In a first-of-its-kind initiative to bring more foreign tourists to India, the government will allow “friends” of diaspora members to get free visas.
Up to five foreign nationals nominated by OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders on a special website will be eligible for the gratis e-visa, The Indian Express has learnt.
The initiative, to be launched in a few weeks as part of a “Chalo India” campaign, involves four key ministries: External Affairs, Home Affairs, Finance and Tourism. Mooted by the Tourism Ministry, it has now got the approval of the Finance Ministry, officials told The Indian Express.
They said the initiative is in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for members of the Indian diaspora to invite five non-Indian friends to visit India. The PM during his interactions with the Indian community over the last year, has made appeals to them to get at least five of their friends to visit their homeland.
The ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’ was announced by PM Modi from Srinagar in March this year, which was simultaneously launched in all Indian embassies and high commissions abroad. However, this is the first time a financial incentive has been associated with the campaign, which has now been granted the approval of the Finance Ministry.
OCI cardholders will need to register on the special website, which goes live in a few weeks, and enter the details of their nominated friends. They will then be assigned a unique code after verification. The designated friends can then use the special code to avail of a free visa.
The foreign tourist footfall to India has been severely hit in the wake of the pandemic and numbers haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. According to the Ministry of Tourism, around 6.19 million and 1.52 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2022 and 2021 respectively, compared to 10.93 million in 2019.
There are about 32 million OCI cardholders, as per the government records. While each OCI cardholder can nominate up to five people, the total number of free e-visas to be granted under the said initiative is one lakh, officials said.
As per the Ministry of Tourism, the Chalo India programme aims to empower diaspora members to serve as ambassadors for Incredible India, playing a crucial role in boosting tourism and enhancing cultural awareness. They can invite as many friends as possible and will also earn rewards for each foreign visitor they successfully attract to India.
The website will facilitate the creation of accounts for diaspora members, offering them a platform to join the movement, track their contributions, and stay informed about the programme. This initiative not only promotes tourism but also fosters international goodwill and cultural exchange, officials said.
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