The Indian government is considering introducing visa-on-arrival for citizens of countries that send the largest numbers of tourists to India, according to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism. This initiative is part of a broader effort to revive international tourism, which has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Speaking at the 54th annual convention of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) on October 16 taking place in Goa, Shekhawat highlighted the importance of easing visa restrictions to attract more international visitors. “We have started work on granting top international destinations visa-on-arrival status,” he said, adding that the government recently issued 100,000 free visas on World Tourism Day as part of these efforts.
The Tourism Ministry is collaborating closely with the Ministry of External Affairs to promote India as a global destination and engage with key international markets. Despite a robust recovery in domestic tourism post-COVID-19, inbound tourism from foreign markets has been slow to rebound. The visa-on-arrival initiative is expected to make it easier for travellers from key markets to visit India, thus stimulating the country’s tourism sector.
While domestic travel has been the primary driver of India’s tourism growth since the pandemic, this new visa policy is aimed at accelerating international tourist arrivals and positioning India as a preferred destination for global travellers. Goa chief minister, Pramod Sawant was the chief guest at the inaugural event which also saw attendance from Goa’s tourism minister, Rohan Khaunte.
