New year bonanza for NE: govt lifts curb on foreign tourists

New Delhi, Dec 31 (PTI) In a new year bonanza for
Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, the Indian government has
lifted a decades-old rules of obtaining permission by any
foreigner visiting the three northeastern states.
"The government has decided to exclude Manipur, Mizoram
and Nagaland from the Protected Area regime notified under the
Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, initially for a
period of one year," a Indian Home Ministry statement said.
However, all foreigners visiting these states will have to
register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer
(FRO) of the district they visit within 24 hours of their
arrival.
The order will come into effect from the new year day. The
restriction was in force since pre-independence days.
Now Arunachal Pradesh is the only state left in the
Northeast where foreigners are required to take prior
permission before any visit.
Citizens of some specified countries, including Pakistan
and China, would, however, continue to require prior approval
of the Ministry of Home Affairs before their visit to these
three states.
Indian diplomatic missions have also been authorised to
issue 'Missionary Visa' to foreign missionaries visiting these
three states as per the extant guidelines of the government.
These changes will ease the difficulties being faced by
foreigners to visit Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. PTI