Panjim, Dec 15 — The Goa Airport at Dabolim has issued 357 Visas-on-Arrival (VoA) within ten days of the commencement of this facility . The VoA facility was launched by the Union Home ministry on November 27, 2014 and Goa Airport at Dabolim started the process of issuing the visas from December 4, 2014. A total of 43 countries have been extended this facility and Goa is one of the nine airports which has been selected for providing the VoA facility. The country wise data of VoA issued is as follows: Russua (154), Ukraine (183), Germany (7), Jordan (3), Singapore (1), USA (4). Foreign nationals from Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Philippines have also been issued a VoA each as per data furnished by the Goa airport at Dabolim.
The Director of Tourism, Ameya Abhyankar has expressed confidence that this facility will give a big boost to tourism and global visitors from the enlisted 43 countries which have been selected for the VoA facility can avail of this benefit in a big way. “This facility for providing Visas on Arrival has just begun and we are confident that it will pick up during the peak season and in the New Year,” Mr. Abhyankar said. The Airport Director at Dabolim Airport Mr. K S Rao stated , “As soon as the central notification was issued we began the process of issuing the Visas on Arrival from December 4.”
The airport officials are expecting a rush for VoA during the Christmas season and New Year. “By the next season we will get an overwhelming response,’ he said. The Airport Director explained that all arrangements required for expediting the issue of VoA have been put in place. He explained that an international visitor seeking a VoA can avail of this facility within 10 to 15 minutes of landing at the airport. “If there is not much of a rush one could get this VoA within five minutes after submitted the form, photograph and payment of fee,” he said.
Goa Tourism is expecting a surge in foreign tourist arrivals from the existing 12 per cent to 15 per cent with the launch of the VoA facility. The list of 43 countries considered for Visa on Arrival Facility are Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Luxembourg, Marshal Islands, Mauritius, Mexico ,Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
