Foreign tourists to pay in rupees for entry to monuments

Foreign visitors will now be charged in rupees and not dollars for entry to cultural monuments in the country. The Government on Thursday decided to charge foreign tourists Rs 250 instead of $5 at the 16 World Heritage sites, where tickets are required for entry. At other monuments protected by the ASI, they will be charged Rs 100 instead of $2 that they are required to pay. The move is aimed at countering the falling revenues on account of the drop in value of the dollar against the rupee and also to bring the ticketing procedure in line with international norms, a Government statement said.