With this, the scheme will provide the benefit to visitors from 76 countries in Goa even as the Centre plans to extend it to 150 countries by 2016. “The airport has already made adequate arrangements to cater to large influx of foreign arrivals under the ETV facility,” said an official.
As many as 16,875 ETVs were issued to the already listed countries till June 8, 2015. Among the countries that will benefit from the latest extension are Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Belgium, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Surinam, Sweden, Tanzania, East Timor, Turks & Caicos Islands, UK, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Records indicate that even though the charter season has shown a marginal dip in arrivals, a sizeable number of tourists arrived as Free Independent Travellers, which thus made up for the loss.
Goa also had a successful season as far as cruise liners are concerned with about 42 that docked at MPT brought in over 34,000 foreign tourists.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the government is looking forward to the new 2015 tourist season that will further add to the domestic and international arrivals.
