India has fully reinstated its tourist and business visa services for Chinese nationals, marking the first complete reopening of this category in five years. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Indian missions worldwide are now issuing tourist visas to Chinese applicants, completing a phased revival that began earlier this year.
The decision follows a series of confidence-building measures, including the resumption of direct commercial flights and limited pilgrimage travel between the two countries. The move is expected to significantly benefit India’s tourism, aviation and hospitality sectors by reactivating one of the world’s highest-spending outbound markets.
Industry experts anticipate that the restoration of visa services will boost inbound recovery, improve hotel occupancy in major cities and revitalise demand across leisure, business, education and MICE travel. With new opportunities emerging, travel trade bodies and operators are preparing to rebuild partnerships in China, expecting a gradual rise in visitor numbers over the coming quarters.
