( New Beginning: India’s Minister of External Affairs , Dr. S. Jaishankar shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month)
BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA | 27 JULY 2025
All the experts and leaders of the country’s top travel and tourism industry sector have welcomed the decision of resuming tourist VISA to Chinese nationals after a gap of almost five years and said that it will strengthen the Indo- Chinese bilateral relationships.
( Sanjeev Mehra, President Skal International India)
“This development is a significant step towards strengthening India-China relations and will undoubtedly boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. I welcome the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens. This move will not only enhance cultural exchange but also open new avenues for tourism professionals in both countries,” said Mr. Sanjeev Mehra, President of Skal International India.
The decision was Heartily welcomed by the Association of Buddhist Tour Operators-ABTO-The Platform of Tourism with Buddhism .
( Dr.Kaulesh Kumar, Secretary General ABTO)
“We take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial.
ABTO welcomes this good news and will work to Promote Cultural/Spiritual or Specially in Buddhist Circuits between the India and China two countries,” ABTO Secretary General Dr. Kaulesh Kumar said.
“From ancient times Chinese Travelers like Fa hi Yan, Huen Tsang, Etching and other scholars came to India and learned so many things and the same from Indian Scholars like Kashyap Matang, Kumarjeeva, etc explore Indian Culture in China.
We hope that in this modern era we can further strengthen our bilateral and cultural relationships with China now,”added Dr. Kaulesh Kumar.
( Mr. Debjit Dutta, Chairman, IATO West Bengal Chapter)
Taking to The Travel and Tourism Times, Mr. Debjit Dutta, Chairman of West Bengal Chapter of Indian Association of Travel Operators (IATO) has said that the Government of India’s decision to resume tourist visa issuance for Chinese nationals from July 24, 2025, is a pivotal step in restoring one of Asia’s key tourism linkages. In 2019, India welcomed over 3.4 lakh Chinese tourists, contributing significantly to our inbound tourism economy.
“However, post-pandemic and amid geopolitical challenges, arrivals dropped by over 90%, hitting just above 30,000 in 2023. With visa services back in place, we anticipate renewed interest—particularly in the Buddhist circuit and heritage-rich destinations of Eastern India. However, the region continues to face a critical shortage of Mandarin-speaking guides and interpreters, which must be urgently addressed to ensure readiness. IATO urges the government to invest in language training, digital enablement, and infrastructure upgrades to make India more accessible and welcoming for Chinese travellers once again,” added Mr. Debjit Dutta.
( Smt. Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council)
“As the Chairperson of Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council and past President of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) , I wholeheartedly welcome the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year hiatus as a strategic move poised to revitalize India’s tourism industry. Tourism inherently promotes collaboration, fosters stronger people-to-people connections, cultivates empathy, and drives peace through better understanding. With China being a significant source of international tourists, this decision is likely to attract more Chinese visitors to India, boosting the economy through increased spending on shopping, food, and accommodations, as well as trade and investment,” said Smt. Jyoti Mayal.
“Before the suspension, about 2 lakh visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2019, and about 1.63 lakh in 2018. This renewed visa policy will help India regain its popularity among Chinese tourists, contributing to the country’s economic growth, cultural exchange, and people-to-people diplomacy, ultimately fostering a stronger bond between India and China. As we move forward, it’s essential to enhance our skilling efforts across the sector, equipping our workforce with cultural sensitivity, multilingual capabilities, digital tools, and service excellence to cater to international expectations. With focused marketing, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building at the grassroots level, the Indian tourism industry is well poised to reap the long-term benefits of this renewed connectivity, repositioning itself as a benchmark for hospitality, authenticity, and skilled human capital. This development marks a vital turning point for the Indian tourism and hospitality industry, presenting a long-awaited opportunity to reignite demand, create new employment avenues, and revive segments of our industry that were deeply impacted during the pandemic,” concludes Smt. Jyoti Mayal.
Few months ago both India and China had agreed after several high level meetings, to restore back direct flight operations, resume VISA services and resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a major pilgrimage route of Indian pilgrims.
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