Stakeholders from the tourism trade have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing critical concern over the non-resumption of digital vacationer visas (e-TV) to residents of the UK and Canada by the Centre,
The Indian Affiliation of Tour Operators (IATO), a nationwide physique of the tourism trade with 1,600 members masking all segments of tour operators, stated they’ve made quite a few representations to the Ministries of Tourism, House Affairs and Exterior Affairs, requesting them for the restoration of e-tourist visa for UK, Canada and different supply markets as most international vacationers journey to India from these nations.
“Having didn’t evoke any response from these ministries, now we have written to the PM, hoping for a fast decision,” stated IATO President Rajiv Mehra, including that the letter was despatched on October 6.
The e-tourist visa facility – which was open to nationals of 166 nations, together with the UK and Canada – was discontinued within the wake of the pandemic in March 2020. It was partially resumed late final yr after a spot of 18 months, underneath air bubble preparations and Covid-19 protocols.
In March 2022, the federal government restored the e-TV facility for 156 nations, in line with a Ministry of House Affairs (MHA) order. Mehra says the March order was not prolonged to nations just like the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, including that they’ve been cited “safety causes” for a similar throughout their conferences with officers from MHA and MEA over the past one yr.