India should consider on-arrival visa to Bangladeshis

India should considering issuing on-arrival visas to Bangladesh nationals considering the sustained economic growth of Bangladesh, emergence of a rising upper middle class and middle class, specially sufferings of patients seeking treatment in the neighboring countries, sources said.     

Meanwhile, Bangladesh also lost the top position to the United States of America in terms of tourist arrivals in India in 2023. Over the years, Bangladesh retained the top position in India in terms of tourist arrivals in the neighbouring country. 

The United States emerged as the top source country for inbound tourists in December 2023, accounting for 22.33 per cent of arrivals. Bangladesh followed closely behind with 16.97 per cent, while the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada were the other countries in top five source countries. Interestingly, the data reveals a slight shift in the top source countries throughout the whole year, with Bangladesh holding the top spot for January to December 2023.

According to the statistics of the Indian Travel and Tourism Board some 15,67,370  Bangladeshis visited India last year. 

India’s inbound tourism sector is experiencing a significant rebound, with foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2023 surging 64 per cent compared with 2022. This translates to 92,36,108 visitors between January and December 2023, compared with 64,37,467 in the same period of the previous year. However, despite this impressive growth, the sector remains 15.5 per cent below pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s data. 

The Financial Earnings from Expenditure (FEEs) during January-December 2023 stood at ₹2,31,927 crore, reflecting a substantial 65.74 per cent growth from the previous year. In terms of US dollars, FEEs reached $28.077 billion, demonstrating a robust 59.43 per cent growth, albeit showing a decline of -8.61 per cent compared with 2019.

Experts predict continued growth in the inbound tourism sector, with Virendra Jain, co-founder and CEO of VIDEC Consultants, expressing optimism for 2024. Virendra Jain, co-founder and CEO of VIDEC Consultants said, “While outbound travel has almost restored to its pre-pandemic highs, inbound travel is expected to consolidate its recovery next year, according to the Indian newspapers.

Riding on the back of unflinching consumer demand, this year has been fantastic for the India travel story, and has created a solid underpinning for optimistic outlook for the future. India - the future beckons.”

According to the Henley Passport Index, a Bangladeshi passport entitles visa-free travel to 42 destinations.

He anticipates a year of diversification and product expansion within the online travel agency (OTA) segment, driven by both organic growth and mergers and acquisitions.

An analysis of the purpose of visits reveals a shift towards business and professional travel during December 2023, comprising 10.28 per cent of arrivals compared with 20 per cent for the entire year. Conversely, medical tourism, which constituted a significant portion (45.73 per cent) of arrivals in December, saw a decrease in its share compared with the full year (26.52 per cent).

Among the top five entry ports for foreign tourists, Delhi held the leading position in December 2023 with 30.29 per cent of arrivals, followed by Chennai (8.34 per cent), Mumbai (15.08 per cent), Bangalore (6.20 per cent), and Hyderabad (6.20 per cent). 
Notably, Delhi and Chennai witnessed an increase in their share compared to December 2022, while Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad experienced slight declines.

Meanwhile,  India is considering to issue on-arrival visas for Bangladesh nationals, said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma said in a meeting with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruque Khan at his office at the secretariat in Dhaka (January 30).

He said that the High Commission of India had issued some 16 lakh visas in favour of Bangladesh citizens last years. It is increasing day by day. "We have raised our capability to issue visas in favour of Bangladeshis in time. New Delhi is also considering to issue on-arrival visas to Bangladesh nationals in future."

The Indian high commissioner said several Indian entrepreneurs showed keen interest to invest in Bangladesh's tourism industry.
"Especially India is interested in establishing air connectivity among India's North-Eastern states and Bangladesh", said the High Commissioner.

Meanwhile, State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that India should issue on-arrival visa to Bangladeshis, particularly to patients seeking treatment in the neighboring country.

A top leader of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh  (TOAB) while talking to this correspondent said that High Commission of India should increase the manpower and ease sufferings of thousands of Bangladeshi visa seekers.

A Bangladeshi visa seeker has to stand in long queue with the India Visa Application Centre at the Jamuna Future Park to deposit his or her visa application form.

Meanwhile,   Bangladesh is set to propose substantial amendments to its travel agreement with India, focusing on enhanced convenience and flexibility for citizens travelling between the two countries.

The proposed changes include issuing visas that allow travel through any checkpost and offering flexibility for long-term medical treatments, such as allowing multiple travel.

With a significant influx of people from Bangladesh visiting India each year for education, medical care, employment, business, and tourism, these changes are poised to foster a more seamless and convenient travel relationship.

According to data from the Bureau of Immigration of India, Bangladesh contributed substantially to India's tourism sector in 2022, with 20% of tourists originating from Bangladesh, making it the second-highest contributor after the United States.

The writer is a senior journalist