28^th September 2024

To All Members

Dear Friends,

Sub: Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India launches new tourism initiatives, Visa fee waiver for tourists.

You must have come to know about the announcements which have been made by our Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat yesterday on the occasion of World Tourism Day at Vigyan Bhawan, yesterday. 

The Government will soon release the following:-

·         Exempt one lakh foreign tourists from visa fees under the “Chalo India” campaign.  (More details on this will follow once Official notification is issued by the Government)

·         A “dedicated master list” for holistic development.

·         and launch the “Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi” initiative across 50 destinations across the States.

A you know, issuance of Free Visa was requested by IATO during the inaugural function of 39^th IATO Annual Convention on 30^th August, 2024

Besides the above, IATO has also submitted a presentation to the Hon’ble Tourism Minister and requested for the following:-

·         Allocation of funds to the Ministry  of Tourism for overseas promotion.

·         Marketing Development Assistance to the Tour Operators which has been withdrawn. 

·    This is required for financial support to the tour operators who are earning foreign exchange. Earlier incentives were being given to the tour operators on their foreign exchange earning which has been withdrawn in Foreign Trade Policy 2022-27.

·         A very aggressive overseas promotion through electronic/ Digital /Social and print media Platform in overseas countries is the Need of the hour & should be done by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India on TOP Priority. We will attract large number of foreign tourists if we are visible through various media campaigns.

·         Ministry of Tourism, Government of India should participate in all important overseas travel marts along with industry stakeholders by taking bigger space for which Advance planning of at least one year with dedicated funds needs to be done. 

·         Twenty (20) Indiatourism Oversea Offices which have been closed, needs to be re-opened. 

·         To organize Road Shows in all important markets and emerging markets where stakeholders from India should be invited to showcase our tourism products.

·         Setting up of National Tourism Advisory Board.

Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat specifically mentioned in his address during the inaugural function of the IATO Convention that he is aware of the problems which industry is facing and he assured that these will be favourably looked into.

I hope our above suggestions would also be considered favourably by our Ministry.

Thanks and regard,