Domestic tour operators' body IATO has appealed to the government to enhance the validity of e-tourist visa from 30 days to 180 days, citing the "massive response" to the facility rolled out over a year ago.
Besides, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), which claims to represent over 1,500 members covering all segments of the tourism industry, has urged the government to allow foreign tourists undertake journey within six months of booking the tickets from the present one month period.
"We have written to the Tourism Ministry, urging it to extend the current 30-day limit of stay by a foreign tourist in India under e-tourist visa scheme to 180 days," IATO President Subhash Goyal said.
He said that he was "hopeful" of the Ministry considering IATO's proposal and announce it in the next Union Budget.
Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said that the ministry has received a request in this regard.
"There is a request," Sharma said when asked whether the ministry proposes to increase the stay period to 180 days under e-tourist visa scheme.
Launched in November 2014, e-tourist visa is currently available for 113 countries. The government plans to add 37 more nations to the existing number of countries to take the tally to 150 by March this year.
The IATO's demand to increase in the period of advance booking would allow the tourists to book the tickets at cheaper rates as the cost escalates with the approaching time of travel, a move aimed at increasing the inflow of tourists.
The number of foreign tourists landing in India on e-tourist visa rose to 4,45,300 last year as compared to 39,046 during 2014, registering a robust growth of 1040.4 per cent.
"This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-tourist visa for 113 countries as against coverage of earlier Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) enabled Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for 43 countries," a Tourism Ministry has said earlier.
