Italy assures India of streamlining visa issuing procedure
By Satish Gupta
MUMBAI, India (eTN) — India and Italy have agreed upon enhancing cooperation in tourism and culture sectors. This development shaped up following a meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Culture of Italy Francesco Rutelli and the Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni in New Delhi.
The leaders acknowledged that India and Italy share similarities in their tourism product with both the countries being looked upon as cultural destinations and the scope for interaction is enormous.
"Both countries have ancient glorious civilization, monuments artifacts and rich legacy," stated the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in India.
Soni said that Italy has much to offer to India in the areas of managing cultural patrimony including architectural restoration to tourists services and infrastructures.
She desired that Italy should finalize soon the dates of next round of Working Group Meeting to be held in Italy to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries. Both the leaders agreed for the need of better flight connectivity between the two countries which has improved considerably over the past years with Alitalia introducing more flights from Milan to Delhi.
During the meeting visa problems being faced by Indian tourists like delay in obtaining Italian visa were also figured. The Italian Deputy Prime Minister assured the Indian side that Visa Issue System is being streamlined in Italy.
"We want that more and more Indians should come to Italy and more Italians should visit India, the country of a great civilization and heritage," said Rutelli. "We see that both the countries have a lot to share at the cultural front. We are looking forward for exchange in the field of cinema, contemporary art, restoration of monuments and music."
Italy is one of the top ten tourists generating markets for India with 80,000 plus tourists coming to India from Italy annually.
February 1, 2007
Posted in: Italy