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UK, Spain, UAE: Countries that have eased travel restrictions for Indians

The relaxations come with riders but following India's constant push to allow Indians and to recognise Covishield and Covaxin, several countries eased curbs on Indians this week. Following diplomatic push, several countries have now eased travel restrictions on passengers from India. In this week, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Spain have relaxed their international travel rules for Indians and people travelling from India. While these relaxations do not mean that every Indian can fly to these destinations, some Indians will be allowed to travel. The United Kingdom has moved India from the 'Red' to 'Amber' list which means fully vaccinated Indians will not have to be quarantined for 10 days. But before travelling to the UK, vaccinated individuals too will have to take tests -- three days before the scheduled travelling date and then on or before day 2 after reaching the destination. Now, Covaxin and Covishield are not recognised by the UK government. So how does moving India from the Red to Amber list help? Unvaccinated Indians will have to quarantine for 10 days. They will have to take a Covid-19 test on or before day 2 and then again on or after day 8. India was on the Red List of the UK, going by which no Indians were allowed to visit the UK directly from India. Now, Indians are allowed in the UK but Indians may not get the waiver for the vaccinated individuals since UK has not recognised Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V. The change will be effective from August 8. Spain has opened the doors for fully vaccinated Indians. Covishield is a recognised vaccine in Spain. Indian travellers must have a Schengen visa or apply for a Spanish visa, the new advisory said. Only the Delhi centre to process visa applications has opened. The United Arab Emirates have allowed people to fly from India but they have to fall into specific categories, identified by the UAE authorities. UAE residents, students, professionals working for UAE government agencies are allowed to travel back to the UAE from India. Transit passengers with negative RT-PCR reports are also allowed to travel from India. In the wake of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, the UAE barred all flights from India. It even disallowed UAE residents stuck in India to come back, as only diplomats were allowed to fly.

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Himachal Pradesh issues new Covid rules after tourists rush in

The Himachal Pradesh government has issued a travel advisory for tourists and made Covid e-pass mandatory after thousands of people flocked the state, popular for its scenic mountain towns and resorts, causing massive traffic jams in several areas over the weekend. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Monday said though the government has removed the condition of RT-PCR negative report entering the state they must follow Covid-19 guidelines. While replying to a media query about the heavy rush of tourists seen on the state’s borders, Thakur said nobody will be allowed to flout the government's norms to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Thakur said people visiting the state would be monitored through registration on the Covid e-pass software. He said pass applicants have to enter their particulars in the online system and that details of their arrival were being shared with all the stakeholders concerned. Roads leading to Himachal Pradesh saw congestions, bringing traffic to a standstill, on Sunday as tourists from the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttarakhand made a beeline. This came after the Himachal Pradesh government's announcement that RT-PCR negative tests are no longer required to enter the state. Mohit Chawla, Shimla's superintendent of police (SP), said at least 5000 vehicles entered Shimla from the Shoghi barrier on Saturday and Sunday. "There is a huge influx of tourists after the state government relaxed Covid guidelines. We anticipated the increase in the tourist movement during the weekend, but what is heartening to note is that people are following Covid protocols," he said, according to news agency ANI. Chawla said 10 additional police reserves are deployed in the whole district along with traffic police to manage the influx of tourist vehicles. "Around two and a half to three reserves are stationed alone in Shimla city along with city police to manage the tourists. Patrolling parties are guiding the tourists and we are requesting them to follow Covid protocols," he added.

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Indian tourists can visit protected areas in Ladakh as administration removes Inner Line Permit restrictions

All Indian nationals can now visit notified protected areas in Ladakh as the administration has removed inner line permit (ILP) restrictions. Earlier, it was mandatory for domestic tourists to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) from authorities before visiting the inner areas of Ladakh. Earlier, Indian tourists were only allowed to visit areas beyond Panamik till Warshi including Yarma Gompa/Yarma Gonbo Monastery in Leh’s Nubra Valley. ‘Residents of protected area can visit other protected areas without permit’ In a separate development, “residents of the protected area” of Ladakh can visit other protected areas “without any permit”. As per the order by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, “In the aforesaid identification documents to be issued to the residents of the Protected Areas, the concerned Superintendents/ Deputy Superintendents shall also specify the Protected areas lying in other Tehsils/ Districts which the holders of the said documents may visit for bona fide purpose without any permit.” The order was approved by the Lieutenant Governor of UT of Ladakh, RK Mathur. he L-G also launched Ladakh Police’s, Tourist Wing. The personnel will deal with the issues faced by the tourists visiting the union territory and will also ensure environment-friendly activities by the tourists. Ladakh Police gets Tourist Wing “With the help of technology, the tourist wing of the Ladakh Police will handle rescue missions and other medical emergencies faced by tourists,” said Mathur. The new wing will be trained suitably to be able to create a flawless communication system with various tourism agencies, civil administration, health department and other stakeholders for effective coordination in the face of an emergency, ANI quoted the L-G as saying. Addressing the media, he further said that maintaining a balance between assisting the tourists and adherence to legal aspects will be the key element defining the successful operation of this new tourist police wing.

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Eco-tourism provides alternative livelihood for poor in remote areas of Odisha

With eco-tourism turning out to be a better alternative to provide a livelihood for the people in remote areas, the Odisha government has approved an action plan worth Rs 30 crore for development, up-gradation and creation of new tourist destinations, an official said. Odisha ecotourism has recorded 96 per cent growth in footfalls and 49 per cent growth in revenue generation during the last two years while providing a decent alternative livelihood to the poor. It has also enhanced economic activities in the community, the official said. Conservation of forest and nature is turning out as a sustainable treasure for the community. This was discussed at a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra on Friday. Reviewing the progress made so far, Mahapatra directed the Forest department to expeditiously open up the newly developed eco-retreat spots like Nrusinghnath in Bargarh district, Pine forest in Koraput, Patora Dam in Nuapada, Tensa in Sundargarh and Kanjiapani in Kenonjhar district. The chief secretary also directed to develop the new spots either as day tourist spots or as night stay camps depending on the natural uniqueness and tourist attraction potential of the spots. “Develop night stay camps in places like KalingaGhat pine forest, Bonai, Deomali hilltop, Dambarugarh Mahanadi riverside and Jakham eco-site in Kalahandi district,” he said. The meeting also decided to develop Sikiri in Phulbani forest division, Bhimdunguri eco-site in Bolangir forest division, Baliput eco-site in Satkoshia wildlife division, Phurlijharan waterfall spot in Kalahandi forest division, Rabandhara waterfall spot in Kalahandi forest division, ChakuriaGhat eco-center in Dhenkanal forest division and Dambarugarh eco-site in Boudh forest division. The meeting deliberated on development of new eco-destinations, renovation and up-scaling of existing destinations, completion of the under construction destinations, capacity building and exposure visit of the community members. An action plan of Rs 30 crore was approved for these purposes. Mohapatra directed to complete the projects expeditiously within the current year. The chief secretary also directed to ensure strict adherence to sanitation measures and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in all eco-destinations. An estimated budget of Rs 150 lakh was sanctioned for 25 forest divisions for implementation of Covid prevention SOP. Official sources said that the state has reported constant increase in the number of visitors to the eco-destinations. It increased from 11,500 tourists in the year 2017-18 to 29,024 in the year 2018-19 and further to 57,000 in the year 2020-21. Similarly, the revenue generated from ecotourism increased from Rs 3.40 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 5.61 crore in 2018-19 and further to Rs 8.32 crore in 2020-21.

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Etihad to resume flights from 5 Indian cities from Today

Etihad Airways will launch its flights from New Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Bengaluru and Trivandrum from Today as the United Arab Emirates recently relaxed some travel restrictions from people travelling from India. This does not mean that Indians will now be allowed to travel to Dubai, as the UAE government has not completely lifted the travel restriction on India. UAE citizens and transit passengers from India are now allowed to travel to the UAE. Last month, the national airways suspended all flights in India and said that suspension can extend till mid-August. But as the UAE revised its restrictions for people travelling from India, Etihad has resumed booking. From August 10, the airline will add flights from three more Indian cities, and other cities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the carrier said in a statement. Flights from Ahmedabad (transit), Hyderabad, Mumbai, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Dhaka and Colombo will resume. UAE residents, students and professionals working for UAE government agencies are now allowed to travel to the country. Indian students who want to transit through UAE airports for some other destination are also allowed now if they have negative PCR tests. In the wake of the second wave of the pandemic, the UAE imposed a strict ban on Indian travellers. Even UAE residents who have valid residential proof were stuck in India as the authorities imposed a blanket ban on anyone travelling from India. India, however, was not the only country. The UAE had banned passengers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc. On August 5, the restrictions were relaxed and the UAE authorities decided to allow fully vaccinated UAE residents, travelling from India, healthcare workers, students, teachers, patients undergoing treatment in the UAE to travel from India. All passengers have to apply for permission to return through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website. Quarantine rules in Abu Dhabi Passengers coming from countries other than UAE's green list will be required to wear a medically approved wristband and quarantine for seven days if they are fully vaccinated and for up to 12 days if not vaccinated. Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated tourists, not allowed from India as of now, have to undergo a 12-day quarantine in Abu Dhabi.

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India to soon have uniform travel guidelines, says Tourism ADG Rupinder Brar

As India started registering a rise in COVID cases, states from south of India started creating new barriers for travel to ensure inter-state travel is limited and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their respective areas. Referring to this, Additional Director General Tourism, Government of India, while speaking at an e-Conclave organised by FICCI, announced that the country will have a uniform national travel guidelines sooner than later, which came as an assurance for a lot of people. Referring to this, Brar stated that the demand for balancing the internal travel, i.e., within the country, has been raised at the meetings between the private industry stakeholders and the Ministry. He added that the Ministry is working on the said lines, and will be making efforts to bring in uniform travel guidelines across the country. The Director General further added that directions will be given to the states in this regard soon. Further, referring to the reopening of international travel, Brar informed that the Ministry is in continuous dialogue with the Ministry of Health, and is working on the systems that can assure safety to reopen destinations for international travel. Further, for prospective travellers, Brar added that a lot of new content about experiential destinations, away from the traditional mainstream destinations, are being looked at currently as part of preparing India for the post-Covid travel. The Director General also added that airports are being looked at in a big way for destination marketing activities to capture attention of the new age travellers.

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