After a 19-month hiatus, India is preparing to reopen its borders to foreign visitors as it eases Covid-related restrictions in response to a decline in daily infections. Beginning on Friday, tourists arriving on chartered flights will be granted tourist visas.
From November 15, this will be extended to individuals arriving on commercial planes. In March 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi closed the country’s borders to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and since then no tourist permits have been granted.
The country has been registering roughly 20,000 daily positive infections, down from a high of 400,000 daily cases in April and May. At least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccination has been administered to more than 70% of the population.
Arriving travelers into India will be expected to be completely vaccinated and test negative for the virus within 72 hours of their journey, however, it is unclear whether they will be subjected to quarantine.
The relaxation of international travel restrictions comes at the start of India’s peak vacation season, raising hopes for a resurgence of the country’s battered tourist industry. India’s rich geology and history have resulted in a wealth of tourist attractions, including the Taj Mahal, the snowy Himalayas and the tropical white sand beaches of the west and south.
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