MUMBAI, Jan 1 - India will issue visas on arrival to tourists from five countries starting Friday, according to a foreign ministry statement, just days after a plan to tighten some visa rules drew protests.

The visas, for tourists from Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, will be issued from Jan. 1 on an experimental basis for a period of one year and will be valid for up to 30 days, the statement said.

Single-entry visas will initially be issued at airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, it said