India could quickly open its doorways to overseas vacationers for the primary time in a year-and-a-half, officers stated amid a decline within the variety of Covid circumstances within the nation.
Free visas shall be issued to the primary 5 lakh overseas vacationers in an effort to revive the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic for the reason that nationwide lockdown was introduced from March 2020.
Top officers of the Union Home Ministry are holding discussions with all stakeholders on the anticipated date and modalities to open the nation to overseas vacationers.
A house ministry official stated a proper announcement of overseas vacationers coming to India may very well be made inside the subsequent 10 days. The determination is being taken in view of the declining variety of COVID-19 circumstances within the nation.
On Sunday, 30,773 new circumstances have been reported whereas energetic circumstances got here down to three.32 lakh.
India’s COVID-19 vaccination protection additionally crossed 80 crore on Saturday.
Free visas to vacationers shall be issued until March 31, 2022 or until the issuance of 5 lakh visas, whichever is earlier. The whole monetary implication for this is able to be Rs 100 crore.
The official stated the free visa transfer is predicted to encourage short-term vacationers visiting India.
The value of a month-long e-tourist visa is country-specific, however is round USD 25. The one-year multiple-entry e-tourist visa payment is round USD 40.
The e-tourist visa has been suspended since March 2020.
Home ministry officers stated they have been nonetheless contemplating whether or not overseas vacationers can be allowed to enter with sure circumstances, equivalent to limiting it to solely vaccinated vacationers for now and having a unfavourable listing of nations the place COVID-19 circumstances are a matter of concern.
Another official stated the opening can be anticipated to be phased out to see the response and affect.
Many international locations, together with some in Europe, have already opened for tourism.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
