India took a lead in resolving the visa issue by liberalising its rules for the Russian citizens visiting India on business and tourism.
"We are now issuing multi-entry business visas valid for one year against six months single or double entry in the past and tourist visas valid for six months with multiple entries," India's Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra has said. The Embassy of India in Moscow has streamlined and liberalised its issuance of business and tourist visas with a view to further encourage business contacts and promote tourism between India and Russia.
India and the Russian Federation already have in place a visa-free regime for diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries, that facilitates regular official contact. Both business and tourist visas would normally be issued in three working days following the date of application against minimum ten working days previously. The new pattern is also being followed by the Indian Consulates General in St Petersburg and Vladivostok.
Goa tourism industry has welcomed central government's decision to give certain relaxations in the visa norms, that would help attract more tourists to the beach destination.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa ( TTAG) spokesman Ralph D'Souza told reporters here that the new norms will help to increase flow of European tourists in the state. Goa attracts around four lakh foreigners and tourism industry had raised fears that the number might drop down due to stringent visa regulations.
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