Electronic visa to boost tourism

Aiming to promote the country aggressively abroad to make it a favoured tourist destination, the Centre on Thursday said a special task force had been set up to examine the feasibility of introducing an electronic visa system.

Announcing this at the overseas marketing meet here today, Joint Secretary of the Union Ministry of Tourism Amitabh Kant said the system would be on the lines of those adopted by countries like Australia.

Under this system, which is also known as electronic travel authority (ETA), a traveller does not need to visit the diplomatic office but can submit his visa application directly to the travel agent or airlines. The visa is then issued electronically by computer.

Kant also said, "we have set an overall target of a 25-per cent rate of growth in the tourism sector for the current year and for next year."