Travellers to India can forget about queueing up in front of the embassy to get a visa as the electronic tourist visa system has now become valid for 150 countries.

"We have expanded the e-Visa to all major travel destinations," said Vinod Zutshi, state secretary in the Indian Ministry of Tourism, at ITB Berlin. The visa can be applied for directly online and costs about $50 including fees.

India is preparing itself for a sharp increase in the number of tourists.  The South Asian destination recorded a growth rate of 10 per cent in 2015.  The goal is to hold this mark in the future.  Germany ranks among the top seven, making it an important source market. But tourism managers expect the strongest growth rates from Asia, especially China.

Here India depends on religious, spa and wedding tourism, amongst other kinds.  Buddha's pilgrimage through India will be marketed under the name "Buddha Trail."  Health tourism – keywords: Ayurveda and Yoga – shows growth rates of 25 per cent.  And Indian weddings are also considered tourist attractions.

To cope with the growth, India will invest more in its tourist infrastructure.  Overseas ports will be made suitable for cruise ships and airports will be connected to international air traffic, especially in smaller places. Zutshi has called on foreign entrepreneurs to invest in India. "India is on the rise," he said. - TradeArabia News Service