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UAE issues fresh travel guidelines for flyers from India. Check details

The United Arab of Emirates (UAE) has issued fresh guidelines for people travelling from India. According to the new travel guidelines, passengers can take a rapid PCR test six hours before their departure instead of four hours now. The new circular noted that only transit travellers and UAE residents from India are permitted to travel to Dubai. -Passengers can take a rapid PCR test six hours before their departure instead of four hours now. The UAE has made this test mandatory for passengers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Uganda. The UAE has also resumed visas on arrival for only those Indians nationals who have a visa or residence permit issued by the USA, United Kingdom or an EU Member State. For passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Ras al-Khaimah Airports (RKT), 10 days home quarantine upon arrival in RKT and 12 days home/institutional quarantine in AUH. Passengers would be required to wear a medically approved wristband, provided by the authorities at the airport after clearing immigration. -As per Dubai Civil Aviation Authorities, RT-PCR Test done from the laboratories listed below will not be accepted: 1. Suryam Lab, Jaipur 2. Dr P. BHASIN Pathlabs(p) Ltd, Delhi 3. Noble Diagnostic Centre, Delhi 4. 360 Diagnostic & Health. Services Passengers are mandated to download and register on the Alhosn app, using the UID and phone number. On the ninth day of the quarantine, they would have to take a PCR test.

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India improved its ranking in world tourism competitive index, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday while unveiling three projects connected to the Somnath temple said that India moved up from the 65th position in the world tourism and travels competitive index to the 34th position from 2013 to 2019. "In the last seven years, many policy decisions have been taken for the development of tourism in the country. We have moved forward with the e-visa and visa on arrival. We have even reduced the Visa fees. We have exempted the GST on the tourism and hospitality sector, providing a boost to it. This will also help in reducing the Covid-19 effects," said the PM. The PM said many efforts were made for the visiting tourists. "Tourists, when they visit, want adventure and want to get thrilled by it. Keeping this in mind, 120 mountain peaks have been opened up for trekking. Guides are being provided training through special programmes so that there are no inconveniences to the tourists. This will also provide job opportunities," added the PM. Along with the tourism places, efforts were also made for the development of pilgrim places. "We are reviving the glories of the past. The Ramayana Circuit is right in front of us. People are getting to know newer places associated with the Lord Ram. Today, we have that opportunity to experience that by visiting these places and knowing how Lord Ram is for everyone living across the entire country," said the PM. "Similarly, the Buddhist Circuit is providing facilities for tourism to Buddha followers from all over the world to come to India and travel. Equally, our tourism ministry is developing 15 destinations on different themes under the 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme. Through these, development opportunities will be provided to many of the disregarded places of the country," added the PM. "Our forefathers had the farsightedness to associate far-flung and remote areas of our country with our faith. They worked on giving a feeling of oneness with those places. But when we were capable and had modern techniques and resources, we just left them thinking them as out of reach. Our hilly regions are a big example of that. But now, the country is dividing the gap between these holy pilgrimages. Whether it be the development of Baba Kedarnath, the construction of highways and tunnels in hilly terrains of Uttarakhand for Char Dham Yatra, development around the 'Vaishno Devi temple' or the high tech infrastructure reaching the northeast, today there is a reduction in distances between our own," said the PM.

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Northeast aviation boost! Commercial flight operation starts from Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh

Aviation boost in Northeast! The Tezu Airport, located in the district of Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh started operating commercial flights. On Thursday, an ATR 72 aircraft of Flybig Airlines, with as many as 30 onboard passengers, flew to Assam’s capital, Guwahati. The flight service was flagged off by Chief Minister Pema Khandu. With this, Tezu became the second Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh to start commercial flight operations after Pasighat in the district of East Siang, from where Flybig Airlines commenced service to Guwahati in the month of May, a PTI report said. According to Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, it is the beginning of a new Civil Aviation journey for the people of this northeastern state. Khandu said, operationalization of this Airport will boost connectivity of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, facilitating fast and easy accessibility to economical activities, business as well as health services to the public. According to the CM, from Tezu, starting a flight service attains much significance as the state shares international borders with three different nations- China, Bhutan and Myanmar. Besides, several Indian Army and paramilitary personnel are serving in different parts of this Northeast state. Now, with the commencement of flights from Tezu, they will have a faster mode of travel to and from home, he said. The CM further announced that all Indian Army and paramilitary personnel availing the Flybig Airline flight services (Guwahati-Tezu as well as Guwahati-Pasighat) will pay one-way fare of only Rs 75 for till 31 December 2021. Later, Khandu tweeted mentioning that Tezu is the seventh domestic destination in the Northeast region of India under the UDAN scheme, giving a boost to regional connectivity. The Chief Minister also urged Mandavia to look out for possibilities of extending such flight services to the remaining ALGs operational in the northeastern state. The Arunachal Pradesh CM also informed that the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has assured him recently that the northeast state will get three more airports in the districts of West Kameng, Upper Subansiri and Dibang Valley. Currently, land acquisition is under process, he added.

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Singapore to introduce its first quarantine-free travel program

In a recent COVID travel update, Singapore has announced plans to launch its first quarantine-free travel program for vaccinated travellers coming from Germany and Brunei. The country has also decided to ease restrictions for people coming from Macau and Hong Kong. Singapore is now planning to reopen for tourism after vaccinating more than 75 percent of its population. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore on Thursday said, "As the global COVID-19 situation evolves, we will continue to adjust our border measures with the appropriate safeguards to ensure public health and safety". Before this, only Singapore residents, employees and those with student passes were allowed to enter. But with the recent travel update, starting September 8, visitors from Germany and Brunei will be able to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass to enter Singapore. However, they will have to take several COVID-19 tests, from pre-departure, on arrival, and post-arrival. Also, travellers must have stayed in their country of departure (Germany and Brunei) for at least 21 consecutive days before departing for Singapore. Talking about Hong Kong, Transport Minister S. Iswaran also informed that as of now they don’t have any more plans to establish a Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble. The air travel bubble between the two nations has been aborted twice due to rise in virus cases. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has tightened it COVID restrictions from Friday and increased quarantine periods for vaccinated travellers coming from medium-risk countries to 14 days. Previously, the quarantine period was seven days for vaccinated travellers.

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Taj Mahal to reopen for night viewing from 21st August

After remaining closed for over a year for night viewing, the Taj Mahal will open from August 21 for visitors who want to explore the marble monument under the moonlight, officials said on August 20. Night viewing of the monument had closed on March 17, 2020, during the first lockdown due to COVID-19. ASI Superintending Archaeologist (Agra Circle) Vasant Kumar Swarnkar told PTI that night viewing will be allowed on August 21, 23 and 24 as the monument is closed every week on Friday and the lockdown is in effect on Sunday. He said there are three-time slots for visitors. From 8:30-9 pm, 9-9:30 pm and from 9:30-10 pm. "In every slot, 50 tourists would be allowed as per guidelines of the Supreme Court," he added. "The tickets can be booked a day in advance from ASI office's counter on 22 Mall Road in Agra," Mr. Kumar said. Rajeev Saxena, vice-president of the Tourism Guild of Agra, said it was a good step, but it would not attract weekend travellers until the restriction of lockdown on Sunday and curfew after 10 pm was not lifted. "Tourists want to enjoy nightlife of the city, they don't want to be packed in their hotels after 10 pm," he said. A government approved tour guide, Monika Sharma, appreciated the move and said it was a ray of hope for the revival of Agra's tourism sector.

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Maharashtra's latest tourism Initiatives

Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray has now launched a host of initiatives to boost tourism in the state. According to latest reports, the CM of Maharashtra has launched a new boat club at Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri, a renovated MTDC resort in Sinhagad Fort in pune, as well as launching a new website of MTDC. The tourism ministry of Maharashtra even signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with online travel companies so as to promote government properties. Additionally, it is going to start skydiving and adventure sports activities as well. Furthermore, in an effort to improve the quality of tourism in the state, an MoU was also signed with The Maharashtra State Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pune. Here, MTDC staff will be trained annually. The Chief Minister emphasized that the state has many destinations to attract and interest both domestic and international travellers. He said, “Two things are required to boost tourism. One is what we can offer to a wider range of tourists. Secondly, we must ensure that we come up with new tourist attractions.” He stressed on destinations such as Amsterdam’s Tulip Garden, and said that Maharashtra too can create such flower gardens on Kaas Pathar in Satara. Such developments will go a long way in helping the state to boost tourism to pre-pandemic levels. Now as destinations are reopening across India, travellers must be provided with good facilities, and world-class experiences so that they can be at peace during their holidays.

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