7th October 2022

To All Members,

Sub: IATO writes to Hon'ble Prime Minister requesting his intervention to restore e-Tourist Visa for UK, Canada and other important countries

Dear Colleagues,

We are aware of the problem, which foreign tourists from many important source markets especially UK and Canada are facing in getting visa for India as e-Tourist Visa for countries like UK, Canada etc. has not been restored. 

In this regard, we have been writing to the Ministry of Home Affairs, External Affairs and Ministry of Tourism since March 2022 when e-Tourist Visa for many countries was restored. I had also discussed this matter personally with senior officials of our Ministry a number of times, but there is no positive response coming-in for the reasons not known to us.

The matter has been taken up with Hon’ble Prime Minister yesterday with a copy to Minister of Home Affairs, External Affairs and Tourism with copy to Secretary - Home Affairs, External Affairs and Tourism, expressing our concern and the problems our members and the foreign tourists in UK are facing in getting Indian Visa and how this is affecting inbound tourism to India.

In our letter we have emphasized that: -  

  • IATO is in receipt of a number of requests from our members/foreign counterparts expressing their concern on the delay the intending tourists in UK are facing in getting Normal Visa for India as there is NO e-Tourist Visa at present. Appointments are not available to intending foreign tourists at the VFS Global offices in the UK.  It is taking 6 to 8 weeks’ time in the UK to get a Normal Indian Visa and even for that also appointments by the VFS Global offices are not being given. Handling of Normal paper Visa for India by the Embassy in the UK/VFS Global is very discouraging and harassing for the tourists planning to come to India as it is taking 2 to 3 months to get a Normal Tourist Visa and that too after a lot of efforts.
  • IATO is getting feedback that if the situation does not improve, foreign tour operators will stop selling India tour packages. Due to Non-availability of E-Tourist Visa for UK, Canada and other source markets, we as a country are losing huge business as tourists from these countries are opting for alternative destinations. If this situation continues it will be a big loss for the Inbound tourism business and the entire season may be lost, causing further loss of foreign exchange earnings and loss of employment as one foreign tourist coming to India creates 9 jobs directly or indirectly.
  • We are trying to recreate jobs for the trained tourism professionals who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19, but under the circumstances when there are lot of problems in getting Indian Visa, it is difficult to achieve our goal of recreating employment in tourism sector and to contribute for the economic development of the nation through inbound tourism.

We are hopeful that we will be heard by our Hon’ble Prime Minister and there will be some positive outcome in the matter.

Thanking you and with best wishes for the festival season ahead.  

Rajiv Mehra

President