The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has raised concern over the delay in visa processing and non-availability of E-tourist visa for important source markets i. e. UK and Canada.
The association has made numerous representations and written multiple letters to the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs requesting them for restoration of E-Visa for important source markets including UK and Canada, as maximum numbers of foreign tourists travel to India from these countries.
“Having failed to evoke any response from these Ministries, finally we have written to the Prime Minister of India hoping for a quick resolution,” informed IATO’s President Rajiv Mehra.
While elaborating upon the issue, Mehra further said that IATO is in receipt of a number of requests from members and 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 six to eight weeks’ time in the UK to get a normal Indian Visa,” said Mehra.
“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 two to three months to get a Tourist Visa and that too after a lot of efforts,” he added.
While raising his concern over the issue, the President shared that as per the feedback received by IATO, 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 huge loss for the inbound sector.”
