India awaits foreign tourists from 76 countries with open arms, thanks to e-tourist visa

India, be prepared to offer best of your hospitality as soon there is going to be a flood of tourists in the country.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government extended e-tourist visa facility to nationals of 76 countries, experts are of the opinion that this move will give a boost to tourism in the country.

Earlier, India offered visa on arrival to nationals of 12 countries.

So, hoteliers can expect some brisk business in the second half of this financial year.

The tourism industry is expecting 15% growth in foreign tourist arrivals in the current fiscal over the previous year. In the past three years, the industry witnessed annual growth of about 10% in the past three years.

In 2014-15, foreign tourist arrivals grew 8.2% over the previous year to 77 lakh.

"Given all the push and impetus given to tourism by the central government and the fact that overall we are seeing more interest from foreign tourists -both corporate and leisure -the growth might be trumping what you have seen in the past and you could see a 12-15% year-on-year growth in foreign tourist arrivals this year," Achin Khanna, managing director for consulting and valuation practice at HVS South Asia, told Economic Times.

Under the e-tourist visa scheme, foreign nationals can apply for a visa by uploading their passport and photograph and paying the visa fee on line.

Then the concerned authorities will send an electronic travel authorisation, or e-visa, via email within 72 hours.

As per the he tourism ministry, the number of tourists under the e-tourist visa scheme grew to 1, 26, 214 in the six months to June.

Following economic slowdown, India's hospitality industry has been in the doldrums over the past few years.

Several hotels slipped into the red amid falling check-ins and declining room rates.

"The hotel industry is likely to see a highly reduced new supply of 4% in 2015-16 which would result in occupancies showing an increase of 5-6% over last year along with a corresponding gentle increase in average daily rates leading to a top line growth for the hotel industry of 6-7%," Mandeep Lamba, MD, India, hotels and hospitality group, JLL, told ET.

(Image: Indiatimes)