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Qatar: Eligible Indian travellers, vaccinated with both does of Covishield, can skip quarantine

Eligible travellers from India to Doha can now do away with the mandatory quarantine, if they have received both the doses of WHO-approved Covishield vaccine at least 14 days before their departure. However, one will have to provide a negative RT-PCR report to travel, and visa on arrival (VoA) is not available. As of now, those seeking VoA are not allowed to travel to Qatar. As per the reports, the categories that are eligible to travel from India to Qatar currently include Qatar nationals and their immediate families; those with permanent residency card holders; business travellers, family visitors, and leisure travellers with pre-approved visas. Further, all incoming travellers to Qatar will have to register on Ehteraz Website (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) at least 12 hours before boarding their flight, whereas passengers will also be required to download the app and upload the required official documents on it. The change in dropping quarantine norms have been put into place only for fully vaccinated eligible travellers. As per the new rules, countries have been classified into three categories, i.e., green, yellow and red, with regard to COVID cases. A quarantine policy for each category will be in place for arrivals of unvaccinated travellers to Qatar. This updated policy also applies to those who have been inoculated with vaccines not recognised in Qatar, or who fall short of the 14 days vaccine administration period since the second dose. Those coming from the green category will have to undergo domestic quarantine for five days, and take a RT-PCR test in PHCC on the fourth day of their quarantine. Those for the yellow category will need to undergo hotel quarantine for seven days, and will have to take a RT-PCR test on the sixth day at their expense. Further, those coming from the red category will have to undergo hotel quarantine for 10 days, and undergo a PCR test on the seventh day at their expense. However, those vaccinated travellers coming from the red category will need to undergo a RT-PCR test on arrival at Doha airport at their expense. Further, reports have it that 94 countries have been included in this list, including India. Children aged between 0-11 years old will follow the same entry rules as that of their parents. If their parents are vaccinated, they will be considered as vaccinated too. However, unvaccinated children aged between 12-17 years old will have to undergo quarantine as per the procedure assigned to the country of departure. In case of hotel quarantine, one parent can accompany them, even if the parent is vaccinated.

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Kerala launches mass vaccination drive in tourism sector

Amidst concerns of yet-to-decline COVID-19 cases, the Kerala government has launched a mass drive to make the tourism destinations in the state 'complete vaccinated zones' by giving jabs to everyone working in the sector. The objective is to rejuvenate the shattered holiday industry which has suffered a severe blow due to the pandemic situation. Tourism and Public Works Minister P A Mohammed Riyas inaugurated via online the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the tourism sector at Vythiri in northern Wayanad district, a sought after holiday destination, on Tuesday. The state-wide drive was being carried out with the support of the Health department. He said the state would soon be made a safer holiday destination after completing 100 per cent vaccination of those working in the sector. After the implementation of the pilot project at Vythiri and Meppady village panchayats, it would be extended to all holiday destinations in the state in a phased manner, the minister said. "The government has decided to implement 100 per cent vaccination in the tourism sector as part of its rejuvenation plans. It is inevitable to regain the confidence of the sector and for its revival which has most adversely been affected due to the spread of the COVID-19," Riyas said. As many as 3,680 people, who are yet to be vaccinated in 14 wards of Vythiri, would be inoculated in the next five days as part of the drive and two vaccination centres have been made ready for this. With this, Vythiri would become the first completely vaccinated village panchayat in the southern state. Besides the health department, 'Doctors for You', an NGO, is also associated with the drive and has offered three mobile vaccination units and the service of expert doctors for the initiative, the department sources said.

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Travelling to Mumbai? BMC revises Covid-19 guidelines for travellers

Maharashtra government as well as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai have revoked the stipulation of mandatory negative RT-PCR test results for fully-vaccinated tourists coming to the state. The decision was taken in light of the fact that certain passengers taking flights to Delhi or other business places in the morning and returning on the same day could not get RT-PCR tests done. "In view of the above, the domestic passengers who are fully vaccinated may be exempted from carrying negative RT-PCR test report while arriving in the city of Mumbai," BMC Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said in an order on Tuesday. On May 12, 2021, Maharashtra government had imposed a restriction on all tourists coming to the state by any mode of transport that required them to carry a negative RT-PCR test report issued within 48 hours to the beginning of the journey. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, or BMC, had issued similar directives for domestic tourists coming to Mumbai. These restrictions were primarily meant for travellers from Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala. With the rise in number of cases during the second wave, this stipulation of negative RT-PCR test report was extended to all domestic passengers arriving in Mumbai. With the vaccination drive gathering pace across the nation, and several citizens receiving the full regimen of the Covid-19 vaccine, the fully-vaccinated beneficiaries have been asking for relaxation in condition of carrying negative RT-PCR report, Chahal noted in his order.

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Check Covid Rules and Restrictions For Goa, Ladakh, Corbett, Dharamshala And 7 Other Tourist Places

Owing to the somewhat stable Covid situation in the country, several states in India have gradually started easing COVID-related restrictions and curbs that were put in place due to the ever-increasing deadly coronavirus cases. Also, many people have already started to travel inter-state to get a break from everyday’s hustle and bustle. So, in case if you are too planning an inter-state travel, then check out these latest COVID rules and restrictions in place. Check Covid Rules and Restrictions For Goa, Ladakh, Corbett, Dharamshala And 7 Other Tourist Places Goa Earlier fully-vaccinated travellers were allowed to enter Goa; whereas, others who hadn’t got jabbed were required to produce Covid negative report. However, on Sunday, the Goa government has extended the coronavirus-induced statewide curfew till July 19. Casinos, cinema halls, schools, colleges, weekly markets, as well as shops from 7 pm to 7 am will continue to remain closed. On Monday, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court heard a case filed by the Goa government seeking permission to allow fully vaccinated tourists to enter the state without a Covid negative report. The bench has permitted fully-vaccinated Goan residents and workforce to enter Goa without a Covid-19 negative report till August 5, 2021. The Expert Committee of the Goa government in its latest meeting recommended that inbound travellers from other states and union territories holding authentic vaccination certificates should be allowed to enter the state without an RT-PCR negative report. Ladakh (Jammu & Kashmir) According to the reports, passengers arriving in Ladakh, both by air and road, must have a negative RT-PCR report not older than 96 hours. Otherwise, they will have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 test on arrival. All passengers must download Aarogya Setu App. Corbett/Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand) All tourists wishing to visit the popular valley will have to submit a negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours and strictly abide by all the COVID-related protocols put in place across the state. Uttarakhand has imposed strict measures to curb the influx of tourists to some popular tourist destinations in the state. Flight: Nearest airport is Pantnagar (90-minute drive from Corbett). Train: Nearest railway station is Ramnagar (12 kms). Meanwhile Valley of Flowers is 269 kms from Corbett National Park. Uttarakhand has imposed strict restrictions to curb the influx of tourists to some popular tourist destinations in the state. Dharamshala, Chail (Himachal Pradesh) Recently, tourists have started thronging to popular tourist destinations like Dharamshala, Chail and other parts of Himachal Pradesh. The State Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had said earlier this week that “we are anxious” as the tourist influx has increased in Himachal Pradesh. “We welcome tourists but I urge them to follow Covid norms. They should follow social distancing and wear a mask. We have also directed hotels to follow SOP strictly,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. For Dharmshala Flight: Nearest airport is in Gaggal (12 kms) Train: Nearest railway station is Pathankot (86 kms) FYI, Chail is 45 kms from Shimla (nearest airport to Shimla is 22 kms away; Kalka is the nearest railway station, about 66 kms away) Shillong, Cherrapunji (Meghalaya) Please note that it is mandatory for all people entering Meghalaya to register themselves prior to their travel at: http://meghalayaonline.gov. in/covid/testing.htm, and to download the Arogya Setu App and the Behaviour Change Management App, a training platform of NHM Meghalaya for citizens and all cadre’s on COVID19 Pandemic, of Meghalaya. RT-PCR testing at entry points is mandatory. Persons with a valid final certificate of vaccination shall be exempted from testing.

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Third Covid wave inevitable; pilgrimage, tourism can wait: IMA

The IMA expressed concern on Monday over governments and people being complacent and engaging in mass gatherings without following Covid-19 protocols, saying these events are potential super spreaders for a third wave of the pandemic. Stressing that tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour are needed, but can wait for a few more months, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), in a statement, said global evidence and the history of any pandemic suggest that “the third wave is inevitable and imminent”. “However, it is painful to note that in this crucial time, when everyone needs to work for the mitigation of the third wave, in many parts of the country, both governments and the public are complacent and engaged in mass gatherings without following Covid protocols. Tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour, all are needed, but can wait for a few more months. “Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave,” the IMA said. The statement by the doctors’ comes on a day when the annual Rath Yatra began in Puri and amid talks of allowing the “Kanwar Yatra” in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The IMA appealed to all the states to control mass gatherings. Based on the experience of the last one-and-a-half years of the war with the virus and the emerging evidence, it is obvious that by making the universal vaccination drive reach the maximum number of people and strictly following Covid-appropriate behaviour, people can face the third wave with confidence and mitigate its impact, the doctors’ body said. “The consequences of treating a patient with Covid in a hospital and its impacts on the economy will be much better than the economic loss we suffer by avoiding such mass gatherings. It is the duty and responsibility of everyone at this moment to strictly enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour for minimum three more months and ensure that everyone near our houses is getting vaccinated,” the statement said. PTI

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Tourism revival in UAE: Abu Dhabi hotel occupancy highest since start of COVID-19 pandemic

Tourism, which is one of the driving factors of the UAE economy, has shown signs of clear revival across the Emirates. According to research firm STR, hotel occupancy in Abu Dhabi has climbed to its highest point since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. Hotels in the Emirati capital city were 68.5 percent full in June, Bloomberg reported, citing the the preliminary data shared by STR. In the same period, revenue per available room - which is key to determine profitability - rose to $59.67 or 219.81 dirhams - the highest since February 2021. Apart from Abu Dhabi, the occupancy of hotel rooms, along with the rates, were also reported to have risen in Dubai. The latter would host the extravagant six-month Expo 2020 from October. In the first five months of 2021, the occupancy rate in Dubai hotels increased to 58 percent, higher than 46 percent in the same period in 2020, according to JLL’s UAE Real Estate Market Performance study. Data recently released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism showed 3.7 million overnight tourists visited the city between July 2020 and May 2021. The administration has lifted most of the curbs, as around 64 percent of the population has been totally vaccinated, whereas, 71 percent has received at least the first dose. In Abu Dhabi, mild restrictions which bar overcrowding continue to remain in place. The administration plans to allow only vaccinated persons at public places and events from August. The high pace of vaccination in UAE is considered to be the prime reason behind the revival of tourism in the country. Although the number of visitors are rising to Emirates, the United States has placed the country in the list of places with high alert. The United Kingdom has also placed UAE in the "red list", whereas, Saudi Arabia has temporarily barred travel to the neighbouring country.

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