India Lifts Visa Ban Against Bangladesh

   December 31, 2016 ,   Cruise Industry

India looks to visa-free and luxury cruises to improve its tourism economy. Travellers from Dubai or Singapore can head to the country via one of the 7 new luxury cruises that would allow luxury travellers visit different Indian cities as part of new global cruise circuit. India also raises ban against Bangladeshi travel Visas to India to further promote tourism.

India's Shipping Minister intends to promote reforms that would "promote cruise tourism" in India's major rivers such as Ganga and Sagarmala. To improve Indian cruise tourism, there will be a need to develop industrial clusters, port-rail and port-roads and the "mechanization and modernization" of India's ports. In entirety, the Sagarmala project would cost around Rs12 Lakh Crore ($176m) in total.

To improve its tourism economy further in general, Bangladeshi Visas - once banned - will now allow travelers with tickets to submit Visa applications without having to set appointments. According to First Post, the Indian High Commission intends to "streamline, liberalize and ease the process of securing Indian Visas" for Bangladesh travelers. Air, train and bus ticket buyers in Balngladesh can submit their tourist visa applications without having to schedule an appointment starting January 2017.