In an effort to improve tourism, foreign exchange earnings and increase people-to-people contact, India is expected to extend visa on arrival facility to tourists from 40 more countries.
In an effort to improve tourism, foreign exchange earnings and increase people-to-people contact, India is expected to extend visa on arrival facility to tourists from 40 more countries. The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting of different ministries and national security adviser to extend the facility to various countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Sources stated that the high-level meeting is expected to deliberate on the feasibility of the move. “We have called a meeting on October 7 to discuss the possibility of extending tourist visa for 40 more countries,” sources said. It is learnt that Commission’s Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and senior officials from concerned ministries like tourism, external affairs, home affairs are expected to attend the meeting. National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon will also participate in the discussions. Other countries for which this facility can be extended include Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Israel, Mauritius, Czech Republic, Oman, Argentina and Kazakhstan. Currently, India has agreement with countries like Japan, Finland, Singapore, Indonesia, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Burma for visa on arrival.
