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New visa rules are to be introduced, making it easier for people taking a holiday in India to stay there for longer.

Officials have revealed that the new long-term tourist visas will be handed out to people from 18 pre-selected countries.

The scheme has come about through pressure from tourism industry figures who have been pushing the government for change.

It is hoped that by easing regulations on foreign visitors, the country will see an increase in tourist numbers.

'The long-term visa will offer a five-year validity, but with the pre-condition that continuous stay in India on each visit will not exceed 90 days,' a tourism official told the Gulf Times.

The countries which qualify for the new visas include France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Vietnam.

At present, around 4m tourists visit India every year, but the government is working to increase that number.

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