News

Gear up for Nagaland's Hornbill Festival this December

Big news for those awaiting Nagaland's famous Hornbill Festival. The eagerly-awaited event is all set to kickstart in December this year, a respite from last year's COVID induced break. The festival will be held in Nagaland's Kisama Heritage Village from December 1 to December 10. It is hailed as one of the most exciting, entertaining carnivals of the country. This year's Hornbill Festival will be the coming together of 17 different tribes of Nagaland, and will be all the more happening with music, dance, sports, food, martial arts, folk art, walkathons, mountain biking, crossfit challenges, car rallies, wrestling and local handicrafts. The 10-day festival will be an exciting blend of all this and other related events. It will also include the Hornbill Music Festival, Nagaland Literature Festival, and the Nagaland Film Festival. This year will be 22nd edition of the Hornbill Festival. Hornbill Festival - COVID rules for travellers Carry proof of full-vaccination, you will be exempted from testing if asymptomatic and fully-vaccinated; otherwise, you will have to undertake a RT-PCR test at the point of entry. No testing for children below 12 years of age, if accompanied by a parent, guardian. Carry a COVID negative test report (RT-PCR/TRUENAAT/CBNAAT), undertaken not more than 72 hours before the journey, in case you are not fully vaccinated. This applies to those aged between 12 to 18 years. Apart from the COVID regulations, Indians need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Nagaland. Foreigners will need to register with the Foreigner's Registration Office (FRO) of the district they intend to travel to for the same.

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Travelling to Karnataka from Maharashtra and Kerala? Know new Covid rules

The Karnataka government on Sunday issued a notification, making it mandatory for those arriving from Kerala and Maharashtra to produce a negative coronavirus (RT-PCR) test report not older than 72 hours. The order will be applicable to everyone entering Karnataka irrespective of their Covid-19 vaccination status. The decision is taken in view of a new cluster of Covid-19 cases detected at educational institutions at Dharwad, Bengaluru, and Mysuru districts, the notification said. "Students arriving from Kerala to Medical and Paramedical colleges and other such institutions within Karnataka in the past 15 days (Nov 12 to Nov 27) shall be subjected to RT-PCR test," it added. Therefore, as per the order, those who will arrive now onwards will be subjected to a mandatory RT-PCR test on the 7th day of arrival. The Deputy Commissioners of districts bordering Kerala state have been asked to ensure that already established check posts are active and taking up 100 per cent screening of all those arriving from Kerala. Meanwhile, Karnataka on Saturday reported as many as 322 fresh coronavirus cases and three deaths. As per the state's health department, the total case tally touched 29,95,285. At present, Karnataka has 6,754 active cases. The positivity rate on Saturday was 0.34 per cent.

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India to screen, test travellers from several countries including UK amid new Covid variant 'Omicron'

Countries from where the travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India are South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong, countries in Europe including the UK. Amid rising concern about a new Covid-19 variant 'Omicron' first detected in South Africa, India on Friday added several countries to the list from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing for infection. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare adds Hong Kong and Israel to the list of countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing considering the detection of new Covid variant 'Omicron' in South Africa. Countries from where the travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India are South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong, countries in Europe including the UK. Earlier, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to health secretaries of all states and Union Territories, said: "It has now been reported by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that multiple cases of a Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 (named as Omicron) have been reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6 cases) and Hong Kong (1 case). List of countries with which the Government of India has an agreement for mutual recognition of vaccination certificate for individuals fully vaccinated with nationally recognised or WHO recognised Covid-19 vaccine and those exempting Indian citizens fully vaccinated with nationally recognised or WHO recognised vaccines. This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel. Meanwhile, Switzerland has also joined the ranks of countries that announced the suspension of travel from southern Africa over the spread of the new Omicron Coronavirus variant, Russian news agency Sputnik reported. The United Kingdom was the first to halt flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini. Several other countries including the United States, the Philippines, Spain, Israel, Austria, Morocco have imposed travel restrictions from Africa. Besides, Canada has also banned the entry of foreign nationals who have travelled to the southern Africa region over the last 14 days.

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Rampath Yatra Express: IRCTC flags off special train for pilgrimage to Ayodhya

The Rampath Yatra Express, connecting Maharashtra’s Pune to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, was flagged off on Saturday with an aim to promote pilgrimage tourism after the success of the Ramayana Express. The new special train will tour six pilgrim destinations associated with Lord Ram. These include Nandigram, Shringverpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot and Ayodhya, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) group general manager (West) Rahul Himalian told news agency ANI. “The full-circuit Ramayana Yatra adds Hampi, Nashik and Rameshwaram,” he added. The train will have AC class as well as sleeper coaches, IRCTC has said. The full package costs ₹14,490, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, stay, transport, and a guide. Interested passengers can book their train tickets on www.irctctourism.com. "The launch of this train is aimed at promoting pilgrimage tourism, covering pilgrim sites in a tour of seven days and eight nights. It'll run with sleeper class and AC-3 tier," the divisional railway manager (DRM) of Pune division Renu Sharma said while speaking to ANI. The Indian Railways has also announced a new segment of special trains dedicated to the tourism sector and a set of around 190 theme-based trains called Bharat Gaurav trains. The fare of these trains would be decided by tour operators but the railways will ensure that there is no abnormality in the prices. The Indian Railways also recently resumed its catering service, serving hot cooked meals on train journeys as Covid-19 cases dropped significantly in the country. The announcement came just a few days after the Union civil aviation ministry announced the resumption of meals on domestic flights.

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Seychelles – one of the safest tourism destinations

Seychelles remains one of the safest destinations, says a top government official on Saturday. The statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde follows statements in the international news that the island nation has recorded cases of the new variant, omicron. According to the Seychelles’ Minister for Health, Mrs Peggy Vidot, to date no cases of the new South African variant has been reported in the island nation. Seychelles is a tourism archipelago located over a thousand kilometres away from mainland Africa. On Saturday, the country has restricted movements from seven countries in the southern part of Africa, namely, South Africa, Botswana, Eswantini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where most of the cases have been reported. Radegonde has reassured visitors planning their holidays to Seychelles in December, that the destination remains very safe. “The country has a modern and robust health system with strict measures to control any possible spread of the virus”, says the tourism minister, Radegonde. These include mandatory PCR tests before travelling in and out of the country as well as maintaining strict sanitary measures while in Seychelles. “When we look at the statistics of the number of infected cases, we have recorded only a dozen tourists who have tested positive since March this year, when the island nation reopened its borders to tourism” adds minister Radegonde. Meanwhile, the national airline, Air Seychelles, has cancelled all flights from Johannesburg to the island nation except those of 1 December 1, 17 and 19. Passengers already in Seychelles who are booked to travel to Johannesburg should contact their airline concerning their departure flights. In January, Seychelles was the first country to lead in a national vaccination campaign with over 80 percent of the population vaccinated by October of this year. During the first week of November, Seychelles recorded its lowest infection rates with a seven-day rolling average of 20 cases or less per day. This comes as a result of a sustained vaccination campaign, supported by a third dose booster campaign administered to 18,000 persons to date. The island nation also offered the Pfizer vaccine to adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 years and in this exercise has recorded a 60 percent uptake in this age group.

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Travelling to Singapore? Here’s everything to know about papers and protocols

For those Indians thinking of making an international trip, the enormous paperwork and protocols in place — besides visa application — that varies from country to country, serve as a huge deterrent. While domestic travel has been going on for a while and is a tad simpler, international journeys entail reading up all about the Covid protocols in place in the destination country, to make sure you do not feel hassled at the last minute. Among the many foreign destination options, Singapore continues to remain a popular holiday spot for Indians, as it was pre-pandemic. So, in case you are considering making a stop there for a few days to enjoy the beaches, the food and everything else the country offers, here is everything that will help you prepare. Travel requirements for short-term visitors to Singapore According to visitsingapore.com, a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) has been created to enable fully-vaccinated visitors from certain countries to enter Singapore. Beginning November 29, flights will resume between India and Singapore for all purpose travel and short-term visit. VTL will start with six flights daily from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. There are, however, the following few things to keep in mind: 1. Travellers must be “fully vaccinated at least 14 days after receiving the full regime of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or WHO EUL vaccines, and present proof of vaccination issued, before the intended date of entry”. 2. They must be in one or more of the VTL countries in the last 14 consecutive days prior to departure. 3. Travellers may have to undergo two Covid tests, one within two days before departing and one upon arrival. The pre-departure test may be a PCR test or a professionally-administered ART. 4. Travellers may also need a vaccinated travel pass (VTP) for short-term visit, along with the visa. 5. If passengers from India take a non-VTL flight (not departing from the aforementioned cities), they may be subjected to additional public health requirements. 6. Keep in mind that travellers may need to arrange for self-isolation accommodation, which is required while waiting for the on-arrival PCR result. Visitors can isolate themselves, or with household members who are vaccinated and have the same travel history. VTL passengers, however, may not need to undergo quarantine. 7. Submissions of health, travel history, and accommodation declarations should be made three days before arrival. It can be submitted through Visit Singapore Travel Guide or SG Arrival Card (SGAC) e-Service. 8. Travellers must register and make payment for their on-arrival Covid PCR test prior to departure. 9. They need to download and register their profile on the TraceTogether app. 10. Finally, before their travel, visitors will need to have travel insurance in place for Covid-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs in Singapore, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000. On arrival, the visitor must present to the immigration officer: • Valid Vaccinated Travel Pass (electronic or physical copy) • Valid vaccination certificate (electronic or physical copy) • Valid pre-departure Covid PCR test result certificate (electronic or physical copy) in English • Valid visa (if applicable) • Electronic or physical copy of travel insurance policy

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