Visa on arrival facility extended

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tourist visa on arrival which was introduced in January 2011 on an experimental basis for a year has been extended. However, it will not be of much benefit to Kerala as this facility is introduced only in metro cities.Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a communique allowing tourist visa on arrival for 11 countries. Tourists from Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxemburg, New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia can avail themselves of this facility. Those arriving in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai airports were granted visa on arrival. Kerala, which is one of the hot tourism spots in the world, is yet to get the benefit of this facility as the airports here were not given the permission for visa stamping.  Travel Agents Federation of India Kerala chairman Paulose K Mathew said that those preferring for South India package would only visit Kerala. As far as Kerala is considered, the majority of the tourists are from European countries and Germany.  “Emigration facility should be introduced at the airports in Kerala to cash in on the visa on arrival facility. A massive change in arrival of tourists can be witnessed only with more countries being added to the list,’’ he said.  There are several countries which provide this facility for Indian citizens and it should have been reciprocated to attract more tourists to India.     The visa will have a validity of 30 days with single entry facility which will be granted by the immigration officers at the airports.  Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) managing director V J Kurian said that a proposal to provide visa on arrival at Nedumbassery airport was submitted by the Kerala Government to Ministry of Home Affairs. A decision in this regard is pending with the Union Government.   According to Paulose K Mathew, visa on arrival for tourists from other countries was very low at present.’ Steps should be taken to introduce the facility in countries where the Tourism Department is conducting road shows to attract the tourists there, he said.