In a major departure from its earlier stand, the BJP-led Narendra Modi government at the Centre is planning to provide visa-on-arrival facilities to the citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Sources in the cultural ministry termed the move as a part of confidence-building measures to strengthen friendly ties with SAARC countries.
The BJP had opposed the move propelled by the ousted UPA government to provide visa ‘relaxation’ to the nationals of Pakistan. A cultural ministry source said: ‘The move re-christened by Modi government is aimed at uniting the families of boarding countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Also it will help India to better ties with the neighbourimg countries on economic and social fronts, including tourism sector.’
The party, in its manifesto, had also stated that tourism plays a key role in socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange earnings. The party had said it would use tourism to revive Brand India.
According to Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the Modi government had sent proposals, which were aimed at improving relations with Bangladesh. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj would make a three-day visit to Bangladesh from 25 June, during which she would discuss issues such as relaxing visa norms.
At present, out of the seven SAARC countries, Indian citizens don’t need visa for travelling to Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives. In the other SAARC countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a visa is a must.
The visa-on-arrival scheme was launched in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore to attract more foreign tourists to the country. Later, the government extended this scheme to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.
The BJP had opposed the move propelled by the ousted UPA government to provide visa ‘relaxation’ to the nationals of Pakistan. A cultural ministry source said: ‘The move re-christened by Modi government is aimed at uniting the families of boarding countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Also it will help India to better ties with the neighbourimg countries on economic and social fronts, including tourism sector.’
The party, in its manifesto, had also stated that tourism plays a key role in socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange earnings. The party had said it would use tourism to revive Brand India.
According to Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the Modi government had sent proposals, which were aimed at improving relations with Bangladesh. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj would make a three-day visit to Bangladesh from 25 June, during which she would discuss issues such as relaxing visa norms.
At present, out of the seven SAARC countries, Indian citizens don’t need visa for travelling to Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives. In the other SAARC countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a visa is a must.
The visa-on-arrival scheme was launched in January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore to attract more foreign tourists to the country. Later, the government extended this scheme to the citizens of six more countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar in January 2011.