New Delhi: India and Japan have agreed to revise the visa procedures between the two countries, which would further enhance people-to-people exchanges. In a joint statement issued after summit-level talks held here between visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday, the two sides also welcomed the recent signing of the memorandum of understanding between Ministry of Tourism of India and Japan Tourism Agency.The two Prime Ministers held extensive talks on bilateral, regional and global issues. Abe was on an official visit to India during 25-27 January at the invitation of Manmohan Singh as chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations.
Both India and Japan have decided to relax visa requirements for ordinary passport holders. Japan has particularly agreed to ease visa requirements for Indian tourists to that country.
The memorandum would facilitate travel and tourist visits and boost tourism between the two countries, Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Shigeto Kubo said after signing the agreement. The document was signed between the Indian and Japanese tourism ministries. According to Kubo, "India has a lot of places related to Buddhism and the Japanese are interested in these places. There are a lot of places to visit in India for Japanese tourists and vice versa."
There were 2.20 lakh tourists from Japan visiting India and 1.6 lakh Indians visited Japan during last year. Religious tourism focussing on Buddhist heritage sites is a great attraction for Japanese tourists. India provides Japanese tourists visa-on-arrival facility.
The memorandum will boost bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector like travel fairs and exhibitions in each other's country.
Currently, tourists from 11 countries can avail the visa-on-arrival facility in India. The countries are: Japan, Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, Luxembourg. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not require visa to enter India.
The Government of India has decided to extend visa-on-arrival facility to tourists from 40 more countries.
They are: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France,
Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands,
Norway, Oman , Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United
States.
At present, the validity of an Indian tourist visa is six months with multiple entries starting from the date of issue. For engaging in any other activity like joining yoga class, doing petty business, attending short courses, etc. after entering India on tourist visa one needs to apply for appropriate visa before landing in India. Now with visa-on-arrival other procedures have been simplified for tourists, as also the requirememt of various
documents.
-RM Nair
