India to reopen for tourists

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government of India said today (8) that the country will reopen to tourists from 15 Oct after being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the Home Ministry of India said that after considering various inputs, the ministry decided to begin granting fresh Tourist Visas for foreigners coming to India through chartered flights with effect from Oct 15. It added that foreign tourists entering into India by flights other than chartered aircraft would be able to do so only with effect from Nov 15 on Tourist Visas. India suspended all visas for foreigners in March 2020 when the pandemic took effect as the Government imposed a strict lockdown. Restrictions on some categories of foreigners such as diplomats and businesspeople were later lifted, however tourists remained barred.