India has decided to grant collective landing permits for group tourists at nine airports and seaports in the country.
New Delhi, Nov 9/Nationalturk – In order to boost arrival of foreign tourists and foreign exchange earnings, India has decided to grant collective landing permits for group tourists.
“Indian government has issued an order relating to collective landing permit for group tourists after green signal from country’s Home Ministry. The facility of collective landing permit for group tourists will be available at the nine airports and nine seaports,” a spokesman of Indian Tourism ministry said.
He said collective landing permit for group tourists will be available at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvanathapuram and Goa. “Similarly, this facility will be available at seaports in Marmagoa (Goa), Kochi, Calicut, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Chennai and Kolkata.”
‘No collective landing permits for 9 countries including Pakistan, China’
The spokesman however, said the facility of collective landing permits shall, not be available to the nationals of Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin.
“No landing permit facility at all shall be granted to a national of Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin even if he/she is transiting through India and has a confirmed onward journey ticket. In case such a foreigner lands in India without a visa, he/she shall not be allowed to leave the airport/seaport, and shall be put on the first available flight/ vessel for the destination,” he said.
‘Collective landing permit not for more than 60 days’
Sources said foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by air or sea and sponsored by Indian travel agencies approved by India’s Tourism ministry and with a pre-drawn itinerary will be granted collective landing permit for a period not exceeding 60 days.
They said tourists or travel agencies shall also give an undertaking to conduct the group as per the itinerary and extend a further assurance that no individual would be allowed to drop out from the group at any place.
Indian Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has said this was a move forward and would go a long way towards boosting group travel to India, and would also give a boost to the tourism industry in the country.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News
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