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India mulls visa on arrival for foreign tourists

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

India plans to offer visa on arrival to foreign tourists, said Union Tourism Minister Ananth Kumar. With 'visas' having been identified as one of the major problems faced by tourists, the government is likely to introduce a 'one-touch facility' at tourist centers to provide relief.

The minister said that the visa on arrival facility would first be introduced for a few countries on a pilot basis. He, however, declined to name any country.

"This would depend upon a slew of factors, like security and reciprocity in providing a similar facility to Indians by those nations," he clarified.

Besides simplifying the procedure for granting visas and easing the immigration process, plans are afoot to develop proper infrastructure, increase air-seat capacity from 5.4 million to 11.6 million, and project India's strengths so as to boost tourism, the minister said.

As a part of this exercise, the tourism ministry has allocated Rs 25 million to market Goa as one of the six major international destinations for tourists. The marketing exercise would basically focus on tourists from the US, Europe, Middle East and South East Asian nations.

Besides circulating promotional material through its offices the world over, the tourism ministry would advertise in all forms of media and hold roadshows, etc.

Virtual walk-through CDs on Khajuraho, Goa, the Taj Mahal and other historical monuments would also be readied.

A Bharat Partyatan Bhavan which will be a one-stop facility for foreign tourists will also be set up in Goa.

Ananth Kumar said that the focus of the marketing exercise would be on India's rich cultural heritage, scientific advancement and providing entertainment in a secure environment.

He admitted that there are more Indians traveling abroad than there are foreign tourists visiting India. He informed that tourism generates about Rs 145 billion in foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, to promote Goa as a top tourist spot, the government has developed a Rs 78-million water sports institute in Goa which offers attractions like parasailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, yachting, river rafting, water scooter driving, sea surfing, etc.

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