From Friday, foreign tourists travelling by charter flights will be allowed into India. Regular international flights will be allowed from November 15 under bilateral air bubble agreements with countries, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoFA).
All international flights were suspended in March last year to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic since the onset of the pandemic 18 months ago.
Domestic flights were allowed to operate with curtailed capacity from May 25, 2020 but international flights remained suspended as Covid-19 cases continued to spread. India also allowed domestic carriers to operate at full capacity from October 18, 2021.
The MHA in revised guidelines on October 7, 2021, lifted the blanket ban on inbound international travellers.
The Ministry had clarified that chartered flights mean those allowed under the air bubble agreement under Vande Bharat mission or any scheduled or non-scheduled commercial flights allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Also, visa restrictions for international travellers was also eased.
Fresh tourist visas will now be granted to foreigners travelling to India through chartered flights as the existing ones remain suspended under Covid-19 restrictions.
“The bureau of immigration, Indian mission and posts abroad may grant fresh single-entry e-tourist or tourist visas for 30 days. Existing e-tourist visas shall remain suspended,” the MHA had said.
All visas granted to foreign travellers were suspended last year in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, As the pandemic receded foreign tourists were allowed on visas other than tourists visas. However, after considering representations from state governments and various stakeholders in the tourism sector, the ministry decided to start tourist visas.
All stakeholders such as Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and states which are expected to attract tourists were consulted by the ministry before taking the decision, it said.
The Ministry also said other protocols and norms relating to COVID-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time shall be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them to India and all other stakeholders at landing stations.
