When Completed – Non-Indians Visiting India From Canada Would No Need To Go ThroughThe Hassle Of Getting Visa Locally – That Hassle Can Happen When You Land In Delhi!\
Besides relaxing visa norms, there wasbroad consensus among India’s governmentelite on simplifying online visa system,relaxing visa regime for all types ofconferences and senior citizen foreigntourist or foreign pensioners. The committeeimplementing these changes alsodecided that on arrival visa facilitywould be extended to more airports likeGoa, Gaya, Chandigarh and Amritsarwhich have large flow of foreign tourists.
NEW DELHI – India has initiated theprocess for making it a more touristfriendly destination, which includesextending on arrival visa for 40 morecountries, simplifying online visa andattracting senior citizen foreign visitors.The consensus was brought on theseissues during a high level meeting convenedby the Planning Commission.”There was a consensus about initiatingthe process to make India a touristfriendlycountry and extending the onarrivalvisa facility to around 40 morecountries,” Planning Minister RajeevShukla convened the meeting told PTI.The minister said, “All officials, includingthe National Security Advisor(Shivshankar Menon), were of the viewthat India should do this as it would helpin garnering more foreign exchangewhen government is battling the problemof burgeoning current account deficit asit would help in earning foreignexchange.”Besides Commission’s Deputy ChairmanMontek Singh Ahluwalia, others whoattended meeting include, ForeignSecretary (Sujatha Singh), TourismSecretary (Parvez Deewan), AdditionalHome Secretary and representativesfrom the Intelligence Bureau and thePMO (Prime Minister’s Office).The countries for which visa on arrivalfacility would be extended include theU.S., the UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia,the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Germany,France, Italy, Swedan, the Netherlands,Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Austria,Denmark, Poland, Norway and Ireland.Under the visa on arrival system, Indiahas agreement with different countries,including Japan, Finland, Singapore,Indonesia, Luxembourg, New Zealand,Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laosand Myanmar.Besides relaxing visa norms, Shukla said:”There was broad consensus on simplifyingonline visa system, relaxing visaregime for all types of conferences andsenior citizen foreign tourist or foreignpensioners.”According to minister it was also decidedthat on arrival visa facility would beextended to more airports like Goa,Gaya, Chandigarh and Amritsar whichhave large flow of foreign tourists.
