Expert opinion says the new visa regulations will affect tourism drastically and badly; the Indian government, however, sees this as a problem that can be dealt with.

- Neelima Chimnani
December 30, 2009

Quite a funny state of affairs… Confused ministers busy arguing with each other on a regulation issue while those impacted by the new rules go helter-skelter, trying to figure out how the new regulation works.

After External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor questioned the tightening of Indian visa guidelines on December 27, it was the turn of his senior, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, to enjoy limelight on December 28.

For those of you who are unaware, the tough new visa restrictions of India call for a two-month gap before those with multiple-entry tourist visas can return to the country. The guidelines came into effect last month, as part of security measures, after it was found that terror suspect David Headley had misused his visa...

The new rules have brought about protests from foreign missions, including the US and UK, primarily because of the inconvenience that will now be faced by tourists.

If an American citizen who has a 10-year tourist visa, wants to be in Nepal on New Year's Eve, the new visa rules won’t permit that. Even the multiple entry visa and a return ticket to the US cannot help him reenter India once he leaves for Nepal.

Also, as per the new rules, foreigners cannot use tourist visas for business or business visas for employment purposes.

Scores of tourists are seeking clarity on the new visa rules at the foreigner's registration office in Delhi, as the websites are not updated. The lack of information is baffling to those who are here and daunting to those planning their visits to the country.

Expert opinion says the new visa regulations will affect tourism drastically and badly; the Indian government, however, sees this as a problem that can be dealt with.

Tharoor, in his posts, had questioned the tightening of Indian visa rules and doubted whether the restrictions would strengthen security. "The 26/11 killers had no visas," he had said. He had also wondered if India should allow terrorists to make it a "less welcoming nation".

Krishna, in turn, had expressed displeasure with Tharoor’s expression of emotions on a public forum, saying if he had any "perceptions", those should have been discussed within the "four walls" of the Government.

"These (issues) are not to be discussed in public. If there are any perceptions, then I think it should be sorted out within the four walls of the Ministry," Krishna had said on Monday in response to Tharoor's comments on Twitter, a popular social networking site.

While Shashi Tharoor made his displeasure with the new visa rules completely unambiguous on twitter, Krishna had insisted that External Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry were in alignment on the visa issue.

Can the External Affairs Ministers stop corresponding with each other via media and ensure the guidelines are in place and updated on information web sites? The mayhem over the issue seems to be damaging tourism more than Shashi Tharoor’s tweets, we’re sure...