Minister pushed on visa deal for tourists from India

Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas told Parliament that PNG wants to see more tourists from all over the world, including India, visiting the country.
Thomas was responding to West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel’s query about the delay in approving visa on arrival for Indian tourists. “There are no issues with tourists from India and other parts of the world visiting PNG,” Thomas said.
“I will find out from the department why there has been a long delay in approving visa on arrival for tourists from India,” he said.
Muthuval raised the matter as a concern of the Indian community in PNG.
He said when the Indian president visited PNG in 2015, both governments agreed to on-arrival visa for tourists but that commitment was not honoured.
Muthuval said since 2015, India had honoured its commitment with visa on arrival for all the Pacific Islands nations, including PNG.
Thomas said he would ensure that this commitment was implemented in enabling visa on arrival for tourists from India.
Thomas said he would report to Parliament when the information was provided by his department.