India is pulling out all the stops to boost tourism. The government has just announced a shock measure: 100,000 free visas for foreign tourists. This initiative, dubbed "Chalo India” (Let's go to India), aims to give a serious boost to the country's tourism sector.
A tempting offer, but not a first
It's the Indian Minister of Tourism himself, Gajendra Singh Shekhawatwho unveiled this seduction operation at an event celebrating the World Tourism Day on September 27. The first 100,000 foreigners to set foot in India under this campaign will not have to pay a single cent in consular fees for their visas. This applies to both e-visas and visas at the embassy.
This move is reminiscent of a similar initiative carried out between 2021 and 2022. Back then, India had offered no less than 500,000 free visas to relaunch a tourism sector badly hit by the pandemic. The objective was clear: restore traveler confidence while revitalizing the Indian tourism ecosystem, from hotels to airlines to guides.
A multi-faceted strategy
However, India continues to seek visitors. The Prime Minister himself has issued a call to the Indian diaspora, encouraging them to invite their foreign friends to visit the country. A clever mechanism to turn every Indian expatriate into a luxury ambassador for the destination.
The "Chalo India"goes one step further, proposing a system of rewards for members of the diaspora who succeed in attracting tourists. A dedicated website will enable participants to create an account, track their contributions and keep abreast of program developments.
The figures speak for themselves. In June 2024, India welcomed 706,045 tourists, a significant increase on the previous month's 600,496. However, the country is still far from its record of 1,225,672 visitors reached in December 2019, just before the pandemic.
THE World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projects that the travel and tourism sector will contribute 21.15 trillion rupees to the Indian economy in 2024, an increase of 21% over 2019. Employment in this sector is also expected to grow significantly.
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