Will the introduction of e-visa affect the flow of tourists from India? Asked the Consul General of Belarus in Mumbai

The introduction of an electronic visa for Indian citizens to enter Belarus will create conveniences for travelers and businessmen and should contribute to an increase in the tourist flow from India to our country, as well as to intensify business contacts. This opinion with the correspondent of sb.by shared the Consul General of Belarus in Mumbai Alexander Matsukov.

On September 14, at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Council of Ministers adopted a new version of the visa rules of the Republic of Belarus. Now the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for an e-visa to enter our country includes the Republic of India. This decision is aimed at simplifying the procedure for entry and intensifying interpersonal contacts, which form the basis of Belarusian-Indian relations.

The introduction of e-visa for Indian citizens will be a practical step to intensify business cooperation. India today is one of the most dynamic and largest markets in the world. Translating visa procedures into an online format will significantly reduce administrative barriers, simplify the organization of mutual business visits, B2B negotiations and work on joint investment and trade projects. Infrastructure in addition to visa simplification will be the implementation of plans to launch direct flights from Minsk to Mumbai and Goa.

Citizens of India are used to traveling a lot, said Alexander Matsukov. — For them now the main directions are the countries of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam. They travel a lot to Western Europe, a little less to the United States, Canada, often fly to South Africa, because they feel that Africa is the future. There is a large diaspora in the UK. Our task is to reorient the flows to Belarus, to interest Indian citizens to come to our country.

According to Alexander Matsukov, a number of countries have positive examples when the simplification of visa procedures led to an increase in the flow of Indians entering. At the same time, he stressed that there is already a great demand for visas to Belarus among Indian citizens. And not only tourists, but also Mumbai entrepreneurs who are interested in cooperation with our country in the field of pharmaceuticals, cinematography, as well as in the supply of potash fertilizers, BELAZov.