Government mulling visa on arrival for tourists

Visa on arrival could be a reality soon with the Union Tourism ministry keen on it to ensure more foreign tourist arrivals.

"We are working on providing visa on arrival to tourists and will take a decision after discussing the matter with the Union Home ministry," Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said here on Saturday.

"After the modernisation of different international airports in the country, I hope we shall also be able to provide visa on arrival facilities," she said.

Currently countries like Thailand provide visa on arrival to tourists from selected countries.

The Tourism ministry would have to get the nod of Home Ministry before starting such facilities, Soni said.

This facility would ease the problems of tourists and ensure more arrivals, she said. "We want tourists to have a good experience in India.

"If a tourist has a good experience, he or she would like to come back again and also spread the good word for the destination," she said.