The home  ministry on Thursday said it will begin issuing fresh tourist visas in a phased manner, starting with foreigners arriving on chartered flights, from October 15 onwards. The  announcement was made at the opening up of the country to international tourists almost 19 months after tourist visas were suspended due to outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The facility will be extended to foreigners coming in flights other than chartered ones from November 15. An officer explained that ‘other than chartered flights’ meant that fresh tourist visas may initially be granted to foreigners coming in from countries with which India has an ‘air bubble arrangement’.As and when demands builds up and commercial flights also start operating, tourist visas will be issued for those entering India by commercial flights. During a virtual event with a cross-section of people from Goa last month, PM Modi had said that the central government was taking steps to welcome back foreign tourists.