Government of India has decided to extend the validity of e-tourist visa validity to five years from the existing one year. This was announced by Prahlad Singh Patel, tourism minister of India at the inaugural of the National Conference of Tourism Ministers in Delhi.

With the extension of the validity, the government has also reduced the e-visa fee drastically for the foreign travellers. In the revised fee structure, e-visa of less than 30 days validity will only cost USD 10 in place of USD 25. The e-visa fee for other duration visas was also reduced. Patel said the government will look at simplifying the e-visa format soon.

The tourism minister said it is important that the Centre, states and the private stakeholders of the tourism industry work in a co-ordinated manner to achieve the targets set by the Prime Minister for doubling the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) into the country over the next five years.

Tourism Ministers of more than 20 states participated in the tourism ministers’ conference, the first after the new government under Prime Minister Modi has taken over.