NEW DELHI ~ India has unveiled a long-term tourist visa with multi-entry facility to nationals of 18 pre-selected countries, officials said.

The relaxation followed persistent demands from India’s hospitality industry for the government to ease regulations for leisure-seekers from abroad.

“The long-term visa will offer a five-year validity, but with the precondition that continuous stay in India on each visit will not exceed 90 days,” a tourism ministry official said.

Visitors from France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Vietnam would benefit, he said.

“The decision has been taken to promote India as a favourite tourist destination,” the government added in a statement.

Some four million tourists visit India annually but private- and state-run airlines have begun offering lavish discounts to woo more overseas business to India.