Visa on arrival soon for visitors from India, China and Russia to Qatar
By early-to-mid next year, visitors who need to buy their visas in advance of arrival will be able to apply online for their visa
With plans to attract 7 million visitors by 2030, Qatar is overhauling its tourist visa policy. Last week, the head of Qatar Airways announced that visitors from India, China and Russia will be able to get tourist visas on arrival in the “coming weeks,” according to a report in Doha News.
The three countries of India, China and Russia will join the existing list of 38 countries whose nationals can buy their visit visa when they arrive at Hamad International Airport (HIA).
The Ministry of Interior will soon give further details of the new visa rules , Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, added.
Visitor numbers to Qatar are down by 6 per cent in the first six months of 2016, compared to the same period last year.
Online visas
Al Baker announced the new arrangements in Doha at a function launching an overhaul of the tourist visa system. By early-to-mid next year, visitors who need to buy their visas in advance of arrival will be able to apply online for their visa, track it and receive it within 48 hours, he said.
On Sunday September 4, the UAE too announced that Chinese visitors to the country will now be granted visas on arrival, according to AFP.
“We have approved a decision to grant visas on arrival at the country’s airports to visitors from the Republic of China,” said UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai.
Chinese tourists previously had to obtain visas before traveling to the UAE.
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