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Foreign Tourists Allowed From November 15 Into India

Foreign Tourists Allowed From November 15 Into India In a move aimed at boosting the economy through tourism, the government has decided to lift the Covid barrier for international travellers by resuming the grant of tourist visas. The Ministry of Affairs will start granting fresh tourist visas to foreigners coming to India from November 15. For those coming on chartered flights, visas would be granted starting October 15. The move comes a year and a half after grant of tourist visas was suspended in the wake of Covid pandemic. The ministry said in a statement that the decision was taken following consultations with stakeholders like the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism and state governments. "MHA had been receiving representations from several State Governments as well as various stakeholders in the tourism sector to start Tourist Visas also, to allow foreign tourists to come to India. After deliberations we have decided to ease travel restrictions," a senior Home Ministry official said. The official said states have been asked to follow Covid protocols laid down by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the tourists, the carriers bringing them into the country and other stakeholders must also stick to the guidelines. Grant of all visas to foreigners had been suspended in the wake of the pandemic last year. After considering the evolving situation, the government had allowed foreigners to avail any kind of visa other than tourist visa for entry and stay in India. The centre on Thursday said the country's Covid-19 graph was plateauing even though about 20,000 fresh cases were being reported every day. It said the challenge of Covid-19 was not over yet and warned people not to let their guard down during the festive season.

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Vietnam to fully reopen by June 2022

Vietnam is planning to reopen key tourist destinations to vaccinated visitors from countries deemed a low COVID-19 risk from December, the government said on Wednesday, October 6, ahead of a full resumption targeted for June next year. Vietnam imposed tight border controls at the start of the pandemic in an effort to keep out COVID-19, with some initial success, but that harmed its burgeoning tourism sector, which typically accounts for about 10% of gross domestic product. Last month, the country announced it would reopen the resort island Phu Quoc for vaccinated travellers from November. From December, Vietnam will also allow tourists from approved countries to visit the UNESCO world heritage site Halong Bay and Hoi An, the highlands town of Dalat and beach destination, Nha Trang. It is not yet clear which countries will meet the criteria. "We are only open when it's truly safe," the government said in a statement. "We are moving step by step, cautiously but flexibly to adapt to real situations of the pandemic." The move follows similar steps taken by neighbouring Thailand, which will next month expand locations in its pilot scheme to allow vaccinated visitors. Foreign arrivals to Vietnam fell to 3.8 million last year down from 18 million in 2019 when tourism revenue was $31 billion, equivalent to 12% of GDP. The country is trying to speed up COVID-19 vaccinations, with just 13% of its 98 million people inoculated so far, one of the lowest rates in Asia.

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Army throws open Siachen Base Camp for tourists

New Delhi : Missing your fix of adrenaline and yearning to get high on adventure? The Centre has come up with the perfect cure by opening up the Siachen base camp in for tourists on Monday, coinciding with World Tourism Day. Coming nearly two years after defence minister’s announcement, the move fulfils a long-standing demand of the locals in Panamik area, about 141km north of Leh. Army curbs on entering the base camp discouraged tourists who wanted a “piece of the action” from visiting Panamik. So, they thronged Diskit and Hunder on the western flank of the Nubra region. Ladakh hill council chief executive councillor Tashi Gyalson on Monday flagged off the first batch of civilian visitors from Leh to kick off ‘Base Camp tourism’ in the presence of Ladakh MP . The move could prove to be a harbinger of ‘border tourism’ in Ladakh, wherein tourists may be allowed at least day visits to villages along the China border. The Ladakh administration had abolished the inner line permit system for Indian tourists last month. Yet, entry to ‘zero km’ villages such as and may remain a no-no. Amid heightened border tensions with China, TOI had on July 26, 2020, reported that the Army is willing to “liberally” issue permits to Indian expeditions to the base camp, about 225 km from Leh, and Kumar Post. But not much was heard subsequently. The “willingness” had followed an announcement by Singh in October 2019 on allowing tourists to visit the base camp. The move, however, got tied up in Army red tape. When Singh visited Ladakh in June, locals drew his attention to the issue. It transpired that the Army HQ was yet to issue an order. Singh promised people that he would get it done upon returning to Delhi.

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IRCTC to begin operating luxury tourist train to the Northeast of India

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has decided to operate its very first luxury train from Delhi to the Northeast of India. It is being reported that the train will be up and running as early as next month. The train will take passengers from Delhi to five states in the Northeast. Reports suggest that IRCTC will take passengers to the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. Each state will include its own unique tourist experiences. The service is being launched in order to promote tourism in the Northeast. Passengers will be able to experience Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, Guwahati, and Jorhat. You will also be able to experience a cruise in the Brahmaputra River. In Arunachal Pradesh, guests will experience Itanagar and its wonders. Tripura will be all about Agartala, Udaipur, and the historic Unakoti. Meghalaya will be an amazing experience as you will be able to visit Shillong, and Cherrapunji. In Nagaland, Kohima will be a highlight, along with other nearby attractions. These are basically the major highlights of each state, and are the must-do, must-see attractions. So you will be basically given a crash course on the Northeast states. As far as prices are concerned, interested people should know that there are two classes of tickets available here. You have AC First Class, and AC Second Class, with a total of 150 seats available for passengers. For passengers in AC First Class, the price is going to be INR 102430 per person, while for Second AC passengers, the price is INR 85495 per passenger. At this price, you are in covered for the train travel, accomodation, local sightseeing, food, insurance, among other things.

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Covid-hit Kerala Tourism Sector On Revival Mode, Tourist Inflow Improves

During the time of crisis the entire focus of the state government was to instill confidence in the sector so that it would be able to overcome the challenges, Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas told the state Assembly. Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas on Wednesday said the bio-bubble system and the complete-vaccinated-destination project have helped the state tourism sector, which had been crippled due to the pandemic outbreak, reclaim its tourist inflow. During the time of crisis the entire focus of the state government was to instill confidence in the sector so that it would be able to overcome the challenges, he told the state Assembly. Noting that tourism was the worst affected industry due to the spread of the pandemic, the minister said several programmes were implemented with the objective of 'safe Kerala and safe tourism' and to bring back holidayers. "As part of this, the complete-vaccinated-destination project was launched in Vythiri in Wayanad district. It has been expanded to other places and the majority of tourism destinations have achieved the target now," Riyas said while replying to a calling attention motion moved by Ambalapuzha legislator, H Salam (CPI-M). The increase of tourist arrival in the high range Wayanad could be seen as its reflection, he said adding that their inflow is steadily increasing in other destinations also.

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Indians Can Now Travel To Germany; Here Are All The Details

The German Government, in a latest move, has lifted all travel restrictions for those travelling from India. As per the reports, travel to Germany will be permitted again from India; travels would be allowed for all purposes. However, travellers will have to abide by some rules; they will still have to provide a proof of vaccination, or a negative test result, or a proof of recovery from COVID-19. Reports have it that all Indian travellers, aged 12 years and above, will be required to show proof that they are either fully vaccinated or have tested negative, or have fully recovered from COVID prior to departure, and prior to entering Germany. Those who received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine that are mentioned or listed on the website of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, will be considered fully vaccinated. Also, note that a period of at least 14 days must have passed since receiving the last vaccine dose. Reportedly, vaccination certificates for travellers who have been vaccinated with Covishied in India must contain the date of birth or the passport number. Reference to Aadhar number will not be sufficient. However, those vaccinated with any other vaccine or Covaxin, which has not been recognised by the Paul Ehrlich Institute, will have to carry a negative PCR test report, which is not older than 72 hours on entry in Germany. Any traveller entering Germany via flight, regardless of whether they have spent time in a high risk area, will be required to provide a negative test result, or a recovery certificate, or a vaccination certificate to the airline. Further, vaccinated travellers must not show relevant symptoms either. Likewise, those who are neither fully vaccinated nor fully recovered, must continue to present a negative COVID test prior to departure. Both rapid antigen and PCR tests are accepted.

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