The Ministry of Tourism will launch its Chalo India marketing campaign on the sidelines of the continuing World Journey Mart in London.
Chalo India is a first-of-its-kind initiative to carry extra international vacationers to India, whereby the federal government will permit “associates” of diaspora members to get free visas. 5 international nationals nominated by every Abroad Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder on a particular portal will likely be eligible for a free of charge e-visa (visa granted with out charges).
There are about 5 million OCI card holders, as per authorities data. Whereas every OCI holder can nominate as much as 5 folks, the whole variety of free e-visas to be granted beneath the mentioned initiative is one lakh, officers mentioned.
Because the particular portal goes dwell, the OCI cardholders might want to register on the identical and key within the particulars of their nominated associates; they are going to be assigned a novel code after due verification. The designated associates can then use the particular code to avail of a free visa.
The UK is the third largest supply marketplace for inbound vacationers to India. At virtually 1.9 million, it additionally has one of many largest Indian diaspora.
The Ministry of Tourism is collaborating at WTM London, being held from November 5 to 7, with a delegation of fifty stakeholders together with state governments, inbound tour operators, airways and hoteliers to showcase India’s vibrant cultural variety and the huge vary of tourism merchandise and immersive experiences, mentioned an announcement on Tuesday.
Why sudden push to tourism?
The international vacationer footfall to India has been severely hit within the wake of the pandemic and numbers haven’t returned to pre-pandemic ranges. Round 6.19 million and 1.52 million international vacationers arrived in India in 2022 and 2021 respectively, in comparison with 10.93 million in 2019.
The main focus of this 12 months`s India pavilion is MICE, Mahakhumbh and wedding ceremony tourism, mentioned the assertion. A particular mock Mandapam within the Pavilion has been created to offer the appear and feel of an Indian wedding ceremony. The India pavilion was inaugurated by Excessive Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and Director Basic, Ministry of Tourism, Mugdha Sinha, within the presence of Tourism Ministers of Telangana, Goa and Uttarakhand.
A complete of 9.5 million international vacationers visited India throughout 2023 out of which 0.92 million visits had been from the UK, making it the third largest supply marketplace for inbound vacationers to India, as per statistics by the Tourism Ministry.
Officers with the Tourism Ministry mentioned the marketing campaign is a formalisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invite to NRIs and abroad Indians to carry their associates and associates to go to India and contribute to constructing model India as a tourism vacation spot.
