Headlines
Tourist visa name change to e- Tourist Visa
New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) The government on Tuesday
decided to change the name of 'Tourist Visa on Arrival-Electronic
Travel Authorization' scheme to 'e-Tourist Visa' (eTV) from Wednesday,
saying the name was confusing for tourists.
The decision to
change the name was taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, an official
statement issued here said, adding that the scheme of issuing visa on
arrival would be extended to more countries and airports in a phased
manner in order to avoid any confusion.
The government had
launched 'Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel
Authorization' (TVoA-ETA) on November 27, 2014 to 44 countries at nine
airports to facilitate short duration international travellers.
"Since the launch of the scheme, 110,000 visas have been issued under it, the statement said.
"It
has been observed that the name of the scheme (TVoA-ETA) is creating
confusion among tourists. Tourists presumed as if the visa is being
granted on arrival, however in present system the pre-authorization of
visa to foreigners is being given prior to travel.
"Ministry of Home Affairs had also received the requests of name change from some Indian embassies," it added.
The
statement said that a committee of officers from Ministry of Home
Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Bureau of Immigration (BoI)
was formed for formulation of new name for the scheme.
"A contest was also conducted on mygov.in inviting suggestions on the name of the scheme, it added.