Travel to India is about to become a lot easier, with new visa regulations and Indian carriers looking to expand operations into Africa.
The Indian government recently approved measures to simplify visa regulations and extend on arrival visas to over 40 countries, including South Africa.
The announcement came just days after Anand Sharma, Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, said at the India-Africa Business Council (IABC) in Johannesburg that airlines from India would soon resume their operations to Africa. He told the council that Air India, in particular, was planning a route to Africa from as early as 2014.
South African travel agents, who have seen tourism between the two countries flourish over the past years, have welcomed the Indian government’s initiatives to ease travel.
Several travel agents commented on the eTNW news site that their clients were struggling with the current, laborious visa application process, which they felt was hindering travel to India. A visa on arrival would be a welcome development, they said.
For more on this story refer to TNW, October 16.
