Marcos wants improved e-visa processing for Indian tourists

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has directed concerned agencies to review the process in streamlining the e-visa system for Indian nationals. 

During the 6th meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Tourism Sector Group at the Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, Marcos said faster e-visa processing for Indian nationals would help improve tourism in the country. 

"We don’t have any such issues [with India]. So, I’m sure we can use their system,” Marcos said. 

Under the current e-visa system, Indian nationals are still required to make a personal appearance before the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, reducing the efficiency of the Philippine e-visa system, according to LT Group president Lucio Tan. 

Tan, a member of the PSAC- TSG, said e-visa processing for Indian nationals could take around a month. This makes the Philippines less appealing as their destination, Tan added. 

“In view of that, we recommend engaging in third party service provider that will establish, run and maintain the e-visa system under the guidance of the relevant government agencies,” Tan told Marcos. 

“This will ensure that the program is consistently monitored and that any challenges in the process and the system will be immediately [addressed],” he added.

The PSAC Tourism Sector Group noted that Indian nationals are “repeat visitors” who spend an average of eight nights and spend $100 per person per day in the Philippines. 

It added that 78% of Indian nationals stay in hotels. Their activities include shopping, sightseeing, beach holidays, diving, visiting friends and relatives, and investing in business. --VAL, GMA Integrated News