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Covid-19: J&K starts rafting activities to revive adventure tourism

Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday started rafting activities to revive adventure tourism and adventure sports as Covid-19 are declining steadily in the valley. According to Dr G.N. Itoo, Director of Tourism, Kashmir is popular for adventure activities and rafting is one of the attractive activities that always plays a tremendous role in attracting adventure lovers from across the world. Keeping the same in mind, the department of tourism and Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATOAK) in the Wussan area of the district Ganderbal organised white water rafting. Speaking to ANI, Itoo said, "After the pandemic, this is the beginning of rafting and other adventure related activities that attract a good number of participants including some tourists who enjoy more than their expectations." "For the last few years due to the situation and Covid related issues, government and non-government organizations could not organize such big activities to boost adventure tourism as well as adventure sports," said Itoo. "After the cases started declining, we decided to follow flag off a few activities adhering to COVID-19 protocols. Rafting is one of the best activities associated with adventure tourism, so we decided to organise it," he added. Speaking to ANI, Rouf Tramboo, Chairman Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir said, "Due to Covid the adventures activities and tourism in the state had declined, but on Monday we have started a water rafting for the season in Singh river." "There is 7 kilometer patch in which there is thrilling white water. This is for those tourists who are interested in taking a joy ride of white water rafting," he added.

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Highways choked, hotels fully booked as tourists throng Himachal Pradesh

Days after the Himachal Pradesh government relaxed Covid-19 related restrictions, a massive tourist influx resulted in midway holdups on national highways and unprecedented traffic jams. Meanwhile, parking lots have been full and people are forced to spend the night in their vehicles due to complete hotel occupancy. Hotel occupancy in major tourist spots, including Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, is almost full and tourists have been heading to less popular tourist spots in a bid to find accommodation and in guest houses or homestays. A large crowd of tourists were also seen near the water bodies in Dharamshala and Manali. The relaxation in Covid-19 norms in the state coupled with severe heatwave conditions in the plains has forced people to reach the hill stations where temperatures have dropped following monsoon rains. The average minimum temperature in popular tourist destinations like Shimla Manali and Dharmshala is around 20 degrees Celsius. “The occupancy in the hotels remains between 60 and 90 per cent during weekends, while on other days it remains around 40-45 per cent," Mohinder Seth, president of the Tourism Industry Stakeholder Association told PTI. While tourist influx is high in Manali and Shimla, inflow to Dalhousie, Khajjiar and Chamba is picking up gradually. The sudden surge in tourists in the region has raised questions over Covid-19 protocols being followed as experts predict a third phase of the coronavirus outbreak. A report by SBI Research said that the third wave may hit India next month in August. "Going by the current data, India could experience cases around 10,000 somewhere around the second week of July. However, the cases could start rising by the second fortnight of August," the SBI report said.

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Andhra Tourism resumes boat operations to Papikondalu after 22 months

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Boat operations to Papikondalu commenced from Sunday in River Godavari. As many as 31 tourists have travelled to Papikondalu from Rajamahendravaram. APTDC divisional manager T Veeranarayana told TNIE that they have picked up 31 tourists at Rajamahendravaram and took them up to Poshamma Gandi, 60 km from here by road. The tourists boarded the boat ‘Haritha’ at 11 am and reached Papikondalu around 1.30 pm. After having lunch, they returned by ‘Haritha’ to Poshamma Gandi around 5.30 pm. Veeranarayana said that the first tour with tourists 22 months after the boat accident was successful. He said the ticket from Rajamahendravaram to Papikondalu costs Rs 750 per head for adults and Rs 650 for children. Tickets can be booked on APTDC online website, he said. He said control rooms have been set up at Rajamahendravaram, Poshamma Gandhi, Pochavaram in East Godavari, Perantallapalli and Singapalli in West Godavari. The APTDC has recruited divers and expert swimmers, who accompany the tourists. Precautionary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the passengers, he said.

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Fully vaccinated tourists can now visit Sikkim from Today

Those who have inoculated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can now visit Sikkim from July 5, as the state government has lifted the temporary ban on the entry of visitors from other parts of the country. The Sikkim government had prohibited the entry of tourists since March this year following a surge in COVID-19 cases. The state Home Department, in a notification, said that fully vaccinated tourists can enter the Himalayan state through Rangpo in East Sikkim and Melli in South Sikkim after exhibiting their vaccination certificates at the border check-gates. The state government also allowed hotels, guest houses and homestays to operate at 50 per cent capacity from Monday with strict adherence to COVID protocols. Shopping malls, showrooms and shops have also been allowed to open at full capacity with strict compliance with safety guidelines. All government offices can function with fully vaccinated employees, while staffers who have not yet received both the jabs can work with the present arrangement of 50 per cent attendance, the notification said. All factories and commercial establishments can also operate at 100 per cent capacity provided the staffers are fully vaccinated, it said. "The Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association (SHRA) welcomes the state government's decision to open the tourism industry, which is the mainstay of Sikkim's economy. We will ensure strict adherence to COVID guidelines," an executive member of the body told PTI. He claimed that the state's tourism industry bore a loss of around Rs 600 crores last year due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. A total of 21,131 people have tested positive for the infection in the Himalayan state so far, of whom 2,101 are undergoing treatment, while 18,469 have recovered from the disease, 308 have succumbed to the infection and 253 have migrated to other states till Sunday, a health department bulletin said.

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People vaccinated with Covaxin can travel without restrictions: Govt after phase 3 trial data

People who have been administered Covaxin in India will be able to travel without restrictions, said Dr NK Arora, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) Chief said on Saturday. The comment came hours after Bharat Biotech announced that its vaccine Covaxin's efficacy against COVID-19 is 77.8%. "It is good that these results have finally been published and this will help to get Covaxin the WHO emergency use listing. People who have been administered Covaxin in India will be able to travel without restrictions," Arora told news agency ANI. Covaxin is effective against delta variant which is a big relief. We feel very comfortable that both the vaccines which are currently in use in Indian under Covid Immunisation Programme are effective and safe," the NTAGI chief said. The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has released its data from the final analysis of Covaxin efficacy as part of phase 3 clinical trials. The company said on Friday that the indigenous vaccine demonstrates overall efficacy of 77.8% against symptomatic infection. An expert panel of the country's central drugs authority had reviewed and accepted the phase-3 trial data of Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin last month. It also added that Covaxin gives 65.2 per cent protection against the SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2 Delta variant. Covaxin is one of the three vaccines approved by the DGCI for emergency use and is being deployed in the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

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Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Goa allow fresh relaxations from today. Full details

Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka and Goa have further eased Covid restrictions in the wake of decline in new infection cases. The fresh relaxations will come into force from today (5 July). Karnataka has permitted government offices to reopen at full working strength and public transport including Metro will also begin operations with full seating capacity from Monday. Here's what is allowed and what's not from Monday Karnataka Night curfew will continue to be imposed from 9 PM to 5 AM but the weekend curfew (from 7 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday) has been lifted. The new relaxations and restrictions will be in place in the state for the next 15 days. Theatres/cinema halls and pubs will remain closed. Swimming pools have been permitted to open for competitive training purposes. Sports complexes and stadia have been permitted to open only for practice purposes. All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ other gatherings and large congregations are prohibited. Marriages/family functions are permitted to be conducted involving not more than 100 people. Cremation/funerals have been allowed with a maximum of 20 people. Religious places are allowed to open only for Darshan. No sevas allowed. All shops, restaurants, malls, private offices, closed places have been instructed to strictly enforce Covid appropriate behaviour. All educational intuitions/tutorials/colleges will continue to remain close until further order. Deputy Commissioners of the Districts based on their assessment of the situation and after consultation with the District-in-charge Minister may impose additional containment measures. Delhi The Delhi government has now allowed stadiums and sports complexes to open but without any spectators. However, the functioning of cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes continues to be prohibited. All educational institutions and amusement parks will remain shut. Banquet halls, auditoriums, any gatherings for social or political purposes and swimming pools will stay closed. Last week, Delhi allowed the reopening of gyms and yoga institutes with 50% attendance. Banquets, marriage halls and hotels were also allowed to host weddings with an attendance of 50 guests only. Bars have been permitted to admit people at 50 per cent of their capacity from 12 pm to 10 pm. Restaurants up to 50 per cent capacity and markets have already been opened. Public parks, gardens and golf clubs have also been reopened and outdoor yoga activities allowed. All shops can keep their shutters up between 10 am and 8 pm. Weekly markets were allowed to resume activity, but only one market per day in each municipal zone. In autos, e-rickshaws, or taxis, not more than 2 passengers are allowed. Salons are functioning in all zones. The Delhi Metro is plying with 50% of the capacity. There are no restrictions on inter-state or intra-state movement of people or goods. Prohibited activities Banquet halls for any purpose other than weddings will remain prohibited. Cinema, theatres and multiplexes will also remain shut. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain shut. Gathering for social, political, academic or entertainment reasons is also not permitted. Haryana The Haryana government has extended lockdown till 12 July. However, it has given some relaxations in curbs imposed since mid-April. It has allowed the institute of Chartered Accountants to hold 'Chartered Accountant' exams from 5 July to 20 July. All shops are allowed to open from 9 am to 8 pm Malls are allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm Restaurants and bars are allowed to open from 10 am to 10 pm with 50 per cent of the seating capacity and adopting requisite social distancing norms. Home delivery from hotels, restaurants and fast food joints is permitted upto 10 pm. Religious places are allowed to open with 50 per sons at one time with the condition that they shall follow requisite social distancing norms. Corporate offices are permitted to open with full attendance subject to strict observance of social distancing. Gathering in weddings, funerals/cremations are allowed upto 50 persons subject to strict observance of Covid appropriate behaviour. Weddings can take place at places other than home and courts. No movement of 'baraat' procession will be allowed. In open spaces, gatherings will be allowed with ceiling of 50 persons. Club houses/restaurants/bars of the Golf Courses are allowed to open with 50 per cent seating capacity from 10 am to 10 pm. Members shall be allowed to play in Golf Courses by the management in a staggered manner so as to avoid overcrowding. Gyms are allowed to open from 6 am to 8 pm with 50 per cent capacity. All production units, establishments, industries are permitted to function. Sports complexes, Stadia are permitted to open for sports activities including for outdoor sports activities except contact sports (spectators will not be allowed) Goa The Goa government too has allowed certain relaxations in curbs imposed due to Covid. It allowed bars and restaurants to function with up to 50 per cent of seating capacity between 7am-9pm. - Now, shops (including in municipal/panchayat markets/shopping malls) may remain open from 7 am to 6 pm (home delivery of all these items, except liquor, will be allowed anytime). - Bars and restaurants upto 50 per cent of the seating capacity have been allowed from 7 am to 9 pm. - Banks, insurance, custom clearance, ATMs, microfinance institutions have been allowed to function. - All medical and health service/institutions (including AYUSH and veterinary Hospitals, and laboratories) to remain functional. - All facilities in the supply chain of goods, whether involved in wholesale or retail of such goods through local stores, large brick and mortar stores or e-commerce companies. - Cold storage and warehousing services can open. - Canteen/restaurants on the premise of the permitted establishments catering to only inhouse staff/residents may remain functional. - All industries/factories and related activities have been allowed. - All constructions and related activities, including repairs have been permitted. - Shops/stores related to house/building repairs, monsoon preparedness or rain protection will remain open. - Agricultural and related activities have been allowed.

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