, Sri Lankans, and those from the United Kingdom were the top four overseas nationals who took e-tourist visa in Tiruchi in the last one year.
The facility had been utilised by foreigners from Australia, Canada, the U.S., Germany, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, and Jordan, the sources added.
The introduction of e-tourist visa at Tiruchi airport, which has direct flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and Dubai, has attracted more foreign tourists, said the sources.
In June and July alone, the number of foreign tourists who arrived at Tiruchi airport making use of the facility was 425 and 570 respectively.
Recently, the airport saw over 55 foreign nationals taking the e-tourist visa on a single day, which is highest in the last one year, the sources said.
Most foreign nationals had arrived by Air Asia, Tiger Airways, Malindo Air, Sri Lankan Airlines besides the Air India Express from Singapore.
Those getting e-tourist visa can stay in India for 30 days from the date of arrival. The photographs and finger prints of such tourists are captured in the four dedicated counters set up for the purpose at the international terminal building.
A foreign tourist can get e-tourist visa only twice in a calendar year.
