From March 14, anybody wanting to travel to India will have to visit one of 14 application centres across the UK for biometric data collection. This will require them turning up in person with applications by post no longer accepted.

The move is part of the larger outsourcing of a number of consular services to VFS Global.

Abta has written to the Indian High Commission to express concern over the short notice given, and asked it to reconsider or delay the changes.

Nikki White, Abta head of destinations and sustainability, said: “We have also expressed our concerns about the requirement for individual family members to book separate appointments, which could cause considerable unnecessary inconvenience and have the unintended consequence of discouraging travel to India.”

Others in the trade are also angry over the changes. Derek Moore, chairman of Aito labelled the decision an “unfortunate move”.

“The requirement to visit the embassy in person assumes that busy professional people can take time off work for a day to travel to wherever their visa is to be issued - not exactly the way to sell the idea of visiting India,” he said.

“And the requirement to provide fingerprints, although understandable in some ways, will discourage many travellers.

“In recent months, due to a combination of circumstances – not least the publicity over several rape incidents – the country has become a difficult destination to sell, and most tour operators to India report falling bookings. This latest move will only exacerbate the situation,” Moore added.

Amrit Singh, managing director of Transindus, has also written to the high commission to express her concern, particularly in light of the recent negative press about the country.

“With most tour operators in India’s traditional markets continuing to report falling bookings, no doubt this latest move will only exacerbate the decline.”

Singh added: “The process of acquiring a visa for India is already one of the most involved and its cost, at just under £100 per person, is among the highest.

“Add to this the inconvenience of taking a day off work to apply for a visa and it will only further deter prospective travellers from considering India as a holiday destination, especially among high-end, professional travellers.”

Wendy Wu Tours managing director Laurence Hicks said: “It will put people off. Personally I can’t see how they’re going to prevent terrorism by taking finger prints from tourists.

“It is using a sabre to open a letter. It is a ridiculous thing and going to cause us all sorts of problems.”