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Indian Tourism Industry Urges Govt. to Finalise Roadmap for Resumption of International Flights

With the introduction of a Covid-19 vaccine looking closer to reality, the Indian tourism industry has once again urged the government to finalise a roadmap for resumption and normalisation of international flights and quickly announce dates for restoration of e-visas and tourist visas. The tourism industry has been one of the worst-affected sector in the pandemic which has restricted movement of people. Tourist activities had come to a standstill during the lockdown and with the resumption of economic activity during the unlock phases, the industry is seeing a ray of hope of normalcy returning to the sector as well. In a representation to the government, the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said that with the government now close to finding a vaccine for Covid-19, inbound tour operators are high on hope about resumption of their business. "In this backdrop, we urge the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Home Affairs to announce the dates for restoration of E-Visa and Tourist Visa and for normalisation of International Flights or prepare a road map with some tentative dates," it said. It added that such a move will not just send a positive signal to international tourists about India being ready and prepared to receive them but will also allow inbound tour operators to plan ahead for 2021. This will also give some encouragement to the pandemic-hit industry, which has had almost zero earnings and no meaningful help from the government, IATO said. "To save the tourism jobs and the industry, it is imperative that the plan for inbound tourism should start as early as possible for which the Ministry of Tourism and the stakeholders should start international marketing. This can only be possible if the industry stakeholders know of the government's plans of opening e-Visa and Tourist Visa and resumption of international flights, so that accordingly we can inform our foreign tour operators and clients and they can promote India as a safe destination well in advance," IATO President Pronab Sarkar said. The association said that international tourists take at least 3 to 6 months to commence their journey for their holiday travel to any destination, it is imperative that the government announced resumption of international flights soon. "Once above decisions are taken, it will create confidence amongst foreign tour operators and foreign tourists and will send a positive message that India is ready to receive and welcome them. If no timely action is taken by us, foreign tour operators/tourists will look for other destinations and India may lose the chance for the rest of the winter and summer season of 2021," added Sarkar. IATO also requested the government that in order for the inbound tour operators to start global marketing campaign along with the Tourism Ministry, the government should immediately announce SEIS (Service Exports from India Scheme) scrips for the financial year 2019-20 which have been held up by the government at this critical time, when tour operators are in dire need of funds.

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Maharashtra issues guidelines for those travelling from Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan, Gujarat

The Maharashtra state government has announced new guidelines and imposed restrictions for travellers entering the state from Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa via air, train, or road. Reportedly, all those entering from the aforementioned four states will have to undergo RT PCR test before boarding any flight to Maharashtra. Further, only those who are able to provide a negative COVID report will be allowed to board a flight. Also, those travelling by trains will be required to produce COVID-19 certificates before boarding, or will be required to undergo tests at the boarding stations/airports at their own cost. As per a notification issued by the Maharashtra state government, “The passengers travelling in flights from Delhi, Rajasthan, Goa and Gujarat will have to produce a negative RT-PCR report on landing at airports in Maharashtra. The test should have been done 72 hours prior to the scheduled journey." Here is all that you need to know about the new guidelines. For domestic travel All domestic passengers from Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Goa will need to produce a COVID negative test report on arrival. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been requested to check the report before allowing the passengers to board the flight. The test should have been done not less than 72 hours of the scheduled time of landing in Maharashtra. Those without negative test report, will have to compulsorily undergo RT-PCR test at their own cost at the concerned airports. The passengers will be allowed to go home only after undertaking the test. All the contact information and address of the passengers who underwent the tests at the airport will be collected by the airport operator. Those whose report comes positive will be contacted and treated as per the existing protocol. Those travelling via road The concerned District Collectors of land border districts will be responsible for ensuring that the passengers coming from the said states are for symptoms including body temperature. Those without symptoms will be allowed entry, whereas those with symptoms will have the option to go to their home to recuperate. Those with symptoms will be made to undergo Antigen Test. If the result comes negative, the passengers will be allowed to travel further. Passengers found COVID-19 positive shall be sent to COVID Care Centre (CCC) for further care, the cost of which shall be borne by the passenger. Those travelling via railways All passengers entering Maharashtra by trains originating from the said states will be required to carry RT-PCR negative test report with them. The test should have been done not less than 96 hours before their scheduled arrival in Maharashtra. Those without RT-PCR test negative report will be screened for symptoms and body temperature at the respective railway stations. Passengers without symptoms would be allowed to go home. Passengers displaying symptoms will be required to undergo Antigen test. If the result comes negative, passengers will be allowed to go home. Those found COVID-19 positive, will be sent to COVID Care Centre (CCC) for further care, the cost of which shall be borne by the passenger themselves. Liked this article? Let your friends know about it

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Mumbai-based travel firm launches covid vaccine tourism package

Mumbai-based Gem Tours & Travel has announced a coronavirus vaccine tourism package for high networth individuals (HNI) clients who wish to travel to the US for the shot. "Be among the first to get Corona Vaccine: As soon as Pfizer Vaccine is officially published to sell America (tentative date 11 December), v r ready to get it done for select few VVIP clients..." the travel operator said in its package details through WhatsApp messages. The package, priced ₹1,74,999, comprises Mumbai-New-York-Mumbai airfare, three night/four days stay along with a shot of the vaccine. The story was first reported by The Times of India on Tuesday. The travel firm is pitching the package on the back of pharma major Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE's coronavirus vaccine that showed 95% efficacy in preventing covid-19 with no major safety concerns. Pfizer has already applied to US health regulators for emergency use authorization of its covid-19 vaccine. The packages are being booked on a first-come-first-serve basis without any advance or deposits. "We just need your registration with us with your name, e-mail, cell, age, any one of physical complications from above and a passport copy," the firm said in a message in response to Mint's query. The numbers given in the WhatsApp message that was circulating were not answered. In the text message the firm said it was unable to answer calls owing to the flood of queries. The operator said it is not holding or procuring any vaccine and everything will be done as per official permissions of US health department. "Everything we will arrange will be within laws of United States of America. We will only process your requirements. Right now, no time frame can be committed. We are keeping the list ready so as and when America allows foreigners to come and take vaccine, we should not waste time because every life matters to their family members," the firm said in a message. Founded by chairman Jyotin Doshi in 1983, the tour operator has offices across Delhi, Gujarat, Chennai, Pune and Bengaluru. It currently serves over 45 countries across six continents. However, Gem Tours & Travels is not registered with the Indian Association of Tour Operators, an industry body that helps in the promotion of travel and tourism in India.

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IATA in final phase of developing digital Travel Pass, slated for launch in Q1, 2021

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that it is in the final development phase of the IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of borders. The first cross-border IATA Travel Pass pilot is scheduled for later this year and the launch slated for quarter one 2021. Governments are beginning to use testing as a means of limiting the risks of COVID-19 importation when re-opening their borders to travellers without quarantine measures. IATA Travel Pass will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travellers. IATA is calling for systematic COVID-19 testing of all international travellers and the information flow infrastructure needed to enable this must support: • Governments with the means to verify the authenticity of tests and the identity of those presenting the test certificates. • Airlines with the ability to provide accurate information to their passengers on test requirements and verify that a passenger meets the requirements for travel. • Laboratories with the means to issue digital certificates to passengers that will be recognised by governments, and; • Travellers with accurate information on test requirements, where they can get tested or vaccinated, and the means to securely convey test information to airlines and border authorities. “Today borders are double locked. Testing is the first key to enable international travel without quarantine measures. The second key is the global information infrastructure needed to securely manage, share and verify test data matched with traveller identities in compliance with border control requirements. That’s the job of IATA Travel Pass. We are bringing this to market in the coming months to also meet the needs of the various travel bubbles and public health corridors that are starting operation,” said Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO, IATA. IATA Travel Pass incorporates four open sourced and interoperable modules which can be combined for an end-to-end solution: • Global registry of health requirements – enables passengers to find accurate information on travel, testing and eventually vaccine requirements for their journey. • Global registry of testing / vaccination centers – enables passengers to find testing centers and labs at their departure location which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination. • Lab App – enables authorised labs and test centers to securely share test and vaccination certificates with passengers. • Contactless Travel App - enables passengers to (1) create a ‘digital passport’, (2) receive test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and (3) share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. This app can also be used by travellers to manage travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout their journey, improving travel experience. IATA and International Airlines Group (IAG) have been working together in the development of this solution and will undertake a trial to demonstrate that this platform combined with COVID-19 testing can reopen international travel and replace quarantine. The airline industry demands a cost effective, global, and modular solution to safely restart travel. IATA Travel Pass is based on industry standards and IATA’s proven experience in managing information flows around complex travel requirements. • IATA’s Timatic is used by most airlines to manage compliance with passport and visa regulations and will be the base for the global registry and verification of health requirements. • IATA’s One ID initiative was endorsed by a resolution at its 75th Annual General Meeting in 2019 to securely facilitate travel processes with a single identity token. It is the base for the IATA Contactless Travel App for identity verification that will also manage the test and vaccination certificates. “Our main priority is to get people travelling again safely. In the immediate term that means giving government’s confidence that systematic COVID-19 testing can work as a replacement for quarantine requirements. And that will eventually develop into a vaccine program. The IATA Travel Pass is a solution for both. And we have built it using a modular approach based on open source standards to facilitate interoperability. It can be used in combination with other providers or as a standalone end-to-end solution. The most important thing is that it is responsive to industry’s needs while enabling a competitive market,” said Nick Careen, Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, IATA.

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Maharashtra not to allow entry to those with COVID-19 symptoms

Maharashtra government on Monday announced that people with COVID-19 symptoms seeking to enter the states from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa would be turned back. "The passengers without symptoms will be allowed entry. Passengers with symptoms shall have the option of turning back and going to their home to recuperate," a state government order said. The order also stipulated that all domestic passengers travelling from airports in NCR Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa shall carry RT-PCR negative test reports with them before boarding and show them to the teams at the arrival airport in the state. The RT-PCR sample collection should have been done within 72 hours of scheduled time of landing at airports in Maharashtra, the order said.

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Macao Tourism launches e-learning programme for Indian agents

In order to stay connected with the travel trade and keep them abreast about the new developments in Maco, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) in India has launched an e-learning programme for Indian agents. According to an official statement, the Macao Specialist programme will try to educate and upskill the travel trade on how to sell Macao as a preferred destination for Indian outbound travellers in the new normal post-Covid. There will be different modules in the e-learning programme, and each module in the programme is designed to ensure that the agents are well equipped with accurate information to promote Macao as an ideal destination for Indian travellers and will be able to provide them with interesting itineraries. Agents who complete the different modules successfully will be awarded a Macao Specialist certification, which will entitle them for different benefits under the marketing and promotion programmes of the MGTO.

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