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Kerala govt permits reopening of spas, ayurvedic resorts

The spas, ayurvedic resorts and other such facilities in Kerala, which were closed months ago due to COVID-19 pandemic, are all set to welcome visitors again as the state government has issued orders for reopening them by adhering to safety norms. The spas and ayurvedic resorts used to welcome a large number of tourists both domestic and international holidayers in the southern state, popularly known as 'the God’s own country', every year. The state Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the order was issued to reopen the spas and Ayurvedic resorts in the state which were closed in the wake of outbreak of coronavirus. ”Such institutions can be opened fully in compliance with the COVID protocols. They must also take all precautions to ensure hygiene and safety,” he said. The existing government guidelines regarding the functioning of the tourism sector, issued in the wake of the COVID-19 surge, should be fully complied with by the concerned resorts and spas, the minister added. After managing to flatten the Covid-19 curve within months of reporting the country’s first coronavirus case last year, Kerala is now grappling with a sharp surge in its daily infections, prompting the Centre to send a high-level team to assist it. However, the state government has maintained that the ”high numbers” are a result of robust surveillance and reporting system, while pointing to its low fatality rate. Kerala on Friday reported 5,142 new positive cases and 23 deaths taking the total affected in the southern state to 8,01,075 and the toll to 3,257.

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Jammu & Kashmir new industrial incentive scheme to provide big boost to tourism sector

The Industrial Incentive Scheme of INR 28,400 cr approved by the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs (CCEA) with a long term approach of 17 years to both incentivise new industrial investment in the UT of J&K and nurture the existing industries is expected to provide big impetus to key sectors like Tourism, IT, in the Jammu & Kashmir. Considering the new Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development talks about taking industrial development to the grassroots level of Administrative Blocks, there is a lot of expectation that the new incentive scheme will usher a new era of industrial activity in the region. Tourism being a major service sector of the J&K economy, the new incentive scheme will provide the much required impetus to the sector in the Union Territory. The J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has called the scheme a “historic one” which will provide a boost to the J&K economy for sustainable development. With the new incentive scheme, different departments of the government including tourism will now draw up schemes to attract private investments into the region. The Central Scheme is intended to bring about radical transformation in the existing industrial ecosystem of J&K with emphasis on job creation, skill development and sustainable development by attracting new investment and nurturing the existing ones, thereby enabling J&K to compete nationally with other leading industrially developed States/UTs of the country. It is anticipated that the proposed scheme is likely to attract unprecedented investment and give direct and indirect employment to about 4.5 lakh persons. Additionally, because of the working capital interest subvention the scheme is likely to give indirect support to about 35,000 persons. The incentives comprise, Capital Investment Incentive at the rate of 30% in Zone A and 50% in Zone B on investment made in Plant & Machinery (in manufacturing) or construction of building and other durable physical assets (in service sector) is available. Units with an investment up to INR 50 crore will be eligible to avail this incentive. Maximum limit of incentive is INR 5 crore and INR 7.5 crore in Zone A & Zone B respectively. It also proposes a Capital Interest subvention at the annual rate of 6% for maximum 7 years on loan amount up to INR 500 crore for investment in plant and machinery (in manufacturing) or construction of building and all other durable physical assets(in service sector). The Central Scheme also proposes a GST Linked Incentive of 300% of the eligible value of actual investment made in plant and machinery (in manufacturing) or construction in building and all other durable physical assets (in service sector) for 10 years. The amount of incentives in a financial year will not exceed one-tenth of the total eligible amount of incentive. There is a Working Capital Interest Incentive component in the new Central scheme which promises all existing units at the annual rate of 5% for maximum 5 years. Maximum limit of incentive is INR 1 crore. Scheme is made attractive for both smaller and larger units. Smaller units with an investment in plant & machinery upto INR 50 crore will get a capital incentive upto INR 7.5 crore and get capital interest subvention at the rate of 6% for maximum 7 years.

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IRCTC announces short domestic tourism packages

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation, the tourism wing of the Ministry of Railways, has announced various air tour packages to leisure and pilgrim destinations, with an aim to promote Domestic Tourism in India under the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ programme. These fixed departure tours have been specially designed for a short duration in the next three months considering the long weekends for service-class employees and general public. Tour package to Andaman and Nicobar islands is LTC compliant for government employees, IRCTC informed. As per the packages announced, there will be two departures each in a month. For February, Goa ( February 12) at INR 22,200 and Kerala (February 20) at INR 27800, and in March, for Shirdi (March 13) at INR 13,625 and Andaman ( March 12, March 19 and March 26) at INR 49,315. The fixed departure package includes return flight tickets, accommodation in classified 3-star hotels, sightseeing as per itinerary, services of licensed tour guides, entry fees & meals as per tour Itinerary, and all government applicable taxes. The packages can be booked online on IRCTC website or through the IRCTC tourism app.

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India UK flights resume! Check quarantine rules in Delhi, Covid test guidelines, cost at IGI Airport

India-UK flights resumed! The commercial flight service between Delhi and the United Kingdom’s London has resumed after it was suspended by the Government of India due to a new strain of Covid virus traced in that country. The first flight carrying 256 passengers arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) today from London. Notably, the total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel Coronavirus, first reported in the UK, stood at 82. Delhi Government has issued an order for all passengers arriving from the UK. “All those arriving from the UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine,” the Delhi government said. This order will be applicable on a trial basis for a period of one week till January 14, 2021, the government advisory signed by Chief Secretary of Delhi Vijay Dev stated. Delhi Airport in an advisory to passengers said that flyers arriving from the UK will need to undergo mandatory RT-PCR Covid test in that country as well as in India. The flyers are required to upload a “negative RT-PCR test report” through a self-reporting form on the Air Suvidha Portal before boarding the flight from the UK. The sample for the RT-PCR test must be collected within 72 hours of the journey. Furthermore, the arriving passengers must also undergo RT-PCR Test at the first arrival port in India and must pay the cost for the same. The cost of the Covid-19 test and lounge at the Delhi Airport is Rs 3,400 per passenger. Delhi Airport Authority has also advised the flyers to maintain a gap of a minimum of 10 hours between their international flight’s estimated time of arrival and the connecting domestic flight’s time of departure. Since, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to start regulated resumption of limited flights originating from the UK to India, starting January 8 till January 30, 2021, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) along with Genestrings Diagnostic Lab, has been working closely with the authorities to ensure smooth operations, Dr. Gauri Agarwal, founder, and director of Genestrings diagnostic, the lab conducting the RT-PCR tests at the Delhi airport, said “It takes 4-6 hours to get the reports, however, as a mandate, all the passengers in the flight, including crew members will have to be halted until all results are declared. Arrangements are in place to ensure that the RT-PCR tests for all the passengers arriving from the UK get conducted smoothly,” Dr. Gauri Agarwal said. There will be a maximum of three flights in a day from the UK to Delhi Airport. On January 9, flight number UK018 with passengers of 291 is scheduled to arrive at 10.25 am. On January 10, two flights BA 143 and AI 162 are scheduled to arrive at 6.30 am and 10.25 pm respectively with total passengers of 225 and 256. On January 11, AI 162 is scheduled to arrive at 10.25 am with 256 passengers.

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Domestic airlines offer discounts to get the world flying again

The nightmare year 2020 brought turbulence for the airline industry. It not only let airlines bear major losses due to suspension of flights, but halted development plans for airports, manufacturing, and leasing firms. 2021 is shaping up to be the transition year where the bumpy path of airline and tourism industry could fight the distress and increase the tourist traffic. One of the ways to overcome the challenges is by discounts and sale on airfares. Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines joint venture Vistara has announced heavy discounts on domestic airfare on its 6th anniversary. The mega sale which is underway currently until January 9 allows passengers to book tickets travelling between February 25, 2021, and September 30, 2021. During this sale, Vistara will offer tickets with fares starting from Rs 1300 for economy class, Rs 2099 for premium economy, and Rs 6000 for Business class.

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Coronavirus: UK imposes mandatory Covid-19 tests for international travellers

International arrivals from anywhere in the world, including India, will now be required to prove a negative Covid-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure for the UK, as part of new measures announced on Friday to contain the spread of new variants of coronavirus circulating internationally. Passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of 500 pounds if they fail to comply with the new regulations on pre-departure testing. Starting next week, inbound passengers arriving by boat, plane or train will have to take a test up to 72 hours before departing the country they are in and could be denied boarding without this. “We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of Covid-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions,” said UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. “Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence – helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks,” he said. Prior to departure, passengers will need to present proof of a negative Covid-19 test result to carriers, as well as fill out a passenger locator form, which was already in force. The UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrival into England to ensure that passengers are fully compliant, the government said, adding that the test could be either in the form of PCR tests or lateral flow tests currently available to detect coronavirus but that further details will be laid out in the coming days. The move is intended to “further bolster” existing protective measures, with self-isolation for new arrivals and travel corridors remaining critical in reducing the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries. Passengers arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list must continue to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their pre-departure test result. The UK remains under a nationwide lockdown since Wednesday, requiring everyone to stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons. Permitted international travellers will need to take their test up to 72 hours before departure, and this will apply irrespective of whether a country is on the travel corridor list, which includes India. The government will set out further details on the standards that the tests will need to meet in the coming days and what proof passengers will need to present. Those not on the UK’s travel corridor list will still have the option to reduce the self-isolation period from 10 to as little as five days by paying for a second test through the Test to Release scheme. The scheme requires a test to be taken on or after the fifth full day since leaving a country not on the travel corridor list. Passengers will be required to show their negative test result before boarding, and transport operators will deny boarding if necessary. And with the South African variant of the deadly virus now of major concern, anyone travelling indirectly from South Africa must self-isolate for 10 days. The Scottish government has confirmed it will adopt similar rules to England and said this would not affect current restrictions making non-essential travel to and from Scotland illegal. Wales and Northern Ireland would follow similar control measures as they remain in lockdown. It comes after a further 1,162 deaths were reported in the UK on Thursday – the second consecutive day of more than 1,000 recorded fatalities. There were also 52,618 new cases. At a Downing Street press conference on Thursday evening, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said nearly 1.5 million people in the country had now received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, but warned there would likely be “lumpiness and bumpiness” as the rollout continues. He has promised “hundreds of thousands” of jabs in coming weeks as the Army joins in the logistics drive to assist the National Health Service (NHS) with the vaccination programme. “Let’s be clear, this is a national challenge on a scale like nothing we’ve seen before and it will require an unprecedented national effort,” said Johnson. “Of course, there will be difficulties, appointments will be changed but... the Army is working hand in glove with the NHS and local councils to set up our vaccine network and using battle preparation techniques to help us keep up the pace,” he said. The UK PM has promised daily rolling updates on vaccination figures starting Monday as a means out of the country’s lockdown, which is expected to last until March.

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