The latest decision of the Government of India to relax its tourist visa rules received praise from various quarters of the industry. The government recently decided to lift the restriction of the two-month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals coming to India except in the case of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistan and Bangladesh origin and stateless persons. K. Chiranjeevi, Union Minister for Tourism, welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to Chiranjeevi, the decision has addressed a long pending demand of the travel industry and would facilitate tourists visiting the country.
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) also welcomed this step. “IATO had been constantly pleading with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs and through the Ministry of Tourism to withdraw the 60 day restriction clause for re-entry after visiting the neighbouring countries as this was dampening the tourist interest and tourists were being harassed. This was also taken up with the PMO and raised at various platforms,” Goyal said.
The move to review the visa restriction was initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office in January 2012 after concerns were raised by the tourism ministry that the negative perception following the then restrictions had affected flow of tourists. The PMO had asked the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs to review the restrictions, including the possibility of bringing in more countries under the visa-on-arrival scheme and improving conditions at major airports.
