Visa-on-arrival facility for five nationalities

The government has introduced a 'Tourist Visa-on-Arrival" scheme for citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore at four international airports in the country, minister of state in the ministry of home affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said in the Rajya Sabha today.

Tourists from these countries can avail of this facility at the Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports by paying a fee of $60, or an equivalent amount in Indian rupees per passenger (including children).

The "Tourist Visa-on-Arrival" scheme with these five countries has been implemented as a unilateral initiative of the government of India with the objective of promoting tourism, Ramachandran explained.

There were earlier reports that foreign tourists are facing a tough time filling up forms, standing in long queues at Indian embassies and reporting to the foreigner's registration offices in the country with the tightening of the visa rules.

Last month, the ministry of tourism extended the Visit India Year campaign from 31 March to end-December 2010.

MoT had launched Visit India Year campaign in early 2009 in partnership with travel and hospitality partners in the country as a measure to lure tourists.

Kumari Selja, union minister for tourism and urban housing and poverty alleviation, at that time said the visa-on-arrival would help in improving inbound tourism from those countries.

On extending the facility to other countries, Selja said, "The facility has been introduced on a pilot basis for one year, and the government will review success of the scheme after the specified period."