Dubai: Indian Planning Minister Rajiv Shukla offered optimism for thousands of Emiratis, who undergo strenuous processes when applying for visit visas to India, by announcing that the possibility of granting a visa on arrival could become a reality soon.
“My message to citizens of the UAE is we want more and more of them to visit India,” stated Shukla in a telephone interview to Gulf News. “To enable that, we want the visa application procedures for them to become easier and hassle free.”
Shukla reiterated that the process for new visa reforms has been initiated and a total of at least 40 countries would avail themselves of this facility “as soon as possible”
The decision, according to Shukla, would not go through parliament procedures, but would be a “simple, normal, administrative outcome by the government’s home ministry after taking into account issues like infrastructure and logistics.”
When asked if the Indian government would pursue a policy of a reciprocal gesture with the UAE authorities, which could enable Indian citizens to get a visa on arrival he said, “The government’s decision to do this was completely suo moto. If the UAE government wishes to give Indians a visa on arrival in their airports then there would be nothing like it. We have not taken the decision to ease visitor visas for UAE citizens with this in mind.”
Buffeted by storms generated by a declining economy and rapidly falling tourism figures, which are roughly a third when compared to countries like Thailand and Malaysia for instance, the Indian government has initiated the visa reforms process for select countries in the hope of earning valuable tourism revenues.
Shukla pointed out, “The decision could initiate a surge in the number of visitors across select airports in the country and mechanisms to cope must be put into place.”
This new change in visa law is a key modification in India’s foreign policy processes.
According to Shukla: “We are going to make the entire visa application process easier and hassle free and this is our first step. Secondly, the online visa applications process will also become simplified.
“Thirdly, visit visas issued for those who attend conferences will be made a lot smoother. Earlier delegates attending conferences found themselves being included in the tourist category. The process is now being smoothened out in order to help visitors obtain those visas.
“Fourthly, the visas given to senior citizens and pensioners will also be simplified. Many senior citizens travel the world frequently, but because of a complicated visa process they were cautious about visiting India. Initially, parties of four were eligible to submit their applications, but now we will accept individual visa requests as well.
“The basis for the visa relaxations is simple: we want more and more people to visit India. Apart from just tourism, there is medical tourism, religious tourism and cultural attractions as well. We want the tourism numbers to go up.”
The Indian government, according to Shukla, had not yet made plans of pursuing a policy of reciprocal gestures from some among the shortlist of 40 countries which includes the UAE and other countries in the Middle East where thousands of Indian expatriates are based and earn a living. “We have not deliberated on that yet,” admitted Shukla.
The new visa reforms will not be a case of minor procedural remodelling as it involves multiple ministries — including home, foreign and tourism authorities to come on board. India’s intelligence agencies would also be important stakeholders in this landmark decision.
The on-arrival visa facility would be extended to more airports like Goa, Gaya, Chandigarh and Amritsar, which have large flows of foreign tourists.
At present the on-arrival visa facility is available at international airports of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
India currently issues visas on arrival to visitors from about a dozen foreign nations including Japan, Finland, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines among others.
All others must apply several weeks in advance and visit a visa-processing centre in person.
