New Delhi, Feb 17 (FN Agency) India is gearing up to welcome foreign tourists. Amid signs of normalcy returning post Omicron surge and easing movement curbs across countries, Tourism Ministry has proposed longer-term tourist visas to foreign nationals coming to India. It has told Home Ministry that longer duration visas would help it plan campaigns and other promotional activities to position India as key travel destination, a top official told UNI. “We had proposed both removal of quarantine restrictions for incoming flyers and issuance of tourist visa for six months or longer.
While quarantine rules have been substantially eased by Health Ministry, we hope a positive response from Home Ministry as well,” the official said. Rajiv Mehra, President of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said that government is currently giving 30-days single-entry visa to foreign tourists and pitched for easing the visa rules to ensure the industry comes back on its feet. “Along with longer duration visas for tourists, regular commercial scheduled flights should also be restored. This will at least bring confidence in the market,” Mehra said. Foreign tourists are currently travelling to India on flights being operated under air bubble agreement between India and other countries. The normal flights which were to be operational from 15th December, 2021 have been discontinued citing Omicron virus spread. Mehra added that the inbound tourism industry has also demanded restoration of visas which had been suspended in the wake of spread of Corona virus in March 2020.
The government subsequently relaxed restrictions in a graded manner. Keeping in view the improvement in Covid situation, foreign nationals on e-tourist visa/tourist visa were allowed with effect from October 15 last year in case of group tourists. In case of individual foreign tourists, visa was allowed with effect from November 15, 2021. As per official data from Home Ministry, a total of 56,392 regular tourist visas and 111,141 e-tourist visas have been issued from 6th October, 2021 to 21st January, 2022. The last two years have been the worst in the history of travel and hospitality industry as pandemic has crippled it totally. As fear of contracting the deadly virus remains among people, the non-essential travel has shrunk. As a result of virtually no foreign tourists arrivals (FTAs), the foreign exchange earnings from this key segment has plummeted.