CHENNAI: It has been nearly two years since the Government launched e-tourist visas, a scheme hailed as a shot in the arm for tourism. While the number of tourist arrivals have gone up, the scheme itself remains a not so traveller-friendly process and hoteliers and travel portals claim that, for them, the scheme hasn’t really been a game changer. The one positive, they say, is that it has the potential to provide a strong tailwind for the tourism sector.
In sheer numbers, the scheme’s achievements look significant. According to Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation, more than 1.5 lakh people from 76 countries have received e-tourist visas since November 2014.
According to a National Sample Survey Organisation report of 2015, the Government’s decision to offer e-visas to citizens of 186 countries is expected to boost foreign tourist arrivals. From 1,10,657 e-visa arrivals in 2015, the number has risen to 4,34,927 in 2016 — a whopping 293 per cent spike.
While these numbers haven’t really had much of an impact in the short run, in the long run, it will have a positive impact. Especially if it is better marketed and advertised, points out Pradeep Kalra, Senior Vice President, Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd.
With tourism getting inextricably linked e-commerce, online travel market accounts for more than 60% of total e-commerce market in India, portals like MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Goibibo and TripAdvisor stand to gain immensely if the scheme starts performing to potential.
“The introduction of e-visas will undoubtedly attract a new set of inbound tourists to the country. The travellers from Europe and Asia will consider having India in their itinerary,” said Aloke Bajpai, Chief Executive Officer, ixigo, an online travel agent.
But the challenges in arriving at this position are many. For instance, there used to be a large chunk of traffic coming to Kerala from Saudi Arabia for Ayurvedic treatments and to experience the monsoon. This year, that traffic has dropped, primarily because of the hassles involved in the e-visa process. It is inconvenient, observers say, to travel 200 kilometres to submit biometrics at the Embassy, a process introduced in the Middle East that is defeating the very purpose of e-visas.
The process is particularly unrewarding for those from the Middle East possibly because of security reasons. The issue, if given importance can give a spark to the momentum of tourism, Kalra added.
Bajpai, for his part, also pointed out that lack of awareness remains the biggest challenge. “We haven’t really seen the impact yet. With November considered beginning of the peak season, the companies expect to see an uptick in the business. Further, we have registered a 15-20 percent growth and it will definitely accelerate in the future due to the enhanced international travel,” added Bajpai.
Jaideep Ghosh, Partner and Head, Transport and Leisure, KPMG, weighed in with a broader perspective. “The country has fared poorly in the sector. While contribution to employment is quite high, in most other parameters, like contribution to GDP, the sector is weak. This is why the e-visa scheme is a boost to attract foreign tourism and encourage inflow of investments,” he said.