Foreign tourists may be allowed to visit India soon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

With the number of Covid-19 cases seeing a decline, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been holding deliberations with stakeholders on the expected date and modalities for opening up of the country for foreign tourists.

Decision in 10 days

• MHA is in talks with stakeholders on allowing foreigners
• A formal announcement may come in 10 days, say officials
• First 5 lakh visas to be issued free to help tourism, aviation

Senior MHA officers are working on it and a formal announcement on permitting foreign tourists to visit India may come within the next 10 days, officials said. They said a decision had been taken to issue first five lakh tourist visas free of cost in an attempt to revive the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors. These will be issued till March 31, 2022, or till the number reaches five lakh, whichever is earlier. The financial implication on this account would be Rs100 crore.

The possible conditions with which tourists would be allowed like jab and having a negative list of nations with heavy caseload are being discussed. The opening up is likely to be phase-wise to see the response and implications.

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