India to reopen to foreign tourists from Oct 15 after dip in Covid-19 cases

NEW DELHI (AFP) – India will re-open for tourists from Oct 15 after being closed for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government said on Thursday (Oct 7).

The country famous for the Taj Mahal, desert palaces, tiger reserves, elephants and beaches had barred all foreign tourists in March 2020 in a strict lockdown when the pandemic took off.

But after a horrendous spike in Covid-19 cases earlier this year, the number of cases has since fallen sharply and the government, under pressure from an industry that is an important pillar of the economy, on Thursday announced a loosening.