Foreign tourists to be wooed

Sadanand Kamath · Dec 14th, 2008, 09:54

The Indian tourism ministry is working out a scheme under which a foreign national visiting India twice on a tourist visa till 2010 will be offered hospitality free for the third visit by the tourism ministry. Detail report is at
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/3834590.cms

Sadanand

karuna · Dec 14th, 2008, 11:57

Your link is not working.

I want to SEE! I want to SEE this!

Sadanand Kamath · Dec 14th, 2008, 14:06

Corrected the link.

Sadanand

Cardamom · Dec 14th, 2008, 14:10

Wow! This is interesting

Too bad I don't have a tourist visa...gosh darn business visas ruin the fun, eh!

-C

Haylo · Dec 14th, 2008, 21:30

So it's a proposal which is apparently being considered, which has been leaked by an anonymous source... I'll believe it when I see it.

Sama · Dec 14th, 2008, 21:56

hey, sign me up!

mridula · Dec 14th, 2008, 22:11

Hmm let us see if this gets implemented!

goangoangone · Dec 14th, 2008, 22:40

More bullshit!

palerider · Dec 29th, 2008, 17:50

I WONDER WHAT THEY MEAN BY "FREE HOSPITALITY"
Does that mean free accommodation, or a free visit to the Taj?. A bit vague, but hey, Anything free has to be good value.

Wonderonomic · Dec 29th, 2008, 18:07

What a plan. Talk is cheap.
There would be a million measures leading to more tourists than this crab, which is impossible to administer.
Relaxing visa restrictions for instance?
Subsidised flights to India?

Hopeless bureaucrats trying business.

Pigdog · Dec 29th, 2008, 20:01

I agree Wonderonomic, there are much more effective measures they could use.

However, I wonder if they would be as profitable for the indian government in the long run. I mean, take the whole idea mentioned in the first link. It means that when you get the third visa and come over for a visit you get some sort of 'free hospitality', whatever that is. It could a night in a hotel, a free visit to the Taj, or whatever. But to get this you'd have had to have paid for three visa's, three return flights to india and whatever expenses you've had to pay while there for the first two trips.

How much are visa's? Well, they're 50 euro's where I come from. That's a total of 150 for the three. Then you've got the tax on each return flight, which is about 60/70 euros depending on which airport/s you use. Let's say 60 for a total of 330 euros. And whatever taxes the government gets on your expenses while you've been here for three times. This is hugely variable and I have no idea how to work that one out, but the total so far stands at 330 euros.

I think we need to read between the lines on this one. They're not saying they want to encourage tourists. Oh no! They're really saying they want to maximise the profit they get from tourists.

There are quite a few people who would like to spend their retirement money there, or invest in a holiday home and visit every year, but can't because of the rules and laws.

Anyway, one could rant on for a very long time on this subject...

Either way, I hope they bring this in before I get my third visa, in about four weeks!! Not holding my breath though!!

capt_mahajan · Dec 29th, 2008, 20:03

I think they are looking for tourists, not residents.

Wonderonomic · Dec 29th, 2008, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

I think they are looking for tourists, not residents.

Me too, because they stink of pure stupidity, and a lack of what is possible and administrable.
Seldom will you hear more bullshit from any desperate government.
Totally ridiculous.

capt_mahajan · Dec 29th, 2008, 20:17

Their idea may well be unworkable and full of holes, I agree. But any government anywhere in the world distinguishes between tourism and residency/migration. I don't see why India should be any exception. We have enough people anyway.

Wonderonomic · Dec 29th, 2008, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Their idea may well be unworkable and full of holes, I agree. But any government anywhere in the world distinguishes between tourism and residency/migration. I don't see why India should be any exception. We have enough people anyway.

Admitted India is no immigration country, but legalising the investments by foreigners would be a good first step.

Not making a total fool out of herself by dubious programs?
Who brained that idear out?
His or her citizenship should be revoked on the spot and let Wonderonomic in.????
One goes, one comes, I could hardly do worse.?

Dec 14th, 2008, 09:54	#1
Sadanand Kamath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,044	Foreign tourists to be wooed The Indian tourism ministry is working out a scheme under which a foreign national visiting India twice on a tourist visa till 2010 will be offered hospitality free for the third visit by the tourism ministry. Detail report is at http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/3834590.cms Sadanand __________________ http://www.sadanandsafar.blogspot.com/ Last edited by Sadanand Kamath : Dec 14th, 2008 at 14:11. Reason: Corrected link

Dec 14th, 2008, 11:57	#2
karuna Just a big girl with a small dream Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: A little town you've probably never heard of Posts: 2,976	Your link is not working. I want to SEE! I want to SEE this! __________________ Mosquitos suck.

Dec 14th, 2008, 21:30	#5
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	So it's a proposal which is apparently being considered, which has been leaked by an anonymous source... I'll believe it when I see it. __________________ The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Dec 14th, 2008, 21:56	#6
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 6,429	hey, sign me up! __________________ *MY INDIA, 2005-2008* "Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

Dec 14th, 2008, 22:11	#7
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 2,587	Hmm let us see if this gets implemented! __________________ Mridula Travel Tales from India

Dec 14th, 2008, 14:06	#3
Sadanand Kamath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,044	Corrected the link. Sadanand

Dec 14th, 2008, 14:10	#4
Cardamom mad for mithai! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 367	Wow! This is interesting Too bad I don't have a tourist visa...gosh darn business visas ruin the fun, eh! -C

Dec 14th, 2008, 22:40	#8
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	More bullshit! __________________ GoanGoan......here

Dec 29th, 2008, 17:50	#9
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	I WONDER WHAT THEY MEAN BY "FREE HOSPITALITY" Does that mean free accommodation, or a free visit to the Taj?. A bit vague, but hey, Anything free has to be good value. __________________ I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

Dec 29th, 2008, 18:07	#10
Wonderonomic Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: EU Posts: 500	What a plan. Talk is cheap. There would be a million measures leading to more tourists than this crab, which is impossible to administer. Relaxing visa restrictions for instance? Subsidised flights to India? Hopeless bureaucrats trying business.

Dec 29th, 2008, 20:01	#11
Pigdog Porcinus Canis Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 29	I agree Wonderonomic, there are much more effective measures they could use. However, I wonder if they would be as profitable for the indian government in the long run. I mean, take the whole idea mentioned in the first link. It means that when you get the third visa and come over for a visit you get some sort of 'free hospitality', whatever that is. It could a night in a hotel, a free visit to the Taj, or whatever. But to get this you'd have had to have paid for three visa's, three return flights to india and whatever expenses you've had to pay while there for the first two trips. How much are visa's? Well, they're 50 euro's where I come from. That's a total of 150 for the three. Then you've got the tax on each return flight, which is about 60/70 euros depending on which airport/s you use. Let's say 60 for a total of 330 euros. And whatever taxes the government gets on your expenses while you've been here for three times. This is hugely variable and I have no idea how to work that one out, but the total so far stands at 330 euros. I think we need to read between the lines on this one. They're not saying they want to encourage tourists. Oh no! They're really saying they want to maximise the profit they get from tourists. There are quite a few people who would like to spend their retirement money there, or invest in a holiday home and visit every year, but can't because of the rules and laws. Anyway, one could rant on for a very long time on this subject... Either way, I hope they bring this in before I get my third visa, in about four weeks!! Not holding my breath though!! __________________ Long time listener, first time caller.

Dec 29th, 2008, 20:03	#12
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,606	I think they are looking for tourists, not residents. __________________ . Outside the machine

Dec 29th, 2008, 20:17	#14
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,606	Their idea may well be unworkable and full of holes, I agree. But any government anywhere in the world distinguishes between tourism and residency/migration. I don't see why India should be any exception. We have enough people anyway.

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