India introduced a flexible e-tourist visa regime based on tourist footfall, with higher fee for July to March which is the peak season and a considerably lower fee if the visit to the country falls during April to June – the lean period. In the revised fee structure, e-Visa of less than 30 days validity will only cost US$10 in place of US$25.
Apart from this, the Government has decided to extend the validity of E-Tourist Visa validity to five years from the existing one year. This was announced by the Union Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel at the inaugural of the National Tourism Ministers’ Conference in Delhi today. Tourism Ministers of more than 20 states are participating in the conference taking place in the capital city of India.
While inaugurating the Tourism Minister’s Conference in New Delhi the Union Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel said that for such a large country like India it is important that Centre, States, and the Private stakeholders have strong coordination and come together to achieve the target of doubling the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) into the country over the next five years.
“While the Home Ministry has approved the new visa regime, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is soon expected to give its approval on the fee aspect. A new five-year e-tourist visa will be introduced with USD 80 fee and a one year e-tourist visa with USD 40 fee, informed the Minister.
