Now 'visa-free' entry in Qatar for 80 countries including India: Reports

In a bid to boost its 'damaged' tourism sector after facing a boycott by its neighbouring countries, Qatar on Wednesday waived off visit visa requirements for 80 countries. India is included in the list along with New Zealand, United States, Lebanon, South Africa and a dozen of European countries.

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New Delhi: Qatar is finding its own ways of dealing with the two-month-long ban imposed on it by its neighbors. Of late, it has reportedly done away with the visit visa requirements for as many as 80 countries including India. In a historical move, Qatar on Wednesday reportedly announced that it will allow a 'no-visa-entry' for citizens of 80 countries, making it the most open country as of date. As per media reports the decision was taken to encourage air transport and tourism amid a two-month boycott imposed on the Gulf state by its neighbors. The country that will be hosting the soccer World Cup in 2022, has made provisions for tourist visas for  India, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and about a dozen of European countries. The natives of these countries will receive tourist visa upon their arrival in the country. Facing accusation of having ties with Iran and of supporting terrorism, Qatar, had been boycotted collectively by  its neighbouring countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. These countries cut off all transport links with Qatar in June for a period of two months. Qatar has been struggling on its own after the ban- finding new ways of bringing in food supplies, construction materials and finding new shipping routes by framing diplomatic ties beyond Gulf region. The scrapping of visa requirement is its latest move to deal with the loss suffered in the tourism sector. A considerable share of Qatar's tourism revenue  came from visitors from neighbouring countries.