India-Canada spat casts shadow on students, travel
free trade agreement (FTA). “The current diplomatic standoff between Canada and India will not help holiday travellers.
The impact on tourism will be felt for a few months for sure till it dies down or the governments agree to settle the disputes amicably," said Dipak Deva, chairperson of the tourism and culture committee at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and managing director of Travel Corp. of India Ltd.
According to news reports, Canada has warned that it will reduce the number of its diplomats in India over security concerns. Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) president Rajiv Mehra said the suspension of visas for those planning travel to India will adversely impact the FTA as Cananda is a major source market for India.
IATO, the apex tourism body with over 1,600 members, said clarity is needed on the status of those having required visas. Students are also concerned as Canada is the second most popular destination for Indian students as well as immigrants, especially from Haryana and Punjab.
The majority of candidates applying for work visas typically considers entry- and mid-level positions across sectors like retail, business services and manufacturing. Popular courses include science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as well as medical programmes.
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