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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Budget 2015: India to increase visa-on-arrival countries to 150
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Budget 2015: India to increase visa-on-arrival countries to 150

Arun Jaitley proposed increasing the countries covered under the visa-on-arrival scheme to 150 from 43 now

Finance minister Arun Jaitley also proposed refurbishing facilities at 25 world heritage sites in his budget. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint (Ramesh Pathania/Mint)Premium
Finance minister Arun Jaitley also proposed refurbishing facilities at 25 world heritage sites in his budget. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint
(Ramesh Pathania/Mint)

Mumbai: India plans to more than triple the number of countries whose citizens are granted a visa on arrival.

Presenting the budget for the next fiscal year, finance minister Arun Jaitley proposed increasing the countries covered under the visa-on-arrival scheme to 150 from 43 now.

Peter Kerkar, a director of the travel company Cox and Kings Ltd, said the extension of electronic travel authorisation (e-visas) to citizens of more countries is a positive step for tourism, which contributes 7% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“Secondly the plan to make world heritage sites more tourist-friendly was long overdue as these sites attract a large number of tourists," Kerkar said.

The finance minister proposed refurbishing facilities at 25 world heritage sites in his budget.

“These facilities are still deficient and require restoration, including landscape restoration; signage and interpretation centres; parking; access for the differently abled; visitors’ amenities, including security and toilets..," Jaitley said.

These sites include the churches and convents of Old Goa; Hampi, Karnataka; Elephanta Caves, Mumbai; Kumbalgarh and other hill forts of Rajasthan; Rani ki Vav at Patan, Gujarat; Leh Palace, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir; Jalianwala bagh, Amritsar, Punjab and Qutub Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad and Telangana.

Madhavan Menon, managing director at tour operating firm Thomas Cook (India) Ltd said the focus on developing World Heritage Sites is of value given that many are in a bad shape and have received scant attention in the past.

“In addition to this, the investment of 2 lakh crore towards sanitation is critical for Incredible India’s image, overall. The rail and road infra thrust too will aid domestic and inbound tourism," Menon added.

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Published: 28 Feb 2015, 03:47 PM IST
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