TransIndus managing director Amrit Singh said she had contacted all her clients with the news that India would soon restore the eVisa portal, removing the need to go to the Indian Consulate in person, a rule put in place during the pandemic.
“Today’s announcement is an absolute game changer for travellers and the small local communities who depend on visitors for their livelihood,” she said.
The news means India is now poised to remove all its Covid restrictions, having already dispensed with the self-declaration form.
Restrictions on travel have hampered India’s recovery, with Aito warning in October that £10 million in UK bookings were at risk.
“Post-covid travellers are looking for exciting, immersive travel experiences, but the thought of the admin for an old-fashioned paper visa was putting travellers off from choosing India,” said Singh.
Sam Clark, managing director of Aito member Experience Travel Group, added the news was “a great big hurrah”.
“Post-covid, travellers are looking for exciting, immersive travel experiences, but the thought of the admin involved to obtain a visa via the old-fashioned visa application system was putting so many people off the idea of a trip to India,” he said.
“In addition, many travellers with existing bookings were either unable or unwilling to go through the complicated and in-person application process.
“At Experience Travel Group, we had either to re-schedule or cancel - due to issues with their visa – simply hundreds of people desperate to get their travelling shoes out and go on an adventure."
