Tour operators hold out while India promises to ease visa formalities
Anopportunity to obtain a visa right at the airport upon arrival to India opens
before Russian tourists. The local authorities promise to significantly extend
the list of nationalities liable to get their entry permits in this manner. As
of today the privilege has been given to just 11 countries with a mere two of
them being in Europe: Finland and Luxembourg. The new list apart from Russia includes
the UK, Germany, France, Brazil, China, and the USA to name a few. In addition
to that, senior citizens (60+) of any country will be able to get visas at
their airport of entry to India. To allow for smooth documents processing, a self-service
online visa application system is to be worked out in the nearest future.
Director
General of the Pegas Touristik, Mrs. Anna Podgornaya, believes that the visa
procedure facilitation is sure to become a good motivation for the tourist flow
growth: "We have seen the success of Turkey, Egypt, Thailand. Thanks to their
friendly visa policy one can book a last-minute tour literally by the departure
gate. Naturally it drives up the demand". However, adds Mrs. Podgornaya, the
Indian side's pledges to change the visa regime only exist in press reports.
The issue was first brought up a year and a half ago. But there is no official
information on how soon these novelties are to be implemented.
As for now,
the only state issuing visas to Russian tourists upon arrival is Goa. However,
tour operators consider the procedure only half legal as the airport
immigration authorities take passports away from tourists in exchange for a
document allowing a two-week-long stay in the state. To obtain this type of "visa"
one should come in a group of at least four people and may not leave Goa. Besides,
should anyone from the group fail to show at the airport when it's time to go
back home, the whole group will be in trouble. That's why most travel companies
prefer fixing a proper visa through the consulate for their customers. All the
more so as the current Indian visa application procedure is not too
challenging: all it takes is four days and $75.