VISITOR VISAS FOR PEOPLE FROM INDIA

That this House welcomes the announcement of the doubling of UK exports to India, increasing trade and developing economic relations; acknowledges the importance of the UK and India's long-term historical, cultural and business ties, and celebrates the positive relationship between the two countries; notes that the Government's hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a golden opportunity for building stronger ties with India; further notes that tourists from India contributed £432 million to the UK economy in 2016; expresses support for increasing mobility between the two nations; believes that simplifying the visitor visa application process to make it easier and more attractive for people from India to visit the UK is a crucial part of developing this bilateral relationship; and urges the Government to support the Royal Commonwealth Society's campaign to have the special UK-China bilateral visitor visa pilot extended to India, to boost tourism and trade and support diplomatic relations.