By IRNA,
New Delhi: Indian government has lifted the curb on foreign tourists to visit three Northeastern states.
In a new year bonanza for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, the Centre 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 Home Ministry statement said.
However, all foreigners visiting those states would have to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the district they visit within 24 hours of their arrival.
The order would come into effect from January 1, 2011. The restriction was in force since pre-independence days.
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 those three states.
The Arunachal Pradesh state is now the only area left in the northeast as a place where foreigners are required to take prior permission to visit it.
Indian diplomatic missions have also been authorized to issue ‘Missionary Visa’ to foreign missionaries visiting the three states as per the extant guidelines of the government.
The changes would ease difficulties facing foreign visitors of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.