Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that the government will issue the first 5 lakh tourists visas "free of charge" once visa issuance process is restarted. The announcement was made during a media briefing where Sitharaman announced 8 relief measures in the wake of Coronavirus Pandemic.

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However, the benefit will be available only once per tourist and the scheme will be applicable till March 31, 2022 or till 5,00,000 visas are issued whichever is earlier, the Finance Minister said.

 

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The Finance Minister also said that the total financial implications will be Rs 100 crore. Giving the details and insights Sitharaman said that 1.93 million foreign tourists visited India in 2019 and had spent USD 30.098 billion on leisure and business.

She further said that average daily stay for a foreign tourist in India is 21 days while average daily spending of a tourist in India is around USD 34 (Rs 2400).

 

Along with the free tourist visas the government also announced a financial support to more than 11,000 registered tourist guides/travel and tourism stakeholders.

Sitharaman announced eight relief measures in a press conference held on June 28 amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.