India to Grant Visa on Arrival to 13 More Nations

Indian government has decided to grant the Visas On Arrival (VoA) status to at least thirteen more countries, in a bid to lift its tourism industry. This will increase the total number of such states to 26. The new nations have been picked from Europe, South East Asia and Central Asia.

Reportedly, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan Brazil and South Africa will be granted the VoA status within a few months. Currently, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar are enjoying this exceptional status.

As per the VoA rules, immigrants do not need to apply for visas to the embassy of the country they want to visit and wait long for getting their passport stamped. On the contrary, they are required to apply online and get travel notices immediately. Their visas are stamped on the immigration counters of the host nation.

This is a quick and effective system which saves time of both guests and hosts. With the passage of time, the VoA is becoming a trend across the globe. Recently, Sri Lanka has also adopted it.

The tourism to India is likely to increase manifold with the addition of 13 new states to the VoA regime. This will boost up the country’s economy to a great extent.

Packed with diverse cultures formed by the centuries of historical transition, India poses to be an ideal destination for tourism loving people of the world.

According to the official stats, at least 600, 000 foreign visitors land on the Indian soil every year. These tourists generate huge revenue for the country.

India has achieved remarkable success with the adaptation of VoA so far. Approximately, 10, 000 visas of this category were issued in 2010. This figure is likely to get double during the calendar year.

Following India’s footsteps, some of the other Asian nations are also likely to adopt the VoA system. It will be beneficial for the region as a whole.

Tags: India, Tourism, Vasia On Arrival, visit visa