12th March 2020

Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare

Government of India

New Delhi 

Hon’ble Minister Sir,

Sub: Cancellation of Visa/E-Visa to India - Request to review the Revised Travel Advisory issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Bureau of Immigration on 11th March 2020   

On behalf of the members of IATO and on behalf of entire tourism industry, we appreciate the steps being taken by our Government to prevent and control the Coronavirus (Covid 19) spreading in our country.  As per the information given by your office, so far the situation in India is under control and not very serious compared to the damage it has done in many other countries. This all could happen with the timely preventive measures taken by our Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

With the latest Travel advisory issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, all existing visas issued to nationals of any country have been suspended till 15th April 2020.

As you rightly agreed that tourism industry is going to suffer a lot and this will result huge loss of jobs due to economic impact.  

May I, therefore, request that the situation could be reviewed after 14 Days and if you feel the situation is under control/improving,  revised advisory may be issued giving some relaxation according to the situation.

In case of any assistance is required from the industry, we are available 24x7 on one phone call.

We look forward to your favourable response on the above.

Thanking you and with best regards,

Sincerely,

President

Copy to:-

Mr. Hardeep S Puri, Hon'ble Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, New Delhi 

Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism (IC), Government of India

Mrs. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (H&FW), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India

Mr. Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

Mrs. Meenakshi Sharma, Director General Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

Mrs. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma, Joint Secretary (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, New Delhi

Click here to see the document