Subhash Goyal President, Indian Association of Tour Operators thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma and the officials of Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Tourism for implementing e-Tourist visa (e-TV) facility to Chinese nationals, Hong Kong and Macau from yesterday. This would take the total number of countries availing this facility to 77 from 74 earlier.
Goyal mentioned that China is a huge market especially for Buddhist Tourists. About 1.8 lakh tourists visited India from these countries in last three years and with this implementation of e-Tourist Visa to the Chinese Nationals, we expect 20-25 per cent increase in tourist arrivals from China.
However, Goyal appeals the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Tourism that under e-Tourist Visa Scheme, double/multiple entry visa be allowed with duration of stay to be extended to 45 days so that members selling combined packages of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka etc. can also ask their clients to apply for e-Tourist Visa. Presently all such tourists are avoiding India due to constraint of single entry.
Goyal also said that “For the international tourists Biometric process for the normal tourist visa, is creating lots of problems for them as they need to spend extra time and money especially in big countries where Indian Embassies/Consulates are located at distant places. They have to pay for travel and hotel accommodation to do biometric process. This process discourages the tourists to select India as a holiday destination. Therefore, all Tourist Visa whether e-Tourist Visa or normal multiple entry visa, should have biometrics upon arrival at International airports in India only.
He also mentioned that if we really want to promote Buddhist Circuits amongst tourists from countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam etc., for those countries and SAARC countries, Visa fee should not be more than 20 USD for e-Tourist Visa or it should be on reciprocal basis. In Sri Lanka for E-Visa, it is 15 USD and for Visa on Arrival it is 25 USD.
