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Alaska to offer tourists Covid-19 vaccines starting June 1

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Friday that COVID-19 vaccines would be made available at key airports in the state starting June 1, in unveiling plans aimed at bolstering the state's pandemic-battered tourist industry. Dunleavy, a Republican, outlined plans for a national marketing campaign aimed at luring tourists using federal aid money and said the vaccine offering is "probably another good reason to come to the state of Alaska in the summer." Dunleavy and other state leaders have been pushing to allow large cruise ships to return to Alaska after COVID-19 restrictions kept them away last year, hitting hard businesses and communities, particularly in southeast Alaska, that rely heavily on summer tourism. He said the state has not ruled out suing the federal government, as Florida has, over the issue. About 40% of those eligible for a vaccine in Alaska, who are 16 or older, are fully vaccinated, according to the state health department, and health officials have been looking for new ways to encourage more people to get vaccinated. Alaska was the first state to drop restrictions on who could get a COVID-19 vaccine when last month it opened eligibility to anyone 16 or older who lives or works in the state. Heidi Hedberg, the state health department's Division of Public Health director, said there is an ample supply of vaccine. She said the airport program will offer the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Hedberg said officials are hearing from other states that there is "a lot of vaccine availability," so if travelers are not still in Alaska when it's time for their second dose, they can follow-up at a clinic or with their provider when they return home, she said. They would need to make sure that if their first dose was with Pfizer, for example, that their second dose is also a Pfizer shot, Hedberg said. The state plans to offer vaccines at airports in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan, with the clinics outside the security area, she said. Details released Friday differed from a department solicitation in March that included interest in using a one-dose vaccine subject to availability. Hedberg said officials would do a "soft rollout" at the Anchorage airport for five days in late April, between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m., to work through logistics. The state will use an existing contractor for mobile clinics for the trial run, and it would be for Alaskans traveling in or through the airport, she said. Vaccinations would open more widely, to anyone passing through, starting June 1, she said. State health officials also have encouraged travelers to test for COVID-19, though the state no longer requires that.

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Covid-19 negative report will be mandatory for Char Dham Yatra

It will be mandatory for Char Dham pilgrims from outside of Uttarakhand to carry a negative Covid-19 test report, state tourism and culture minister Satpal Maharaj said on Saturday. The yatra is scheduled to start from May 14. The minister also hinted towards placing a limit on the number of pilgrims that can visit a shrine daily. “Pilgrims coming from other states to Haridwar Maha Kumbh as well as the Char Dham Yatra are requested to follow the Covid-19 guidelines. The government is fully prepared for the yatra and as part of the guidelines, devotees must get CBNAAT, TrueNaT or RT-PCR tests done before coming. Char Dham pilgrims must register online and will be allowed to enter the shrines as per the shrines’ capacity,” Maharaj said.

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SpiceJet to charge no fees for changes done at least 5 days prior to journey

Spicejet on Saturday said passengers will not be charged any fees for changing date or time in their tickets at least five days prior to the departure date. Earlier, the zero fee was applicable only for changes done at least seven days prior to the journey, the airline’s press release said. “Under the new offering, passengers booking direct domestic flight tickets from April 17 to May 10 can enjoy a one-time waiver on the change fee for the travel period between April 17 and May 15,” it clarified. As states such as Maharashtra and Delhi are going under partial or full lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases, the airlines are giving more incentives to passengers so that they do not cancel all their travel plans. SpiceJet on Saturday said it has also introduced special discounted price for an array of add-on services such as SpiceMax (seats with extra legroom).

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COVID vaccine now mandatory for Haj pilgrimage

As per the latest development, those intending to go on Haj this year, will need to be vaccinated. As per the latest news reports, the Haj Committee of India (HCI) has said that no one shall be allowed to go for the annual Haj pilgrimage unless they have taken the two doses of COVID vaccine. Referring to this, HCI CEO Maqsood Ahmed Khan announced this following the latest directives from the Indian consulate-general in Jeddah and Saudi Arabian Health Ministry. Last year also Saudi Arabia cancelled entry of outsiders to perform the Hajj. Revealing more about this most important pilgrimage in a Muslim's life, and this year to be observed on July 17, Khan said, "In case Indian pilgrims perform Haj-2021, outgoing flights will start from mid-June." As such, he advised those who have already applied for the Haj 2021, to take the first dose of COVID vaccine on their own, so that they can be administered the second dose before departure. He, however, added that as of now, there is no official communication regarding the status of Haj pilgrimage yet from the Saudi Arabian authorities, an that the entire process would be subject to their approval. Last year also, the Haj pilgrimage remained out of bounds for those from India, as it was the time during the surging peak of COVID-19 pandemic in late July; whereas this year, the country again witnessing a second and much deadlier Covid wave.

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Visit Maldives Launches Campaign With Amazon India

Visit Maldives initiates a marketing campaign with Amazon India. Lasting from April 14, 2021 to May 13, 2021, the natural beauty and the naturally distanced islands of Maldives will be advertised on the Amazon app reaching a customer base of 35 million daily and 310 million monthly unique visitors. The campaign is part of Visit Maldives’ greater strategy to increase outbound arrivals to achieve pre-pandemic arrival figures and sustain India as the fastest growing source market for Maldives. As part of the campaign, Amazon India will feature Maldives on its three application most engaged pages: Mobile Below the Fold (MBTF), Amazon Pay page and the Thank You page. The campaign aims to target a variety of groups such as affluent shoppers, travel enthusiasts and professional tech enthusiasts. The advertisements are estimated to achieve over nine million impressions. Furthermore, Dhigu Faru Island Resort will collaborate with Visit Maldives during the campaign. Amazon India reaches 77 per cent of the digital population in India with 65 per cent of travel and hospitality viewers present on the platform. As a result of the immense reach, popularity and engagement with the platform, the campaign with Amazon India will increase awareness of Maldives as a safe and preferred tourist destination among o spenders across all categories. There are several activities ongoing and planned for the Indian market to promote Maldives as a safe haven. Visit Maldives has concluded a campaign Wedding Sutra targeting honeymoon segments, further, joint marketing campaigns with Thomas Cook and MakeMyTrip are currently ongoing. In addition, Visit Maldives has conducted media, travel agents and celebrity familiarization trips from Indian market in order to sustain the destination presence and increase the arrival numbers. Statistics published by the Ministry of Tourism reveals that India is currently the top source market for tourism in the Maldives. The latest statistics published by the Ministry of Tourism indicates that as of 31st March 2021 Maldives welcomed a total of 298,570 travelers with an arrival figure of 69,730 travelers from India. Visit Maldives plans to continue this momentum of growth by conducting several marketing activities in India. Maldives reopened its borders for tourists of all nationalities on 15th July 2020, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of tourists and tourism workers. Tourists are required to fill an online health declaration form within 24 hours prior to their departure, as well as have a negative PCR test result, conducted 96 hours prior to their departure. On 1st February 2021, Maldives initiated the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the government aims to provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens and residents of Maldives in the upcoming months. As of March 31st, 237,716 people have received the vaccine including 17,516 frontline workers in the tourism industry. The initiation of the vaccination drive is bound to offer hope to the local population, as well as ensure the safety of tourists. This conveys the message that Maldives is a low-risk destination for travelers and will hopefully generate a surge in tourist arrivals.

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Chandigarh imposes weekend lockdown

With the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases, the Chandigarh administration announced weekend lockdown that will start from every Friday night. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore. The lockdown will be from 10pm on Friday to 5am on Monday. However, essential services will be allowed and restaurants can do home-delivery. Advisor Manoj Parida said that the Covid vaccination programme would continue despite the lockdown. Night curfew has already been imposed in the city from 10pm to 5am. There is also a restriction on gatherings with 200 people for outdoor events and 100 for indoor in Chandigarh. In another development, adviser to the Chandigarh Administrator Manoj Parida has said that those eligible for coronavirus vaccine but not taking it should be named and shamed. Parida asked resident welfare associations to help the administration persuade eligible residents in this regard. "Defaulters should be named and shamed," said Parida in an official statement issued by the UT Department of Public Relations. He further said, "In other states, people are waiting in long queues to get it while our facilities are underutilised." Parida further said any group, association or a society can approach with a list of 100 eligible persons for vaccine. "We will arrange a special camp near their place," he said. Also for old disabled persons, our ambulance will pick them for vaccination, if they register with us, said Parida. So far, 1.29 lakh people, including health care workers, have got themselves vaccinated in the city.

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