News

Venezuela announces increase in flights to Moscow

Venezuela's Tourism Minister on Thursday said the country will increase state airline flights to its ally Moscow, as many countries around the world, led by the United States and Europe, block Russian planes from their airspace. President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine last week provoked a battery of sanctions from the United States and its allies, including airspace being closed to Russian- flagged flights. "Venezuela is ready to continue receiving Russian tourists," Minister Ali Padron tweeted on Thursday, after a phone call with the head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency They agreed "to guarantee the continuity of regular flights through the Venezuelan airline Conviasa and increase connectivity," he wrote. Russian tourism to Venezuela soared in May 2021 when the two countries opened a direct route between Moscow and Caracas. Moscow has been a key ally of Venezuela since the government of the late President Hugo Chavez. Chavez's successor Nicolas Maduro has expressed support for Putin in the past week, calling actions taken against Moscow "crimes" and "madness", although he advocated for peace negotiations with Ukraine to continue.

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Maldives Eliminates Testing For Vaccinated Visitors

I’m thrilled to see the trend lately whereby more countries are eliminating testing requirements for travelers. You can now add another popular tourist destination to the list of countries taking this approach. The Maldives is heavily reliant on tourism, and reopened to visitors several months into the pandemic. Up until now the Maldives has required visitors to get tested, but that will be changing shortly. As of Saturday, March 5, 2022, the Maldives is making the following changes to entry requirements: Vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test result prior to arrival. Vaccinated tourists who stay on inhabited islands will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test on departure. This is fantastic news, and takes some of the hassle out of visiting the Maldives. Travelers will still need to fill out a traveler health declaration prior to travel, but that’s about it. Of course keep in mind that individual resorts can still choose to have a testing requirement (given that many properties are on their own islands), but I suspect most won’t. While it goes without saying that testing is an important tool for battling coronavirus, I’m pleased to see testing requirements for travel increasingly ending. After borders reopening, this is the single biggest thing that can be done to make international travel easier. The concept of needing to test is great in theory, but has so many problems: It’s still a massive money grab, with PCR tests in many places costing well over $100 per person, and in some cases $200+ if you need them on short notice. Testing requirements are so highly uncoordinated, especially when you’re traveling to multiple destinations in a short period; it can often take hours to get tested multiple times for a bigger trip, and that doesn’t even factor in the cost. The entire testing for travel industry is extremely shady, as I’ve outlined before. It’s great to see more countries taking this approach, and especially place like the Maldives, where testing was prohibitively expensive. The Maldives is eliminating its testing requirements for vaccinated travelers as of March 5, 2022. This is fantastic news, as vaccinated travelers will no longer need to take PCR tests. We’ve seen this trend in lots of countries in recent weeks, so here’s to hoping this becomes the norm soon enough.

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Covid-19: No pre-departure RT-PCR for those fully vaccinated in 82 countries; at-risk categorisation goes & no test on Day 8 of arrival

NEW DELHI: In the biggest relaxation for international arrivals to India since Covid, the government will from February 14 allow passengers to upload their certificate of completing full primary Covid-19 vaccination schedule in 82 countries on a mutually accepted basis. The Union health ministry has also removed the list of at-risk countries and replaced it with another list of countries in respect of which primary vaccination schedule completion certificate is allowed to be uploaded. These include Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Maldives, New Zealand, Netherlands, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and USA. China and UAE are among those not on the list of 82 countries as of now.The requirement of seven-day home quarantine and a Covid test on day 8 of arrivals also goes from February 14. This major relaxation could spur foreign inbound travel to India if the suspension of scheduled commercial flights is lifted as fares under bubble flights are very steep. The revised guidelines for international arrivals issued by the health ministry says as much: “…cognizance is also given to thefact that economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner.” The change comes into effect from February 14,12.01 am (IST). Amit Kishore, a travel industry veteran and founder of 2hub.travel, said: “The removal of mandatory 7-day home quarantine for arrivals is a big reprieve for the travel industry which, for two years, has been receiving one brutal blow after another during Covid. It has been a particularly anguishing journey for the industry and it now waits for the resumption of regular international flights. This is perhaps the single most important thing required for resumption of travel. "The announcement of regular international flights resuming should be made at the earliest as airlines also take time to deploy aircraft on routes that open up and people need time to book. That will go a long way in kick-starting the industry and improving the overall business sentiment,” Kishore added. Under planning to travel, the guidelines say: “All travellers should (a) Submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days travel details…. (b) Upload a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR report* (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey) or certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule of Covid-19 vaccination**.” With at-risk categorisation gone, international arrival process becomes simpler. “Thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all passengers.. passengers found symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts shall be identified and managed as per laid down protocol,” the revised rules says. “2% of the total passengers in flight shall undergo random post- arrival testing at the airport on arrival. Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport. If such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network. They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol,” it adds. All travellers will self-monitor their health for next 14 days of arrival. If travellers under self-health monitoring, develop signs and symptoms suggestive of Covid, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call national helpline number (1075)/ state helpline number. Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. They will continue to give an undertaking on the portal through concerned airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority any post arrival requirement to undergo home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring.

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IndiGo to operate 51 per cent of the repatriation flights under Operation Ganga by March 06

In its mission to support the repatriation efforts from Ukraine, IndiGo is operating the largest number of flights from February 28 to March 06, under Operation Ganga. The airline will be operating 42 flights (completed + planned) bringing back over 9200 Indian citizens back to their homeland by Sunday (March 06). The airline is operating these flights with A321 aircraft. Some of these flights carried relief material on their outward journey to Budapest and Rzeszow, while bringing back evacuees on the return leg via Istanbul. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, President and Chief Operating Officer, IndiGo said, “We are humbled to fulfil our responsibility by operating more than 50 per cent of the flights under Operation Ganga and contribute towards the repatriation efforts by the Indian Government. We have already operated 30 flights bringing back more than 6600 of our citizens till today. IndiGo remains committed to supporting the Government of India in its mission to evacuate Indian citizens from the crisis in Ukraine. We are proud to see our operations team stepping forward to respond to the critical humanitarian need of the hour, enabling the safe return of our stranded citizens back to their families and homes. We will continue to contribute to the country in its time of need.”

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Fiji lifts travel restrictions; now open for Indian travellers

India has been included as part of Fiji’s ‘Travel Partner’ country list by Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism & Transport – Fiji, effective 2nd March 2022. Thus, Indian Tourists can now travel to Fiji via the currently open transit routes of Singapore and Australia, to enjoy a “quarantine free” holiday in this picturesque paradise known for its incredible scenery and warm, welcoming people. Travellers from India to Fiji must be fully vaccinated (Children under 18 can travel with a vaccinated adult),providing a negative PCR test taken within 2 days prior to departure or a negative RAT test taken within 24hrs prior to departure. Once they arrive on Fiji’s shores, travellers can enjoy the best of Fiji knowing that everyone they interact with is adhering to the highest health and safety practices. “We are delighted to be able to welcome visitors from India once again. India continues to be one of our mostprominent emerging markets and we look forward toreceiving Indian travellers seeking premium and personalised experiences. In the coming months, weaim to capture a greater share of India’s outbound travel market which will help shore up the long-term prospects of both our tourism sectors. From breathtaking sunsets to luxury vacation stays and our warm hospitality, we can’t wait to welcome our Indian visitors to experience what it feels like to be in Paradise. Fiji is now open for happiness!” said Brent Hill, CEO Tourism Fiji. Our Care Fiji Commitment is a World Health Organization-approved program that has been recognised by the World Travel and Tourism Council who declared Fiji as a certified “Safe Travels” destination. Travellers and advisors can book in confidence with the Care Fiji Commitment, where travellers can stay in certified resorts, use certified transportation and experiences, and be assured that all tourism businesses they come in to contact with have a 100% vaccinated staff. Travellers can fly to Fiji safely with Fiji Airways, who have been awarded the Apex Diamond certification for safety and the Skytrax 5 star COVID-19 Airline safety rating. Fiji continues to remain an ideal destination where travellers can enjoy a relaxing tropical holiday, stay in boutique luxury resorts and immerse themselves in the Bula Spirit for which Fiji is so well known for. Whether it’s an adventure, a romantic break or a relaxing getaway, Fiji provides the perfect backdrop.

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Tourism Ministry constitutes Swadesh Darshan Awards to acknowledge efforts of states & UTs

In order to acknowledge the efforts undertaken by the state governments, Union Territory Administrations, and various implementation agencies, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has constituted Swadesh Darshan Awards in different categories. The awards will highlight best practices including achievement of planned objectives, innovative approach, adoption of sustainability principles in planning, design, and operations, efficient project monitoring, ability to attract private investments in peripheral development, and efforts undertaken to ensure optimal operations and maintenance, etc. To begin with, the Ministry of Tourism has decided to invite entries under the following categories: Best Tourist Interpretation Centre, Best Log Hut Facility, Best MICE Facility, Best Cafeteria, Best Craft Haat/ Souvenir Shop facility, Best Sound and Light Show, and Best Waterfront Development (Beach/ River/ Lake, etc.) The Tourism Ministry has asked the state governments and UT Administrations to submit their entries online. The Ministry of Tourism under its flagship scheme of ‘Swadesh Darshan’ has sanctioned 76 projects in 31 States and Union Territories of India for more than INR 5,500 crore. As part of this scheme, tourism-related infrastructure has been developed at more than 500 tourist destinations. This year, in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month for FY-2022-23, the Swadesh Darshan Scheme had received the highest allocation in the Ministry of Tourism budget. Out of the Ministry’s total allocated budget of INR 2,400 crore, the flagship scheme of MoT, under which 76 projects in 13 thematic circuits have been sanctioned received INR 1,181.30 crore, registering a growth of almost 88 per cent per cent from the last year. 55 new destinations are being planned to be developed under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.

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