India urged Ukraine to simplify visa regime
India urges Ukraine to liberalize visa regime, entering for Indians simplified system of issuing visas that is valid for Ukrainians.
This was stated by the Ambassador of India in Ukraine Manoj Kumar Bharti during a press conference in Kiev, UNIAN news Agency reports.
“For citizens of Ukraine for 1.5 years the system of granting visas on arrival (up to 29 days – approx.ed.). We want to Indian citizens was introduced the same conditions of issuance of visas”, – he stressed.
According to the Ambassador, last year visited India 21 thousand Ukrainian tourists, but Indian nationals in Ukraine is almost not there.
“According to my estimates, in Ukraine last year there was not a single Indian tourist. All Indian nationals who visited Ukraine, in addition to businessmen, or students, or their relatives and friends,” said Bharti.
Besides, he noted that one-third of the Indian population have incomes similar to the income of residents of the EU and the United States, and the total Indian travel market is 375 million people.
“Assuming that at least 0.01% of Indian tourists will visit Ukraine and will leave it at $ 100 – that’s almost 40 million dollars”, – assured the Ambassador.
Recall that Switzerland is ready to introduce visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens. But before that, the decision should be taken by the European Union.