Indian Commerce Ministry recommends having easier visa regime

With a view to pitching tourism and increasing service sector exports, the Indian Commerce Ministry has recommended that the union government put in place a more relaxed visa regime.

PTI quotes Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister, as telling the news agency that they had been suggesting an easier visa regime to boost tourism and some service sectors.

She said that their ministry had, in fact, recommended e-visas and visas on arrival. According to Sitharaman, multiple entry visas are the need of the hour. She said that her ministry had sent the recommendations to the Home Ministry, which would review them from the point of view of internal security.

An industry expert has reportedly said that India is losing out on earnings worth $80 billion per year as far as luring foreign tourists and forex was concerned. This proposal is considered crucial, as the services sector accounts for around 60 per cent of India's GDP. On the other hand, India’s share in global services exports is 3.15 per cent, which is considered to be measly. Services sector is, therefore, considered a major one for the country if one takes into account its role in generating significant income for the country as a whole, and in foreign direct investment and trade.

The contribution of services sector for creation of the country’s employment is 28 per cent and 25 per cent for the total trade.