‘E-visa service for India may start this year’

March 19, 2014 10:41 pm | Updated May 19, 2016 09:54 am IST - New Delhi:

The electronic visa facility or e-visa is in its final stage of development and is expected to be introduced this year, a tourism ministry official said Wednesday.

Speaking at the “Think Tourism — Think India: Thought Leadership Meet”, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), tourism secretary Parvez Dewan said the move would catapult India among the top four countries with visa-friendly policies.

“The External Affairs Ministry, the National Security Advisor and all the related agencies have unanimously supported the introduction of electronic travel authorisation (ETAs),” said Dewan.

“Though the decision has been taken, the orders have not been issued as the implementation does take time. While the software for the system is in place, there is a need to train the manpower,” he added. “India will have one of the friendliest visa regimes once the electronic visa facility is introduced.”

Stressing the need for “visa liberalisation”, Dewan said India is ranked 39th in terms of foreign tourist arrivals and offers visa on arrival to tourists from 11 countries. “India has the highest per capita spend of a tourist in any country in the world,” he said.

Assocham president Rana Kapoor said the travel and tourism sector has emerged as one of the “key sunrise sectors” for India. — IANS

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