Dr Mahesh Sharma, India’s Minister for Tourism, Culture & Civil Aviation said that India will expand its e-Tourist Visa scheme to 150 countries in March 2016. Over 150,000 people from 76 countries have used e-Tourist Visa since its launch in November last year. Applicable visitors can apply for the visas online prior to arrival in India, and then collect their visas upon entry at nine airports in the country.

Dr Sharma also said that India’s tourist helpline will be expanded to 12 international languages within two months. The helpline is currently operational in just two languages: English and Hindi.

Under the able guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s government is focusing on its tourism industry, with an aim of attracting one percent of the global tourist arrivals.