The government of India has announced its decision to start issuing tourist visas to foreigners, starting from October 15, 2021. This major decision was taken to boost inbound tourism to India. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), this will be applicable to foreign tourists who are travelling to India through charter flights. It has also been said that others who are coming in through regular flights will be permitted entry from November 15 onwards.
Inbound travel will commence with all COVID related protocols in place. These protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, from time to time, must be followed by all foreign tourists, as well as carriers carrying them into the country, and all stakeholders at the landing stations.
According to reports, this decision was taken after representations from state governments, and various stakeholders in the tourism industry had requested the central government to start issuing visas for foreign travel. India has finally made a move to ease the restrictions on inbound travel that have been in place since March of last year.
The COVID-19 virus that caused numerous deaths in the country is currently not as active as it was in the summer of 2021. India will hence be issuing visa for international travel. Apart from ban on issuing visas in the country, the government had also put in place numerous other restrictions pertaining to travel. The travel sector was naturally affected by these decisions. However, with this major decision taken by the government, all that can change in the coming months.
