UK Report Highlights: Indian Tourist Visa Fees in UK to be Reduced

2017 Indian Tourist Visa Fees in UK Set To Be Reduced

A report this summer, “A Passage From India” by the UK’s Royal Commonwealth Society in combination with the Confederation Of Indian Industry and tourism and aviation groups have drawn attention to a need for Indian tourist visa fees in UK to be reduced in order to improve ties between the two nations.

The number of Indian tourists to the UK has dropped by half over the past ten years, which has a cost to the British economy of around 500 million pounds annually, and around 8,000 jobs. France is now the most popular country for Indian tourists to visit, with around 500,000 visitors a year.

Last year a pilot scheme was introduced that gave Chinese nationals a cheap, £87 two-year visa, and it is hoped that this scheme will be rolled out for in a bid to attract more visitors from the subcontinent. Currently, Indian tourist visa fees in UK amounts up to  £330 for a two-year visa or £87 for six months. Tourism increased between 1995-2006 but it has dropped significantly since then.

Indian nationals are steadily becoming wealthier, therefore, increasing the need for reducing Indian tourist visa fees in UK, and this has seen an increase in people traveling abroad, if the visa pilot was extended to India, it would help encourage visitors to holiday in the United Kingdom, where many Indians have family ties. Next year will see the launch of the UK-India year of culture, where links will be made in business, music, art, and design, and  Indian tourist visa fees in UK will become cheaper in order to boost this endeavor. A two-year visa would make doing business a lot easier and help boost the economies of both countries.

 Indian tourist visa fees in UK will help ties with Commonwealth

And with the recent Brexit vote, the UK will be seeking to make strong ties across the Commonwealth in a bid to strengthen its global position.

Changes in visa pricing will send out a clear signal that Great Britain wants to make ties with other countries, which will drive tourism to the country and allow foreign nationals to visit for business purposes, without having to apply for a costly visa every six months.