New Delhi: In a recent announcement by the Ministry of Tourism of India, the country has introduced a new visa-on-arrival facility for passport holders from Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to Recent reports , it aims to streamline travel and boost tourism by making entry into India more accessible and convenient for these key countries.

Under this new provision, travelers from Japan, South Korea, and the UAE can now avail themselves of visa-on-arrival services at six major international airports across India: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. The visa-on-arrival is valid for a total of 60 days and permits double entry, facilitating easier re-entry for frequent travelers.

Additionally, the program integrates with the e-visa system, including the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Passport holders from over 130 countries can access e-visa services at 30 different international airports in India. This dual approach aims to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles associated with obtaining visas, enhancing the ease of travel for international visitors.

The new visa-on-arrival initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Union Ministry to simplify travel for medical tourists, conference attendees, and other foreigners. By improving accessibility and convenience, India hopes to bolster its tourism sector and strengthen its global position. This move aligns with the country’s ongoing efforts to increase its GDP and enhance its attractiveness as a tourist destination.

Moreover, non-resident Indians (NRIs) with UAE mobile numbers can also benefit from this service by downloading the PhonePe app and linking their NRE and NRO accounts for easy payments. This initiative aims to streamline transactions for the Indian community in the UAE, enhancing overall convenience.

This collaboration is made possible through Mashreq’s partnership with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), enabling NEOPAY terminals to accept UPI apps as a payment method. This integration allows Indian travelers to conveniently utilize UPI for their transactions.

By combining PhonePe’s advanced technology with Mashreq’s dedication to innovation, this partnership promises to deliver an exceptional customer experience at NEOPAY terminals. It underscores Mashreq’s commitment to incorporating state-of-the-art technology into their operations, ensuring seamless transactions for all users.

In addition to facilitating travel and local transactions, PhonePe will also introduce inward remittance services once the corridor for inward remittances is enabled. This will simplify the process of transferring money by leveraging the UPI infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need for details such as bank account numbers and IFSC codes.

Speaking on the partnership Ritesh Pai, CEO International Payments, PhonePe said, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Mashreq. UAE is a very popular destination, with millions of Indian visitors every year. With this partnership, customers can now conveniently transact through UPI, a payment method they are familiar with. Enabling digital payments not only reflects PhonePe’s commitment to convenience but also embraces the evolving needs of today’s travelers. This collaboration opens doors to seamless transactions, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable journey for visitors.”

Vibhor Mundhada, CEO of NEOPAY at Mashreq added, “We are delighted to collaborate with PhonePe to offer yet another new payment solution for Indian tourists and visitors in the UAE, helping further cement the already strong financial relations between the two countries. This latest launch underscores our commitment to incorporating innovation and technology into our operations, and to providing the solutions and experiences our customers want and need.”

Anubhav Sharma, Deputy Chief – Partnership Business Development & Marketing, NIPL said, “We aim to actively collaborate with financial institutions around the world, fostering partnerships to deliver convenient and secure cross-border payment solutions for consumers. This partnership encourages fintech collaboration and unifies the ecosystem to streamline payment processes for Indian travelers to UAE.”