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Raj govt plans to showcase beauty of borders to tourists

Taking cue from Punjab, Rajasthan Tourism will soon promote Border Tourism and its beautiful stretch to tourists on the same lines as Punjab has done on Wagah Border where tourists have been thronging throughout the year. Rajasthan Tourism officials have confirmed this and said that during the post pandemic period, the state wants to serve new destinations on platter and hence comes this idea. Experiencing beauty of the borders of Rajasthan shall be a novel experience for tourists, they added. "The places where maximum tourists come for relinquishing their zest for border tourism are Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar. Jaisalmer district has the largest area of desert terrain in Rajasthan. The temple of Tanot Rai in Tanot on the Indo-Pak international border, 125 km to the west of Jaisalmer district headquarters, is the main attraction for Indian tourists and devotees. The upkeep of this temple has been undertaken by the local contingent of BSF (Border Security Force) which performs puja and devotional celebrations. This place of faith for soldiers and BSF jawans has also been portrayed in the much talked about Bollywood movie Border, senior tourism officer told IANS. The international Indo-Pak border which is at a short distance from the temple is a major attraction for the visiting tourists. There is also a fort near this place known as Kishangarh, made of bricks and mortar. In close vicinity is the site of Longewala, which witnessed the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The military vehicles and tanks of the Pakistan army destroyed by the Indian army have been kept for display. There is also a theatre here that is run by the Indian Army in which films of triumph and victory of the Indian armed forces during the Indo-Pak war of 1971 are showcased for the tourists. The fort in Ghotas in this area also pulls the tourists and arouses their curiosity. A railway station named Munnabad is in operation in Barmer which caters to the movement of Indo-Pak passengers. The Sanchu post of the BSF that is on the Indo-Pak international border in Bikaner District attracts travelers as it is surrounded by large sand streams. The post also houses a museum, a guest house and a canteen that are run by the BSF. For visiting the Sanchu post, the domestic tourists need to take permission from BSF in Bikaner. The tourists are shown the post of the Pakistan side and also the museum. There is a facility extended by the BSF to provide food to tourists on payment. About the area of District Sri Ganganagar, the Hindumal Kot border outpost, located at a distance of 18 km from Sri Ganganagar is quite famous. The outpost has been named after chief dewan Hindumal of the erstwhile princely state of Bikaner. The railway station located on this post is also very famous, as it used to connect India and Pakistan through the rail route and also provide for import and export of goods between the two countries.

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Chhattisgarh wants air travellers to submit covid negative test reports

A new air travel rule by the Chhattisgarh government makes it mandatory for passengers to produce a negative RT-PCR test report. Such a report must be conducted within 96 hours of boarding the flight. The General Administration Department has issued new rules for air travel passengers to all the Divisional Commissioners, Collectors, Superintendents of Police, and Inspector General of Police. According to the circular, preventive measures must be taken in order to avert a devastating third wave of the coronavirus. The new rule for air travellers to Chhattisgarh will be applicable from August 8, and at that point all passengers from any state in India will be required to carry a COVID 19 negative test report. It must be noted that only those reports from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recognised labs will be applicable. In the event that such reports are from labs that are not recognised by the ICMR, then such passengers will have to go through an RT-PCR test at the airport. The rule also applies to those passengers who are fully vaccinated. Hence, a negative RT-PCR test report is an absolute necessity when travelling to Chhattisgarh by air. The circular has also mentioned that the person giving a swab sample for a test at the airport will also have to provide his or her photograph, along with a copy of an ID, and mobile phone number. Chhattisgarh ahs airports at Raipur, Bilaspur, and Jagdalpur, and the rule is applicable to all three airports.

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UK relaxes Covid travel curbs for India, institutional quarantine exempted

The United Kingdom on Wednesday updated its latest Covid-19 travel update for some countries including India, moving it from the 'red' to 'amber' list with effect from August 8. "The UK government has announced an update to the 'Red-Amber-Green' traffic light ratings for arrivals into England. From 4am (BST) on Sunday 8 August, India will move from the red to the amber list," the British High Commission in New Delhi said in a statement. Apart from India, other countries shifted to the 'amber' list are -- Bahrain, Georgia, Mexico, UAE, and Qatar, and the French overseas territories of Reunion and Mayotte. Under the legal rules for countries on the amber list, passengers must undertake a Covid-19 test before and after arrival in England. "You must take the test in the 3 days before you travel to England. On your arrival in England, you must: quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days. Also, you must take a Covid-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8," it said. UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, "We are committed to opening up international travel safely, taking advantage of the gains we've made through our successful vaccination programme, helping connect families, friends and businesses around the world. While we must continue to be cautious, today's changes reopen a range of different holiday destinations across the globe, which is good news for both the sector and travelling public." However, travellers need not quarantine or take a day 8 test after arriving in England if an individual is either, "fully vaccinated in the UK or under the UK vaccine programme overseas", or "under 18 on the day you arrive in England and resident in the UK or in a country with a vaccination programme approved by the UK part of a UK-approved vaccine trial".

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Kerala allows ‘bio-bubble’ model operations of tourist facilities

Amidst clamour for relaxations on Covid-19 restrictions from trade and industry in the state, the Kerala government has announced certain modifications from August 5. The new modified guidelines by the government allows open tourist spaces and tourism centres to open in the state. The latest communique from the State Disaster Management Authority says that the hotels and resorts in the state can function in a ‘bio-bubble’ model. However, the restrictions on events, parties, conferences, will continue. Weddings and funerals can happen with a maximum 20 pax. Accommodation facilities like hotels, resorts, will be allowed to operate in a bio-bubble model in all areas on all days of the week. While allowing it to function on all days under the ‘bio-bubble’ model, the guidelines strictly mandates such establishments to display the status of vaccination of employees and number of customers permitted at a time. Such establishments can only allow persons who have taken at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine before two weeks or who are in possession of the RT-PCR negative certificate taken 72 hours before or who are in possession of the Covid-19 positive results more than a month old shall be allowed inside as workers as well as visitors. The restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants will continue to remain suspended. However, dining is allowed in open areas, parking lots, with 6-ft distancing. Restaurants will be allowed to serve food online till 9.30pm. The Test Positivity Rate in Kerala is above 10 per cent and half of the total Covid-19 positive cases in India is currently reported from Kerala.

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GO FIRST introduces direct flights to Qatar

Strengthening its presence in the Gulf, GO FIRST has announced the commencement of direct flights between Mumbai, Kochi, Kannur in India and Doha in Qatar under the air bubble agreement between the two countries. Doha is GO FIRST’s first destination in Qatar and the sixth in GCC countries. From today onwards, GO FIRST will operate direct flights four times a week between Mumbai and Doha while passengers can avail flights twice a week on Kochi-Doha-Kochi and Kannur-Doha-Kannur route. Commenting on the development, Kaushik Khona, CEO, GO FIRST, said, “With the introduction of flights to and from Doha, GO FIRST further consolidates its position in the Gulf. I believe that our operations in the Gulf region have received an exceptional response and the launch of the Doha sector is in line with our growth plans. Qatar and India have always shared a special bond that is built on friendship, business and diplomacy. I believe, GO FIRST’s new flights to Doha will fulfill the aspirations of job seekers as well as business travelers to leverage Qatar’s burgeoning economy.” Eligible travellers from India to Doha are exempt from mandatory quarantine if they have got both doses of WHO-approved Covid vaccines (Covishield) at least 14 days before their departure. However, RT-PCR negative report is needed to travel and visa on arrival is not available. GO FIRST also plans to leverage the cargo capacity available on its flights between the India-Qatar sector. To mark the introduction of services to Qatar, GO FIRST is offering inaugural return fares starting at INR 26666 on Mumbai-Doha-Mumbai route, INR 37118 on Kochi-Doha-Kochi route and INR 32332 on Kannur-Doha-Kannur route.

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IRCTC to run Onam Special Bharat Darshan Train from August 15

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be running an Onam Special Bharat Darshan train from August 15 to August 26 from Madurai. As per the reports, the cost of the 12-day journey will be around INR 12000 (inclusive of GST). As per the reports, the train will start its journey from Madurai and cover the Statue of Unity, Goa, Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Agra. Passengers on board will get the opportunity to visit iconic beaches of Goa, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Raj Ghat, and Indira Gandhi Memorial Teen Murti Bhavan in Delhi, Statue of Unity at Kevadia, and Agra Fort and Taj Mahalin Agra. Also, passengers will get to visit Charminar, NTR Garden, Golconda Fort, and Lumbini Park or Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, IRCTC stated that visits to all places of interest will be subject to COVID-related restrictions and guidelines that have been issued by the respective state governments. Reportedly, passengers will be able to board trains from Trivandrum Central, Madurai, Kottayam, Kollam, Ernakulam Town, Shoranur Jn, Thrissur, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Kasargod. Indian Railways has also advised passengers to strictly abide by the COVID-19 norms while travelling. Further, the de-boarding points from the train will be Renigunta Jn., Jolarpettai, Katpadi Jn, Erode Jn, Salem Jn, Podanur Jn, Ottapalam, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam Jn, Kottayam, Trivandrum Central, Madurai, and Tirunelveli.

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