The Taj Mahal, India
Tourists travelling to India from 180 countries will no longer have to queue at their local consulates to obtain visas after New Delhi announced an "historic" overhaul of its strict visa regime.
Most foreigners currently have to wait several
weeks before learning whether they will be allowed to enter India after submitting their applications at visa processing centres, a major deterrent for potential visitors.
Under the new scheme, many tourists will be allowed to apply online and then receive the green light within five days, before picking up their visa at the airport on arrival into India.
"We have decided to extend the visa-on-arrival facility to tourists from 180 nations," Planning Minister Rajiv Shukla told reporters in the capital late Wednesday.
"The facility will provide a major boost to the country's tourism sector. This is historic," Shukla said.
Visitors from countries which account for the bulk of India's tourists -- such as the United States, Britain and France -- that have had to go through the time-consuming process of applying in person will be among those to benefit from the changes to regulations.
Citizens from eight countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq have not been included in the changes for security reasons.
A meeting of top foreign ministry, tourism and other government officials on Wednesday cleared the way for the changes, which were also recently approved by the India's intelligence agencies.
The changes were first mooted last October, although only for 40 countries.
The government hopes to have the necessary infrastructure in place, including at the country's airports, by October in time for the start of the peak tourist season, local media reported Thursday.
India currently issues visas on arrival to visitors from 11 foreign nations, including Japan, Finland and Indonesia.
Despite its cultural attractions, beaches and mountains, India attracts relatively few foreign holidaymakers -- 6.58 million in 2012, which was about a quarter of Thailand or Malaysia.
India tightened entry restrictions in 2009 in the wake of revelations that David Headley, a foreign militant who helped plot the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, regularly stayed in India on long-term tourist visas.
Source: AFP
GMT 08:18 2018 Monday ,10 December
Trains cancelled across Germany after transport union strikesGMT 11:40 2018 Monday ,03 December
Special passport gate set up at Cairo airport for passengers from African countriesGMT 15:39 2018 Tuesday ,20 November
First flight with Russian hybrid aircraft engine scheduled for 2019GMT 10:06 2018 Sunday ,04 November
Chinese visitors driving Australian tourism boom , latest data showedGMT 15:06 2018 Friday ,02 November
Sydney Airport chief wants more share of Chinese tourist marketGMT 17:40 2018 Wednesday ,31 October
Oman Air has launches direct daily service between Muscat and MoscowGMT 08:23 2018 Monday ,29 October
Lion Air plane with 189 people aboard crashes into sea off W. IndonesiaGMT 08:36 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
China's Xi opens controversial bridge linking mainland to Hong KongMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor