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Some Gujarati Americans are surprised that Ahmedabad is not among the cities that can issue a Visa-on-Arrival to visiting tourists despite the state being the hub of international business and global conferences that attract foreigners in significant numbers.
Visa-on-Arrival is not a new program in India. It was first introduced in 2010 on a very limited basis allowing citizens from just five countries the facility. This was expanded to 11 countries in 2011. But this Nov. 27, it underwent the biggest expansion under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The system is still being implemented in phases but now tourists from 43 countries can apply for a Visa-on-Arrival online via the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system.
But the devil is in the details. The ETA will be valid only at certain airports – Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Trivandrum. That may be a broad sweep to reach various points of India where travelers may wish to ultimately go, but it has set some Gujaratis to questioning why their state of origin is not on the list.
Ahmedabad, they argue is a critical point of entry especially in 2015 when the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is being held in Gandhinagar, apart from the annual Vibrant Gujarat event that attracts hundreds of foreign investors and others; and also because for all said and done, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hails from Gujarat and is a lynchpin in India’s push to become a global destination for foreign investment and expanding tourism.
“I am surprised that despite PBD, Vibrant Gujarat etc., Ahmedabad is not among the cities accepting the Visa-on-Arrival,” Dr. Dinesh Patel of Boston, a recipient of the Gujarat Garima Award in 2004, told News India Times. “India is interesting in making NRIs part of India’s development, many heads of state are coming over with contingents of businessmen and investors, and Gujarat is the center of Smart Cities’. So for foreigners, tourists, as well as others, you are asking people, “Come over, come over, come over,” but Ahmedabad is not on the list,” he added.
“I believe they are just starting the program and will surely bring other airports into it,” contended Chandrakant Patel, president of the Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party, USA. He said they are going to broach the subject at the upcoming OFBJP-USA Convention in Los Angeles, California Dec. 12-14. Among those attending it will be top BJP official Vijay Chauthaiwala who is the newly appointed head of the Overseas BJP cell as well as of the party’s Foreign Affairs desk. “We are going to raise this issue with him,” Chandrakant Patel told News India Times.
