- Use of traditional visas dropped by over 20% from 1980 to 2018
- Indian offers visa-free access and e-visa to citizens of 166 countries
- 40% of all tourist arrivals in 2018 were recorded in Europe
Changing visa trends and how the trend is boosting tourism industry across the globe? Let us delve deeper.
In a bid to welcome tourists, an increasing number of countries are offering tourists e-visas in place of traditional visas.
A recent report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization said that the use of visas on arrival and e-visas has been steadily increasing while the use of traditional visas has been reducing.
Changing Visa Trends – World Tourism Highlights
The report showed that tourism trends in 2018 have stayed ahead of the GDP curve. This was because of a number of reasons.
Primary amongst them is the changing visa trend. The use of traditional visas dropped from 75% in 1980 to 53% in 2018.
This is an indication of the efforts being made by countries to simplify the visa application process and make it easier for tourists to visit different countries.
The study also shows that traveller experiences are also being shaped by artificial intelligence. A number of tour organizers are offering personalized customer experiences in the form of virtual assistants.
Other reasons for increased international travel included low-interest rates, moderate exchange rates, and better air connectivity.
India and The Changing Visa Trends
India too is keeping pace with these changes. In an effort to increase the tourist inflow, India now offers visa-free access and a-visas to travellers from 166 countries.
Based on the footfalls of tourists from each country, the Indian government has also said that it will introduce flexible e-tourist visas for citizens from 160 countries.
The fee structure may be revised to be seasonal as well. The peak season for travel between July and March will attract higher fees while travel fees between April and June will be significantly lower.
On the other hand, Indian citizens can get visa-free access to 25 countries and a visa on arrival to 39 other countries.
Changing Visa Trends – Tourist Arrival Statistics
In 2018, countries in Asia and the Pacific region recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals. 40% of all tourist arrivals were recorded in Europe.
Arrivals in Asia were driven by tourist arrivals in South Asia. India, Nepal and Sri Lanka saw double-digit growth in the past year. Vietnam was amongst the regions that saw the highest tourist growth in south-east Asia.
In terms of outbound tourism, the highest number of tourists was from India and China.
Also See
- How to Obtain India Tourist Visa on Arrival or e-Visa
- Increase in tourists visiting India on e-visas
- 15 Awesome Destinations That Issue Visa On Arrival To Indians
