Entry rates slashed for SAARC tourists

The Government decided to reduce the rate of entry tickets to cultural monuments for tourists from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries on Tuesday and bring it at par with the amount paid by Indian citizens.

The Government decided to reduce the rate of entry tickets to cultural monuments for tourists from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries on Tuesday and bring it at par with the amount paid by Indian citizens.

Foreign visitors from all countries are currently required to pay Rs 100 or $2 for the 101 ‘B’ category monuments and Rs 250 or $5 for the 15 ‘A’ category monuments, which are World Heritage sites. The ticket rates for Indian citizens are Rs 5 for ‘B’ category and Rs 10 for ‘A’ category monuments.

Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said this was done to promote regional solidarity.

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SAARC is a grouping of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan, besides India, while BIMSTEC includes Thailand and Myanmar besides India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.

Addressing a consultative committee meeting, Soni stressed that this decision should not be seen as the first step towards having uniform entry fees for all visitors, Indian and foreign.

Her Ministry has voiced strong reservations on suggestions to have uniform entry fees. It has argued that the rates are not exorbitant for most foreign visitors and that reducing the fee for everyone would result in a major loss of revenue for the Government. The Ministry has also pointed out that the rates in India are less than what is charged by most other countries.

Soni also informed the committee members that her Ministry would spend Rs 933 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan on maintenance and restoration of cultural monuments.