According to a PTI report, speaking in the Lok Sabha recently, Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism said that Home Ministry has decided to grant long term tourist visa of five years duration with multiple-entry facility, with a stipulation of 90 days on each visit to nationals of 18 countries. This initiative has been taken with a view to boost foreign tourist arrivals in the country. The 18 countries are France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Vietnam.
While tabling a report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Ahmed said the decision of the Home Ministry was in response to the proposal by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) to introduce visa-on-arrival scheme for specified countries on an experimental basis. |