India launches unique promotion to attract tourists: free visas for visitors from abroad

The Indian government is taking steps to popularise the country as a tourist destination by launching a new initiative called ‘Chalo India!’, which will allow Indians to invite up to five foreign guests for free. The programme has already been announced by the Indian Tourism Board at the World Travel Market in London and is scheduled to be launched immediately.

The key objective of the programme is to revive tourism flow to India, which has still not recovered to the pre-pandemic level of 11 million foreign visitors. Under the promotion, citizens with an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card can invite friends or acquaintances, whether they are tourists from Germany or other countries, for free by using a special code to receive a free e-visa.

Only those Indians with OCI status, i.e. working outside the country, participate in the programme. There are about five million of them. Each OCI card holder must register on the ‘Chalo India’ portal, where he can add the data of up to five foreign friends. By doing so, if the guests actually come to India, the inviting party will receive a reward.

This unusual offer will enable the Indian diaspora to actively promote India to their acquaintances and friends. The main objective is to strengthen the country's position in the global tourism market by attracting tourists from abroad.

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