The tourism and hospitality stakeholders of the country have welcomed the government’s recent decision to restore e-tourist visa facility to nationals of 156 countries with immediate effect. In the wake of the pandemic, e-tourist visas were suspended since March 2020.
Madhavan Menon – Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) said, “This announcement is an important step that gives impetus to the revival of inbound tourism and allied sectors, including hospitality and aviation; also local communities and tourist guides dependent on tourism for their livelihood.”
As per a government of India notification, the e-tourist visas under the three options (one month, one year and five years), which remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored. Applications for fresh e-tourist visas for eligible nationalities can also be made at the Indian E-Visa Portal [https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html].
The Government of India has also decided to restore old valid long duration (10 years) regular (paper) tourist visas for the nationals of the US. and Japan with immediate effect. Fresh issue of regular (paper) long-duration (10 years) tourist visas has also been restored for the nationals of the US. and Japan.
Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC Travel said, “This welcoming move by the Government of India comes at a time when countries are also reopening their borders and similar announcements from other countries will inspire India’s outbound travellers. The positive announcement is reflective of the declining Covid caseloads and hence serves to boost confidence in travel thus significantly contributing to the revival of the travel and hospitality industry.”
The foreign nationals on tourist and e-tourist visas will be able to enter into India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (IPs) or Airport ICPs by flights, including those under the ‘Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or by any flights as allowed by the DGCA or Ministry of Civil Aviation.
In no case, the foreign nationals will be allowed to enter through land border or riverine routes on tourist visa or e-tourist visa.
“With the recent decision of the government to allow scheduled international flights, it is timely that the authorities have also announced resumption of e-tourist visa facility. This move will help to create demand by offering ease of travel to international tourists. We expect that demand from key source markets like the US, Europe and Japan will revive in the coming tourist season beginning October,” said Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & MD, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts.
A section of stakeholders have also expressed that the resumption of e-tourist facility should have come earlier, coinciding with the current inbound tourist season.
“Coming close on the heels of the resumption of scheduled commercial flights, this is a long-awaited move. If only these announcements had come two months back, we could have salvaged something from the inbound season. However, we are glad that the uncertainty has finally ended and international visitors can freely plan their travel,” said Ajay Prakash, President, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI).
“We request the government to extend free tourist visas facility until March 2025 and that visa fee for all other categories be halved till that date,” added Prakash.
In order to revive the tourism sector, the Indian government had last year decided to provide free visas to 5 lakh tourists visiting India.