India extends visa-on-arrival facility to 180 countries

India has extended visa-on- arrival facility to 180 countries, except eight nations including Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka, local media reported Thursday.

"We have decided to extend visa-on-arrival to tourists from 180 nations. It will take five to six months to put the infrastructure in place. We hope to implement this from the next tourist session beginning October," Indian Planning Minister Rajiv Shukla was quoted by The Times of India newspaper as saying.

He added "This move will provide a major boost to the country's tourism sector. This is historic."

The visa-on-arrival facility will be initially offered at nine airports across India for a period of 30 days, then it will be extended to other airports as well.

India currently offers visa-on-arrival to nationals of 11 countries, including the Philippines, Singapore and Japan.