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Goa reopens for tourists; check out who all are allowed

Goa has finally reopened for tourists after remaining shut for months due to a second wave of Coronavirus cases across the country, and rise in COVID cases in the state. As per reports, this popular beach destination will now allow entry of travellers who are fully-vaccinated at least 14 days before the date of entry, as well as those who are able to provide a negative COVID-19 test report, accredited by ICMR labs (except those coming from Kerala who would required to present a negative RT-PCR report. The said decision was taken after that state registered a consistent decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. Earlier, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also added that new SOPs for travellers, mandating full vaccination or negative RT-PCR test results will be laid down in view of upcoming festivals. Revealing more on the updated travel update, Nilesh Shah, President of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) added that now Goa is ready to welcome tourists with open hearts. He added that the government has put in place strict measures to follow, whereas guidelines have been laid down for tourism business. He further added that a majority of the Goan population has been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID vaccine, and that in the next 90 days, the entire population will likely be vaccinated with both doses. Meanwhile, Goa Airport Director Gagan Malik expressed delight that Goa is once again reopening to visitors, and that it is a ‘good sign,’ and reiterated, "Aviation industry has suffered huge losses (due to COVID). In Goa, we had an average of 77 flight operations per day, which stands at 30 now. All airlines barring one have restarted their operations."

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Air India to operate 13 non-stop weekly flights to London from August 16

National carrier Air India has announced the launch of 13 new flights to Heathrow Airport, London from six Indian cities between August 16-September 1. Amidst the dipping cases of Covid-19 and opening of universities in the UK for the fall semester, the government-run Air India will start operating direct non-stop flights to London from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Amritsar and Kochi. The announcement came after the United Kingdom (UK) moved India to the 'Amber' list from the country’s ‘Red’ list, which effectively means that Indians can now travel to the UK without serving the mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine. Moreover, in a bid to attract more European carriers, the Kochi Airport has decided to waive-off the parking and landing fee for carriers from Europe. S Suhas, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) believes that this gesture will give an impetus to their efforts to attract carriers to Kochi from other parts of the world. "We have waived-off parking and landing fees for the airlines operating direct services to London. We hope that within a year, we will be able to host more foreign airlines. Connectivity to European countries has been a long-pending demand raised by the expats," he said. Guidelines for passengers travelling to UK Passengers who are planning a trip to the UK should check the latest travel guidelines set by the UK government. As per the guidelines, travellers entering the UK from destinations on the amber list are required to conduct three Covid-19 tests. The first test, at least three days prior to departure; the second one , on the day of arrival or before Day 2; and the third test, on or after Day 8. Also, 10-days of home quarantine is mandatory for all. For UK nationals who are fully vaccinated, neither quarantine nor the eighth-day test is required. People who have been fully-vaccinated in the United States and other European countries will not need to quarantine on arrival in the UK or take the eight-day Covid test.

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WHO shares guidelines for 'safe travel' as countries reopen their borders amid Delta threat

As the Delta variant of coronavirus threatens global travel plans, the World Health Organization (WHO) has shared guidelines on ‘safe travel’ during the pandemic. In a video shared by the UN health agency, a senior WHO official said that a lot of travel can be managed safely if countries gradually ease the curbs. Several countries have resumed international flights to boost their airline and tourism industry which are badly hit by the restrictions imposed to contain coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s health emergencies programme, stressed that the economy won’t be revived unless countries get their way out of Covid-19. “If you go on a country from 10% normal travel and you go overnight to 100% travel, then our advice is always to start slowly, open up slowly, take it step-it-step and see if that affects your situation positively or negatively and then adjust as needed,” Ryan said. Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid-19 technical lead at WHO, asked travellers to take responsibility while travelling by adhering to guidelines required by governments and airlines. “If they asked to wear a mask throughout travelling wear that mask, carry your hand gel with you, take all of those precautions as you go through that stage of leaving your house to entering into that other country, that other place that you live,” she said. “The virus travels in people and so you could be infected in the place that you are travelling. You have a responsibility to keep yourself safe, keep those who you're travelling with safe and also not to bring the virus around with you,” Van Kerkhove added.

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UAE approves vaccination in India; opens travel for stranded Indians

The news comes as a breather for numerous Indians who were earning a livelihood in the UAE but were stranded in India because of the pandemic. After India was hit by the deadly second wave in April, all the travels to Emirates were suspended. But, on Monday, UAE authorities agreed to recognise and approve vaccinations done in India. Apparently, the Emirates was only allowing those people who had taken the two vaccine shots in the UAE to enter the country. Such people were allowed to travel to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other cities in the nation. The Travel Agents’ Federation of India chairman (east) Anil Punjabi told TOI, “UAE’s National Emergency & Crisis Management Authority has informed that passengers who have taken both doses of either Covishield or Covaxin in India to fly back if they have residency permits. The only requirement is that they should have completed the vaccination at least 14 days prior to travel.” He further said that it will be a huge help to hundreds of people who were stranded in India since March. The UAE has put India on the red list and banned Indians from travelling to the Emirates after India was hit by the Delta variant. With this approval now, the confusion over vaccines has also ended. Requirements: 1) In order to travel back to the UAE from India, passengers will have to carry a RT-PCR test, not older than 48 hours along with a rapid PCR done within 4 hours before leaving. 2) Upon arrival in Dubai, another mandatory RT-PCR test will be conducted. 3) People transiting Dubai have different criteria as vaccination is not required. All they need is an RT-PCR negative test report, not older than 72 hours, along with a document containing an entry permit or visa from the final destination country. Dubai is also gearing up for the World Expo 2021, which will be organised in October. The authorities are expecting Indians in large numbers at the event. This new move is also expected to facilitate those aiming to travel for the same.

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Negative Covid report or full vaccination must for visiting Himachal Pradesh from August 13

The Himachal Pradesh government has made negative COVID-19 report or full vaccination mandatory for all people intending to visit the hill state from August 13. In a late night order on Tuesday, Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh stated, "All persons intending to visit State shall carry their COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate (double doses) or a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours or RAT negative report not older than 24 hours w.e.f. 13th August, 2021." Issuing the two-page order after the state cabinet meeting, Singh stated, "The situation of COVID-19 in the state has been reviewed. It is observed that the number of COVID-19 active cases and positivity rate are increasing in the state and the situation is still precarious." In its earlier order on August 6, the state government made mandatory a negative RT-PCR report or full vaccination for visiting temples in the state during 'Shrawan Ashtmi Navratras' from August 9 to August 17. Further, it has also been decided that all schools would remain closed except residential ones from August 11 to 22. However, teaching and non-teaching staff members will attend schools, the order stated. The education department will frame Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the residential schools for containment of COVID-19, it added. The order further stated, "Inter-state, Inter-district and Intra-district movement of public transport buses (state/ contract carriages) is now allowed to be operated with 50% of the registered seating capacity w.e.f. 13th August, 2021." For inter-state public transport buses, the transport department shall frame mechanism for checking of RTPCR/ RAT/vaccine certificate so that only eligible persons will board the buses, it added.

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Travel Rules Ease, Indian Students See Record Entries To UK Universities

A record number of 3,200 students from India have been accepted onto UK universities and higher education courses through the country's centralised application system in 2021, marking an increase of 19 per cent over the previous year. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) acceptance figures, released on Tuesday, come days after India was moved off the Red List COVID-19 travel ban on to Amber. This would have a big impact on Indian students planning to travel to Britain to take up their courses as they no longer need to quarantine in a government-managed facility for 10 days at considerable additional cost. Instead, they can quarantine for the required 10 days at a chosen destination, which for many will be their university accommodation, or a friend or family home address. "We know India being moved from the Red to Amber list will be a significant and welcome move for those Indian students due to travel to the UK soon. Those students should stay in touch with their university and be aware of the latest procedure for amber list arrivals to ensure a smooth arrival," said Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International, which represents over 140 universities. "UK universities are preparing to give a warm welcome to Indian students this autumn. Students have shown a great amount of patience and resilience in sticking with their plans to study overseas and we look forward to welcoming them, and welcoming them back, to our campuses and university communities," she said. India was moved off the Red List at 4 am local time on Sunday and under the Amber List rules, all vaccinated travellers must fill in the compulsory passenger locator form to provide an address where they would be undergoing the 10-day self-isolation. All Amber List arrivals will need to have a negative COVID-19 test before travelling, as well as take a COVID test on Day 2 and Day 8 of their quarantine. In England, there is the option of paying for a test on Day 5, which if negative, will allow students to end their quarantine early. "We welcome the news that for one of our largest international markets, India has been moved from the UK's Red to Amber List," said Kerry Law, Chief Marketing & Engagement Officer at the University of Leicester - which has a large Indian student population. "The move to the Amber List is great news for our large number of Indian students and means that alongside no longer needing to quarantine they also won''t have any delays to arrival and can engage and adapt to life on campus," she said. "To ensure we welcome students and give them a great experience as we have extended our welcome by an additional week and have developed online transition support for all new starters," she added. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK had been raising the plight of Indian students facing additional compulsory hotel quarantine costs of 1,750 pounds under the Red List. It led to Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla setting aside ₹ 10 crores to assist Indian students who may face additional costs as Covishield - the India-made Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine - does not fall within the UK-approved vaccines ambit for quarantine-free travel to the UK under the Amber List. "We are absolutely thrilled to see the numbers of Indian students accepted onto courses via UCAS go up by nearly a fifth as part of the overall significant increase in the numbers choosing to come to the UK to study," said NISAU UK Chairperson Sanam Arora. "The UK now offers a wonderful proposition for Indian students - world-class education, a great post-study work offer, and through NISAU a home away from home for Indian students, which I can proudly say is a distinct offering for Indians going abroad to study," she said.

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