Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Tourism is likely get a boost as nationals from 43 countries are now eligible to get Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled with Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at its Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi international airports.
Incidently, Kerala is the only state in the country offering such a facility at two airports. However, this facility is also available at seven other airports in the country.
Discussions are presently underway to introduce the facility at Kerala’s Kozhikode airport too.
Effective Nov 27, the TVoA enabled with ETA allows foreign tourists to apply and pay the fee for the visa online, without bothering to travel to the Indian missions in their native countries.
Approved applicants will receive the official travel authorisation via e-mail and will be only required to present a printed copy of this to immigration authorities upon their arrival in India.
“This new facility will make travelling to Kerala hassle-free and we will ensure that potential visitors are aware of this advantage by intensifying our promotional campaigns there,” said state Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar.
Kerala Tourism, which targets 30 lakh tourist arrivals by 2021, has been successfully pitching the Visa on Arrival facility through promotional campaigns worldwide.
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Goa are the other airports that currently offer the TVoA enabled with ETA service.