E-Visa to promote Surrogacy and Medical Tourism?

Identifying tourism as one of the important sectors of the economy and the potential job creator, the BJP led-government has proposed to facilitate visa-on-arrival to tourists coming to India.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the introduction of electronic visas (e-visas), creation of heritage and religious theme-based tourism circuits and financial support for the development of a convention centre in Goa in his maiden budget speech on Thursday. The government has also enhanced duty-free allowance for Indians returning from abroad to Rs. 45,000 from Rs. 35,000.

Is this new step from the government will be applicable to the medical tourism?

Jaitley did not mention the word “Medical Tourism” in this budget. As visa-on-arrival (VOA) scheme for tourists from select countries has been instituted, this allows foreign nationals to stay in India for 30 days for medical reasons. We hope the same would be applicable to the e-Visa system.

The minister announced the development of new airports in Tier-i and –ii cities but have no relief to the aviation sector in terms of lower taxes on jet fuel.  Air India received an additional infusion of Rs. 1,000 crore above the Rs. 5,500 crore committed in the interim budget in February.

“The budget announcement of e-Visas at nine airports reflects the pro-tourism vision of the new government and puts destination India in spotlight”.