The Indian ministry of Home Affairs is set to lift the ban on foreign tourist arrivals within the next 10 days, according to ministry officials quoted by The Hindu newspaper.
India sees no risk in reopening, says the newspaper report, highlighting the downward trend in COVID-19 cases.
The reopening process will take place in phases, a ministry official was cited as saying. This is to allow Indian authorities to evaluate potential consequences. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is taking steps to return foreign tourists. As part of the effort, the Indian government pledged to issue the first 500,000 tourist visas free of charge after international flights resume.
International and domestic passenger flights in India have been suspended since the end of March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last July, India started making “air bubble” arrangement with certain countries and cities with good COVID-19 situation.
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