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India may open up for tourists from ‘Covid-free’ nations soon

India could soon reopen its doors to foreign tourists from countries where the Covid situation is under control, by following all required health protocol. Government officials on Thursday said inter-ministerial talks are on for a “calibrated resumption of tourist visas on a country-specific basis”. Owing to Covid, India had in last March suspended most visas issued to foreigners. Later, it allowed foreigners with certain visa types — except tourist — to travel here. “It is crucial to reopen India to international tourists. We are doing belowaverage-rate business. Hotels in leisure destinations (like Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala) have 65% to 70% occupancy because of strong revenge travel by domestic travellers. City hotels have 30%-35% occupancy and overall occupancy is about 50%,” said Nakul Anand, ITC executive director and chairman of Federation of Associations of Indian Tourism and Hospitality. Anand was speaking at an event of the tourism body here on Thursday. A joint report by the tourism ministry and FAITH says international tourism activity may return to pre-Covid levels in two-three years.

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Munnar gets app to guide tourists visiting the hill station

To help tourists explore the hill station of Munnar in Kerala's Idukki, the district administration has developed a mobile app called VIBGYOR. The mobile app features seven popular routes in Munnar, each identified by the seven colours of the rainbow, and other information in those routes. The seven routes are Munnar-Marayoor-Kanthaloor-Chinnar (Violet route), Munnar- Adimali (Indigo route), Munnar-Chokkramudi Peak- Suryanelli- Kolukkumalai (Blue route), Munnar-Meesapulimala (Green route), Heritage route (Yellow route), Munnar-Mankulam-Anakkulam (Orange route) and Munnar-Mattuppetty-Vattavada (Red route). The app includes the distance from Munnar to each place, main tourist destinations in these routes and their importance, stay facilities, hospitals, petrol pumps, police assistance and favourable time for visiting the destination. “It can be accessed as a website and an app. A QR (quick response) code will be displayed in all major tourism centres in Munnar. When a tourist scans the QR code, it will show details about the destination," Devikulam Sub Collector S Premkrishnan told TNM. "The district tourism promotion council (DTPC) will provide training to 30 expert guides soon and the details of trained guides will be included in the app," said the Sub Collector. According to officials, another feature gives travellers live updates and other information about each place. The app also includes facilities for families, solo travellers and photographers to choose locations according to their choice. For instance, if the tourist is a photographer, he/she can select some of the major photography spots in Munnar on the app. The app also features Munnar’s famous Neelakurinji and Nilgiri Thars and the details of some of the main plants. "VIBGYOR aims to promote tourism in Munnar at an international level. The mobile app and website will provide proper details to domestic and international tourists who wish to visit the hill station," said Premkrishnan. The project was implemented in association with an NGO called Kites Foundation and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), as part of a project called Code4Munnar, a three-day coding camp to boost tourism in Munnar. Power Minister MM Mani and Education Minister C Raveendranath officially launched the VIBGYOR mobile app recently. The app will be available for download on all mobile platforms from Friday.

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Tourism is reviving in Jammu and Kashmir, proves the rise in number of tourists

Rise in tourists in Jammu and Kashmir is a sign of revival of the sector post the coronavirus pandemic, Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel said on Thursday, hitting out at naysayers who claimed that the scrapping of the erstwhile state's special status had taken a toll. Speaking at the inauguration of the inaugural ceremony of the third India Tourism Mart, organised by the Federation of Associations in India Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), Patel said the data indicated that tourists visited Srinagar and Jammu in more numbers in January as compared to the same period last year. In January 2020, around 3,750 visited Srinagar, while 19,000 tourists visited the Union territory in January 2021. "There has been a continuous negative discourse on the effect of tourism in J&K due to the abrogation of Article 370. The data that is coming this year negates these claims. "Some other states like Goa have also started showing signs of recovery, while states like Maharashtra and Kerala are still not open. We have to promote domestic tourism as international travel will be restricted for some time," he said. Patel praised the sector for its resilience and urged hotels, service providers and others involved with the tourism industry to get themselves registered on portals, such as SAATHI and Nidhi. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also addressed the gathering and expressed his appreciation at the participation of over 250 delegates from 60 countries who attended the event virtually. "This third India Tourism Mart holds even more significance as it is being organized at a time when the world is emerging from the dark clouds of the pandemic and countries all across the world are contemplating on opening up travel albeit with all health and security precautions in place. "India has embarked on the world's largest immunisation program against Covid-19. We have not only vaccinated over 8.5 million people in India but have also sent millions of doses to other countries seeking our help," Vardhan said. Speaking on the advancements in the healthcare facilities, the minister noted that while India had always been a popular tourist destination, it had also emerged as a leading destination for medical tourism over the last few years. To encourage it further, the government has already started issuing medical visas and planning to soon restart e-tourist visas, as well as scheduled international flights, he added.

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Maha Kumbh 2021: Uttarakhand govt announces dates, shortens Mela to 30 days amid Covid-19

Maha Kumbh 2021: One of the most sacred events for Hindus, that witnesses a gathering of thousands of pilgrims every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela has been shortened this year to 30 days due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Uttarakhand government recently said while announcing the dates. The religious fair will be held from April 1 to April 30 this year. Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash also informed that a notice will be issued by the end of March to the authorities responsible for hosting the Mela every year. He further said that the decision to reduce the duration of the Kumbh was taken on account of the concern that with a gathering of people, Haridwar can become a hot spot for Covid-19 infections. The Health Ministry has earlier issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that made it mandatory for pilgrims to submit a negative RT-PCR test report with test date 72 hours prior to the date of visit, identification proof and medical certificate to receive passes that permit entry to the event. Every devotee coming to Haridwar for Kumbh Mela 2021 will have to register themselves on the web portal of Mahakumbh Mela, 2021 first. Only registered people will be permitted to enter the Mela grounds. A complete ban has been imposed this year on crowd puller events like organically singing bhajans and organizing Bhandara in the entire Mela area. During the Kumbh Mela, only shops of essential commodities such as medicine, food, dairy, puja paraphernalia, and blankets are allowed to be opened on the day of the important bath dates to avoid unnecessary crowding and maintain social distance. Any devotee or group of devotees will be given a maximum of 20 minutes for the holy bath. All personnel deployed in Bath Ghat will be equipped with PPE kit and will follow all safety measures. Moreover, the district administration has demanded 70,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines for the immunisation of personnel posted on the Mela duty. A network of CCTV cameras has been installed to monitor the crowd and maintain social distance. Vulnerable populations above 65 years of age, children and pregnant women or the ones with co-morbid conditions are discouraged from attending the Kumbh Mela this year.

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Vistara commences flight operations to Germany from India

Full service carrier Vistara on Thursday commenced its flight operations to Germany from India with the launch of a non-stop flight to Frankfurt from Delhi under the air bubble agreement between the two countries. The inaugural flight, operated by a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, departed Delhi at 3.30 am (IST) on Thursday and landed in Frankfurt at 7.55 am (CET), Vistara said in a release. The Tata-Singapore Airlines jointly-owned carrier will fly between the two cities twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, it said. "The launch of our services to Frankfurt is another important step ahead in our commitment towards growing our global network and strengthening our presence in Europe," said Vistara's Chief Executive Officer, Leslie Thng. As one of the world's busiest aviation hubs, Frankfurt promises great opportunities for India's best airline to grow in the global market, Thng added. Vistara said it accepts all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both the countries, as specified by the respective government authorities.

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India issues new guidelines for international travellers as mutant virus of COVID surge

In view of rising cases of new COVID strain in India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has announced updated guidelines for international passengers arriving in India. The MoCA stated, "These guidelines will supersede all guidelines issued on the subject since August 2, 2020. This Standard Operating Procedure shall be valid w.e.f. 22nd February 2021 (23.59 hrs IST) till further orders." As per the news reports, the new guidelines will be applicable on all international travellers coming/transiting through flights originating from the United Kingdom, Middle East, and Europe. Here’s all that you need to know about the new guidelines: 1. As per the new guidelines, all travellers should submit a self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal before their scheduled travel. They need to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report, which had been conducted 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey. Further, each passenger will also be required to submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report, failing which they will have to face criminal prosecution. 2. Further, all travellers before undertaking the journey, they are required to give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to the MoCA of India, via concerned airlines that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority to undergo home quarantine, and self-monitor their health for 14 days, or as warranted. 3. Those travelling to India in the exigency of death in the family will be exempted from producing negative COVID report rules. 4. Also, to seek such an exemption, one should apply to the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision made by the government and as communicated on the online portal will be final. 5. Only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board their flight after thermal screening. 6. Those arriving via land/seaports will also have to undergo the same protocol. However, online registration facilities are not available for such passengers at the moment. 7. For those who have connecting flights, airlines are required to inform them about the need of a minimum 6-8 hours for transit time at the entry airport (in India), which will be required for testing and other procedures. 8. Airlines need to identify those arriving from/transiting via the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa (during past 14 days), and segregate them in-flight, or while disembarking to facilitate authorities are able to follow due protocol. 9. Travellers arriving from/transiting through flights originating in the United Kingdom, Europe or Middle East will be required to mandatorily undergo self-paid confirmatory molecular tests on arrival at the Indian airports concerned (port of entry). 10. Flights originating from Europe and Middle East and landing at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai airports in India for the said period shall be conveyed by the Bureau of Immigration to State Government/Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme. 11. International travellers who are on short visit (of less than 14 days) to India and who have tested negative, remain symptom free, will also have to undergo all the said procedures, and will be permitted to leave India under proper intimation to their District/State health authorities, subject to them fulfilling the requirement of the airlines and destination country.

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