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Goa plans to bring back collector-approved travel pass system

Panaji: With Goa witnessing a huge influx of people in the last couple of days, the Pramod Sawant government is planning to go back to its previous system of issuing travel passes that require approval by authorities, in place of the self-generated e-passes introduced earlier this week, a minister has said. As those who enter the state have to undergo COVID-19 test, the arrival of people in large numbers is putting a strain on the medical infrastructure, he said. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the MLAs and office-bearers of the ruling BJP held at the residence of chief minister on Friday. State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who took part in the meeting, told reporters that it was discussed that travel passes need to be reintroduced in place of the self-generated e-passes. “The state witnessed a huge inflow of people in the last few days. We need to cap the number of arrivals in the state. Once the travel pass system is introduced, the health authorities will know how many people are going to arrive on a particular day,” he said. As per the previous system, district collectors would issue travel passes to people if they wanted to enter the state. State BJP President Sadanand Tanavade, who also attended the meeting, said the state government might revert to the earlier practice in which people had to apply for the travel passes and get approval by the authorities. However, no decision to that effect has been taken yet, he said. “There is a tremendous inflow of people, due to which there is a stress on COVID-19 testing infrastructure in the state,” he said. The Goa cabinet had on Wednesday made it compulsory for everyone entering the state to either get themselves tested or carry COVID-19 negative certificate. On the same day, the chief minister had launched the self-generated e-pass system, in which those entering the state could apply online for e-pass without having to wait for the approval of authorities.

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Florida Officials Approve Walt Disney World Reopening Plan Starting July 11

Florida officials have approved plans for a phased reopening of Walt Disney World in Orlando starting on July 11, according to a memo from a state agency released on Friday. The successful reopening of its parks is a signal event for Disney and the rest of the world as governments and companies strategize how to move out of lockdown while the novel coranavirus is still a threat. The state also cleared Sea World Entertainment Inc to reopen on June 10, said Halsey Beshears, secretary of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, in a memo sent to officials in Orange County, Florida. When the Disney parks reopen, guests and employees will be required to wear masks and undergo temperature checks. The resort will suspend parades, fireworks displays and other activities that create crowds. Disney will encourage contactless payment systems and expand its existing mobile order systems in restaurants, it said on Wednesday. It plans to restrict the number of guests, who will be required to reserve their park passes ahead of time.

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Travel restrictions: Greece bans British tourists in first phase of international travel

The Greek Tourism Ministry has announced that, as of June 15, people from 29 countries will be allowed to enter Greece on direct flights to Athens and to the northern city of Thessaloniki. The list of those eligible to enter the country will be expanded on July 1, but as of yet does not include the UK. The 29 countries currently include: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, and Switzerland. This contradicts what tourism minister Harry Theocharis, speaking to Telegraph Travel earlier this month, had implied. He had said Greece would do “everything in its power” to ensure Britons were among the first international sun-seekers to return. Visitors arriving into Greece could still be subject to sample coronavirus testing. Safety measures are also being put in place nationwide with capacity limits at hotels and resorts, and each hotel due to have a designated doctor. Greece has so far had far fewer cases of coronavirus than the UK, with 2,906 confirmed cases and 175 deaths. The Greek islands, which rely heavily on tourism, have had no confirmed cases.

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Railways restores tatkal, 4-month advance booking

Railway ministry on Thursday said that tatkal quota will be restored for 200 special and 30 Rajdhani-type trains. Tickets for these trains can be booked 120 days in advance. It also allowed booking of parcel and luggage in these passenger trains, an indication that the operation of the national transporter is slowly inching towards normalcy, after over a two-month long lockdown. “Ministry of railways has decided to increase the advance reservation period (ARP) of all specials (trains) notified from 30 days to 120 days. Booking of parcel and luggage shall be permitted in all these 230 trains," an official statement said. “The changes shall be implemented with effect from 08:00 hrs of train booking date of 31 May 2020 onwards," it said. Indian railways will start operations of 200 passenger services across key cities across the country from June 1. These trains will have fully reserverd air-conditioned as well as non-conditioned coaches. It had flagged off 30 special AC trains that started ferrying people to and from Delhi May 12 onwards. Graded restoration of train services, is in sync with the easing of stringent nationwide lockdown rules. Earlier, the ministry has said that the advance reservation period or advance booking time will be a maximum of 30 days. While waitlisted tickets will be generated, passengers will be allowed to board trains only if the seat is confirmed. Tatkal and premium tatkal services will not be offered.

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Air India Cancelled 93 Fights Till May 31

New Delhi: Air India has cancelled around 92 flights scheduled between May 28 and May 31 as states have restricted the number of services their airports will allow during lockdown 4.0. However, there will be no extra charge levied on the flyers if they want to reschedule their flights till August 24, 2020, Air India has said. After a gap of two months, domestic flight services began their operations from May 25. Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri had earlier said that though the ministry and the airports were prepared to resume the operations from May 15, the states were not ready to handle the inflow of the passengers coming from other states. As several states initially opposed to resuming operations questions have been raised whether states were not consulted before announcing the resumption of flight operations. The minister has confirmed that states were on board initially, but then some states took a step back given the rise in the number of the COVID-19 cases. States were also late in framing the standard operation protocols for quarantining the incoming passengers. With West Bengal resuming its flight services from today — May 28 — all states are now connected via domestic flight operations — but in a restricted number. West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu — the three states that objected to the resumption of the services — have largely curtailed the capacity of the airports. For example, Kolkata airport is only allowing 10 arrivals and 10 departures per day. Mumbai and Chennai airports are allowing only 25 arrivals and departures. As a result, several scheduled flights had to be cancelled as there is no slot.

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Karnataka Tourism Industry In A Wait-And-Watch Mode

Bengaluru: Tourism industry in Karnataka and Mysuru that has earned global recognition is staring at the reality of having to live with the Coronavirus. With hundreds of tourist spots and being the bellwether for Indian tourism, all eyes are focussed on how the State opens up for travel. The Karnataka Tourism Society has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa demanding that tourism destinations be opened up from June 1. Society President K. Shama Raju told reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday that although the CM was keen to accord permission, he had said that the decision will be taken after consulting the Central Government. Even the Shopping Centre Association of India (SCAI) – Karnataka Chapter handed over a memorandum to the CM requesting that malls be permitted to operate with precautions in place. SCAI said that a comprehensive standard operating procedures had been devised to ensure crowd management. Five-stage recovery plan Meanwhile, Karnataka Tourism Minister C.T. Ravi has proposed a five-stage recovery process to bring the crippled sector back on its feet, which includes promoting local tourism on the lines of Singapore’s ‘Love Your Local’ campaign. According to the Minister, the five-stage recovery is based on suggestions received from officials and industry representatives. While the first stage involves creating awareness among citizens on the Coronavirus, the second one will have local tourism activities ‘Nodu Baa Nammoora’ (Come, See Our City), dining out within the city and ‘Love Your Local’ model. In the third stage, the Government will look at the regional or inter-State tourism followed by the fourth stage where preparation will be made to attract domestic and international tourists. The final stage will see staggered tourism activities involving domestic and international tourists. Local tourism According to tourism stakeholders in Mysuru, a lot of tourist destinations in Mysuru are ideal for post-COVID travel since space is not a problem and physical distancing can be managed very well. Local tourism can be revived by allowing tourists from Karnataka into spacious destinations like Mysore Palace, Zoo and the Chamundi Hill. This will definitely build confidence in people to start travelling again, they said. Slowly, tour and travel operators are opening up in Mysuru and travel agencies are calling up their regular customers to sign up a travel deal. “The focus will be on local travel and we need to start the confidence-building measures for the crippled industry to start taking baby steps. This is the only way to support Mysuru’s tourism industry,” Mysuru Travel Association’s Honorary President C.A. Jayakumar told ‘Star of Mysore.’ Travel within Mysuru Right now the industry is in a wait-and-watch mode but is chalking out an action plan. If things improve, then they are scheduled to begin marketing by June 15. “Mysuru has managed the COVID situation well and people will get the confidence to travel. We don’t see international travel starting till the end of the year. Inter-State travel too will take time, but travel within Mysuru and Karnataka will be possible,” said stakeholders. There are over 60 registered tours and travel agencies in Mysuru and there are over 100 unregistered ones. “We are optimistic and are seeking a financial revival package from the Government. Tours or no tours, we have to maintain our offices and we have been prompt in paying taxes. We are confident that the sagging industry will be back on its feet. But international travel will take time. We need to start somewhere and the response from the people is encouraging. Faith in the industry must be restored if the economy has to improve,” said Srinivas of Bharat International Travels (BIT) and A.N. Aiyanna of Soukya Travel & Tours. Sources from the Tourism Department said that it will push for inter-district, inter-State and then international tourists. The Union Government has decided to set up a Tourism Task Force to look into ways to revive tourism. The State Government has conveyed to the Task Force suggestions and ideas it has obtained from various stakeholders including hotel owners, taxi operators and travel agents, sources added.

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