India will open borders to tourists
India is planning to reopen to international tourists for the first time since March 2020
The country will be granting new tourist visas from 15 October to those arriving on charter flights. However, from 15 November, visas will also be issued for those travelling on scheduled carriers. The November relaxation will come in time to benefit the popular winter-sun destinations of Goa and Kerala.
In a statement, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs said: “We have been receiving representations from several state governments as well as various stakeholders in the tourism sector to start tourist visas.”
Tourists are the last visitor category to be reinstated, with business travel already restarted. The relaxation of restrictions does not apply to those entering via land borders.
Meanwhile, as part of its mission to create uniform policies across a range of insurance sectors, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India has turned its focus to standardising travel insurance.