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7 Countries That Are Welcoming Unvaccinated Travellers

7 countries that are welcoming unvaccinated travellers COVID has changed our ways of travel and while many countries are allowing only vaccinated travellers to enter their borders, there are a handful of countries that are open even to unvaccinated visitors. Of course, these countries also have certain rules in place. If you want to know more, here’s a list of countries allowing visitors who are not vaccinated. We advise that you check the guidelines of your destination country regularly before planning any international trip. Greece Anyone wishing to visit Greece, will be required to fill in the Passenger Locator Form no later than the day before arrival. As per the reports, the form will have detailed information regarding passengers’ departure location, and also the duration of previous stays in other countries. Also, everyone will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result that has been obtained within 72 hours of arrival in Greece. Also, the government of Greece has clarified, “Entry of tourists in Greece is not subject to vaccination. Presenting a vaccination certificate greatly facilitates the procedures upon arrival. However, in no case is a vaccination or antibodies certificate considered a passport.” Portugal Portugal is open to visitors who are unvaccinated, as long as they are able to prove that they are not infected with the virus when they enter the country. As per the reports, travellers will be required to show proof of a negative PCR test that has been taken within 72 or arrival, or 48 hours if they have taken the antigen test. Travellers will also have to submit a traveller questionnaire before departure. Also note that your airline may deny boarding if you fail to show relevant documents, so it is imperative that you check with your airline before you travel. Croatia Those who are not vaccinated can also travel to Croatia with proof of either a negative COVID-19 PCR test that has been taken within 72 hours or their arrival, or an antigen test that has been taken within 48 hours of arrival. Travellers can even enter via a doctor’s certificate that proves that they have recovered, following a positive test result between 11 and 180 days prior. Turkey While being vaccinated is one way of visiting Turkey, unvaccinated travellers can also enter the country by following certain rules. Travellers must be able to show proof of a negative PCR test that has been taken 72 hours prior to their arrival, or that they have undergone rapid antigen test within 48 hours of their arrival. Travellers can also show proof that they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last six months to visit Turkey. Further, arrivals will be required to show an online form, completed 72 hours before travel, and might be subjected to a medical screening. Mexico Mexico is also open to all kinds of travellers. As per the reports, there is currently no requirement for visitors to provide a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival. Further, travellers will be required to fill in a form beforehand, and show the QR code from the form while entering the country. Also, note that resorts will have guests fill in a health questionnaire on arrival. Maldives All visitors will be required to provide a negative PCR test on arrival to the Maldives. The test and negative PCR certificate must have been issued no more than 96 hours before departure. While fully vaccinated visitors will not have to undergo quarantine, those who are not fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter but will have to self-isolate for 14 days and take an exit test before leaving quarantine. Costa Rica Unvaccinated travellers can also enter Costa Rica, but local regulations will be stricter for them. Unlike most countries, unvaccinated travellers will not be required to present a COVID-19 test to enter Costa Rica. However, do note that they will have to purchase a special health travel insurance and attach it to a Health Pass.

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Thailand Embassy in India to restart visa and consular services from January 31

Good news for Indian travellers who are planning a visit to Thailand. As per a latest update, the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi has announced resumption of visa and consular services from January 31. As reported earlier, the said service was temporarily suspended on January 9 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital. Reports have it that the said decision has been taken after reviewing the present pandemic situation and dipping new cases in New Delhi. The Thailand Embassy in India stated that applications for visas can be submitted via BLS International and VFS Global. The Embassy further informed that the said process can take up to 10 working days; hence, all those planning to travel to Thailand should apply well in advance. To facilitate the process for applicants, the Embassy has also released a contact number to seek appointment for the same. It added that visa and consular service at the Royal Thai Embassy will resume from January 31, 2022, and necessary appointments can be sought by calling at +91-9205396169 during official hours. Further, the Thailand government has also announced resumption of quarantine-free entry and Test & Go scheme for international travellers in the country, which will come into effect from February 1 under the Sandbox programme. Fully vaccinated travellers from across the world can now apply for a Test & Go Thailand Pass up to 60 days in advance, along with confirmed payments for accommodation on day one and day five with two RT-PCR tests, and also a pre-arranged airport transfer on day one. Reportedly, the Pattaya and Ko Chang Sandbox programme will also reopen.

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Canada relaxes testing rules to ease travel from India

Canada has relaxed the COVID-19 testing norms for those travelling from India. In a new official readout, Canada said people travelling on direct flights or one-stop flight from India will no longer need to show negative RT PCR COVID test done within 18 hours ahead of the departure. As per the latest guidelines issued by the Canadian government for India, no passengers will now need to show mandatory negative RT PCR COVID test report obtained from approved labratory at Delhi airport before boarding the international flight. “Effective January 28, 2022, we’re removing the modified pre-departure Covid-19 test requirements for travellers on direct flights to Canada from India and Morocco, and the requirement for third country testing for travellers on indirect routes to Canada from these countries,” Transport Canada said. However, an RT PCR COVID test report from Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR)-approved labratory is still required for those travelling from India to Canada. Earlier, the Canadian government had made it mandatory for flyers to carry negative COVID-19 test report not more than 18 hours before departure from the approved laboratory at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. However, this rule has now been cancelled by the Canadian government.

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India's First Geo Park To Come Up In MP's Jabalpur District

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has approved the setting up of the country's first geo park at Lamheta village on the banks of the Narmada river in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, local MP Rakesh Singh said on Sunday. He said the GSI has sanctioned Rs 1.30 crore to prepare a detailed project report of the geological rock formations in five acres in the Lamheta village, located 20 km away from the Jabalpur district headquarter, where the park will come up. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 35 crore and there is a provision to sanction additional funds if required, as the area around the upcoming geo park will be developed, Singh told reporters. A geopark is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way and promotes the economic well-being of the people who live there. "This site is already there in the UNESCO geo-heritage tentative list for the conservation of the natural heritage. Several dinosaur fossils had been found in the Narmada valley, particularly in the Bhedaghat-Lameta Ghat area of Jabalpur," Singh said. In 1828, the first dinosaur fossil was collected from the Lameta Bed by Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer William Sleeman, he said. "It is for the first time in the country that such an initiative is being taken for the conservation of the rock formations of geological significance," Singh added. He also said that a science centre will come up at Bhedaghat, also in the Jabalpur district, known for white marble rock formations and a famous tourist hotspot, at the cost of Rs 15.20 crore, to be shared by the Centre and the state, Singh said. The science centre would shed light on modern science, including scientific theories of various topics such as food, water and soil, he added. This project will be spread on seven acres of land that has already been transferred by the Jabalpur district administration to the MP Science and Technology Council, Singh said.

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International arrivals to Vietnam up 11.2% in January

Vietnam welcomed over 19,700 international arrivals in January 2022, up 11.2 per cent year on year, mainly due to the pilot tourism programmes and resumption of regular flights, the country's General Statistics Office said on Saturday. In the period, foreign visitors entering the country by air accounted for 88 per cent of the total, followed by road with 11.9 per cent and sea routes with 0.1 per cent, respectively, reports Xinhua news agency. Most of the arrivals were from Asia (70.2 per cent), according to the office. Vietnam closed its border and grounded all international flights in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only allowing entry for Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers on special flights and with certain quarantine requirements. The country has been piloting quarantine-free tourism programmes to welcome back international visitors since November 2021. It resumed regular commercial flights to a number of international destinations that were highly safe from Covid-19 starting January 1 this year. Vietnam received just 157,300 international arrivals in 2021, down 95.9 per cent year on year, mainly due to impacts of the pandemic, said the office.

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South Delhi Municipal Corporation nod to Bollywood, dinosaur parks

More theme parks made out of scrap material will come up in Delhi. South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Friday approved the creation of a “Bollywood park” in Jangpura and a “dinosaur park” in Sarai Kale Khan. The dinosaurthemed park will come up at “Waste to Wonder Park”. The corporation also approved proposals of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”-themed park at Shaheed Park at ITO and the phase-2 development of Bharat Darshan Park in Punjabi Bagh. At Bharat Darshan Park, replicas of monuments and historical sites from 14 states, which were left out in the first phase, will be installed. The corporation will add 17 more replicas at an estimated cost of INR 51 crore. Lepakshi Temple, Sheesh Mahal, Patiala Punjab, Rang Ghar, Sirpur Temple and Basilica of Bom are likely to be included as a part of the redevelopment. “The park should represent all the states and none of the tourists should feel that their state is not represented in the park,” says the corporation’s proposal. The dinosaur park will have 15 sculptures, including that of brontosaurus, velociraptor, coelophysis, deinosuchus and other such species that once walked this earth. It will be built at an estimated cost of INR 46 crore. To mark the 75 years of Independence, a park based on ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ theme will come up at Shaheedi Park at ITO. Statues of prominent kings, freedom fighters and galleries on incidents of historical significance are likely to come up at the park. The estimated cost of this project is INR 29 crore. The Bollywood park will showcase different aspects of Indian cinema, including iconic characters and blockbuster films. “The proposed park will show the history and decade-wise journey of Indian film industries by way of creating movie sets, scenes, murals and figures. The park will provide picture opportunities for visitors,” states the proposal. At an estimated construction cost of INR 52 crore, this will be the costliest theme park proposed by the corporation. “The corporation will provide collected scraps such as old trucks, cars, electricity poles, pipes and others for the parks, while private firms will maintain the art installations,” said an official.

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