News

Delhi Airport revises guidelines for international flyers; makes 7-day quarantine mandatory

Delhi Airport has issued a new set of guidelines for passengers arriving via international flights. In a move to step up precautions in India's busiest airport, anyone arriving via international flights will now have to undergo seven days of institutional quarantine at their own cost, which will be followed by one-week of home quarantine. Here are the revised guidelines that has been issued by Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport: 1. As per the government mandate, anyone arriving by international flight at Delhi Airport will have to sign an undertaking in which they will have to accept this obligation, i.e., seven days of paid quarantine, which will be signed by the individual, or a family member, and retained by the overseas mission/embassy before the booking is confirmed. This will be followed by 7 days of home quarantine. 2. Those planning to stay in the Delhi-NCR region will have to undergo the mandatory health screening, which will include primary screening by Airport Health Officials (APHO). 3. Passengers will also be required to undergo a secondary screening at the Delhi Government post, after which they will be allowed to proceed to the approved quarantine location. 4. Passengers seeking exemption from quarantine, will need to fill an exemption form and discuss their case with government officials inside the terminal on arrival. Further, if you are exempt from quarantine in Delhi and your final destination is another state, you must make arrangements for quarantine on arrival in the destination state with government officials. 5.As per guidelines, those who can be considered exempt from the quarantine rules are pregnant women, anyone who suffered death in the family, anyone suffering from serious illness, and parents accompanied by children below 10 years. However, they will have to send an undertaking form, along with required documents, to airportcovid@gmail.com. 6. Meanwhile, domestic passengers are required to undergo mandatory thermal screening near the exit gates, whereas those found to be asymptomatic, will be allowed to leave the airport premises. However, they will have to undergo home quarantine for 7 days. 7. The transit passengers will be undergoing temperature checks at both the entry and departure gates before catching their next flight. Also, passengers arriving via international Vande Bharat mission flights may only take a connecting domestic flight if it also comes under the Vande Bharat Mission. Passengers who are planning to board onward domestic flights will have to obtain an authorised exemption certificate, if they are coming via non-Vande Bharat international flights, as per the authorities.

Read more

Phuket in big push to revive tourism

Phuket: The island province is drawing up short, medium and long-term campaigns to revive the local tourism industry, brought to its knees by the Covid-19 pandemic. Provincial governor Narong Woonsew said on Tuesday the province contributes 400 billion baht in tourism revenue to the country each year on average. The sector, which employed 323,219 people locally before Covid-19 struck early this year, generated 245 billion baht in annual gross provincial product (GPP). Mr Narong said the pandemic has dealt a devastating blow to Phuket's tourism industry on which 80% of its economy depends. The damage to the province's tourism sector caused by the outbreak is estimated at 160 billion baht. It is forecast the number of tourist visiting Phuket this year will shrink to only five million, substantially down from last year's figure of 14.4 million. Of those five million tourists, 1.5 million are predicted to be Thais. Mr Narong said the huge dent in tourism has prompted a rethink of the province's economic advancement strategy, whereby it will reduce its dependence on one sector and diversify by developing other potential growth-driver businesses. When the tourism industry in Phuket takes a battering, the entire local economy also crashes, the governor said. Mr Narong said the priority now is to get the economy back on its feet by implementing short, medium and long term revival campaigns involving cooperation between the public and private sectors. In the short term, the government is offering a 40% subsidy on air tickets and accommodation for people taking a holiday in the province over the next three months. Also, medical workers are entitled to a travel and accommodation discount as gesture of thanks from the government for their efforts in battling Covid-19. In the medium and longer term, the provincial office and tourism companies are looking to develop non-tourism sectors to help drive the province's growth. They include education, health and wellness, seafood and gastronomy businesses.

Read more

Nepal to resume domestic, international flights from Aug 17

Kathmandu, Jul 21 (PTI) Nepal will resume domestic and international flight operations starting from August 17, over four months after they were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 20, the government had banned all passengers, including Nepalis, from entering the country. Four days later, it imposed a nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus. Shiva Maya Tumbahangphe, the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, told The Kathmandu Post that a Cabinet meeting on Monday decided to allow both international and domestic flights to resume operations from August 17, as there "has been a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country". "All flights will be operated by following special health and safety protocols," Tumbahangphe said. Nepal on Monday reported 186 new cases of COVID-19, taking the number of infections to 17,844, with 40 deaths so far. The government says the decision to resume flights was taken as some countries have already started to lift the coronavirus restrictions, the report said. "There are still some countries that are imposing entry restrictions. We will prepare reports on the countries where flights are not restricted and allow them to enter the country accordingly. We will develop protocols and other required measures for the incoming flights," said Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, joint-secretary at the Civil Aviation Ministry. With the border closed and internal travel prohibited for nearly four months now, the once-booming tourism sector in Nepal is on the verge of a collapse, and it is not likely to recover any time soon, say industry insiders. "We have to do homework and hold extensive discussions with health professionals, the government and the industry players on how to build confidence of foreign tour operators and tourists as well. We have to be well prepared to handle the tourists,” Yogendra Sakya, a travel trade entrepreneur, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post. “In such a difficult scenario, it’s all about survival. Only if we survive now, can we move ahead for revival," Sakya said. Tourism is one of the major foreign currency earners for Nepal. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism''s total contribution to the country''s gross domestic product stood at 7.9 per cent in 2018.

Read more

India investing in theme parks and tourism projects

India is investing heavily in tourism projects, including an energy park at Koradi, a Buddhist theme park at Futala, and a tourism circuit in Saurashtra. According to The Times of India, Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut proposed the development of the two tourist attractions in Koradi and Futala, Maharashtra. Architect Ashok Mokha made presentations about the projects on Saturday (July 18). The Buddhist theme park will cost approximately Rs 10 billion ($134 million) and will be located at Futala Lake. The energy park will cost around Rs 1.25 billion ($17 million) and will be located adjacent to the temple at Koradi. Raut plans to showcase various power projects in the energy park, which will include a miniature model of Koradi Super Thermal Power Station. Energy park located adjacent to Koradi temple In addition, it will boast an interpretation centre, solar energy garden, wind energy garden, biomass energy garden, small hydro energy garden, vocational training centre and outdoor games. Koradi temple has been developed into a major pilgrimage centre, and the new energy project will transform it into a tourism hub for international visitors. The State Government of Gujarat has also announced a tourism circuit with beaches, lions and temples to be developed in Saurashtra. According to Times Travel, Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani launched projects worth Rs 1.26 billion ($17 million) on Thursday (July 16). Buddhist theme park located at Futala Lake “The Gujarat government is mulling developing a tourist circuit involving pilgrim places, beaches in Saurashtra and the pride of Gujarat, lions of Gir Forest, and chalk out a circuit surrounding all these places,” said Rupani. “Pilgrim places like Jyotirling Somnath and Girnar [mountain], historical places like Uparkot, the beaches of Somnath and lion sighting in Gir Lion Sanctuary in Saurashtra.” Rupani also said the government plans to make Gujarat a world-class tourist destination by developing several tourist centres. “Gujarat is emerging as a new force in economic growth by providing more jobs in service sectors like tourism,” added Rupani. Last year, India and Germany signed an MoU to cooperate between select museums of both countries, including the National Museum Delhi and the National Gallery of Modern Art Delhi.

Read more

Dubai Launches ‘Dubai Assured’ Stamp For Tourism And Retail Establishments

Dubai has launched a compliance programme to certify and recognise hotels and retail establishments, F&B outlets and attractions that have implemented all public health protocols for the prevention and management of COVID-19. The specially designed ‘DUBAI ASSURED’ stamp will be issued free of charge and will be valid for 15 days. It will be renewed every two weeks upon further verification by inspectors from the relevant authorities. “The successful strategy adopted in combatting the pandemic, based on the vision and wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the follow up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai has helped create an environment that is conducive to reopening our city to tourists from 7 July. Nonetheless, the health and safety of our residents and visitors remains our utmost priority. The compliance programme that we have now rolled out across the hospitality sector with the wholehearted support of Dubai Economy and Dubai Municipality is not only testament to the continued efforts being made to further enhance health and safety standards but is also a confidence-boosting measure to reassure travellers that Dubai is one of the world’s safest destinations,” Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, said. “With the type and quality of health and safety measures bound to be foremost on the minds of travellers when selecting their destination of choice, the ‘DUBAI ASSURED’ seal is one such simple yet critical mechanism developed in collaboration with our stakeholders to assure tourists of a smooth and safe experience at every stage of their travel journey, right from arrival at our airports to the point of departure from Dubai. “The ‘DUBAI ASSURED’ stamp will also reinforce the global recognition of Dubai as a safe destination, as reflected in the Safe Travels stamps that we received from the World Travel & Tourism Council, which validates the stringent hygiene and safety protocols that are in place and endorses the efforts taken by the city to align itself with international standards and best practices in health and safety,” Almarri added. According to a survey by global consulting firm HVS on future destination selection, 85 per cent of travellers will prioritise their travel plans based on the destination’s reputation and the type of action taken by its government in managing the pandemic including safety and security measures that have been implemented and the quality of the healthcare system and services that are available.

Read more

Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival unlikely this year due to coronavirus

The famed Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is unlikely to be held this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a senior official said on Monday. The 10-day Hornbill Festival that usually starts on December 1 celebrates the culture and heritage of different tribes of the state. It is attended by lakhs of people from across India and abroad. The tourism industry is in a dire condition due to the pandemic and if the situation doesn’t improve, the state government may not be in a position to host the Hornbill Festival, Tourism Advisor H Khehovi Yepthomi told reporters. The tourism industry in Nagaland is largely dependent on the mega event with the festivities starting as early as mid-October at local levels and culminating in December. The festival enables tour operators, hoteliers, guides, transporters and a myriad of handicraft artisans and restaurant owners to earn enough to sustain them through the lean monsoon season, Yepthomi said. We have absolutely no tourist traffic since February and we are certain that if this dire situation continues then the entire industry will collapse in another six months,” he added. The festival, for which thousands of people make travel plans not only to Nagaland but also several other states in the Northeast, is being held over the last 20 years. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, Yepthomi said small-scale theme-based events can be organised in district headquarters like Made in Nagaland, Crafted in Nagaland, Flowers of Nagaland, etc so as to manage crowding and this will also act as the right platform in giving opportunities to local entrepreneurs in rebuilding a community towards sustainability, which has always been the goal of Hornbill Festival. The state’s tourism industry will also get an opportunity to revive itself, he said. The scale and the type of the festival may be considered after studying the ground realities in October- November, he said. Stating that the Tourism Department is working out a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for a steady reopening, Yemtphomi said the sector will have to redesign its services and utilities and institute certain protocols, including social distancing rules, contactless payment, besides management of the number of people within a facility. The department is working to set up Destination Management Organisations in coordination with representatives from key departments of the state such as Health, Home, Transport and Municipal Affairs to ensure efficient flow of tourists, and safe and sustainable use of tourism services and infrastructure, he said. Yepthomi, an MLA, said the Tourism Department would hold a consultative meeting with Kohima-based tribal hohos for their views before taking any decision on the Hornbill Festival. He said the government has started gathering details of around 20,000 people who came back to the state from other parts of the country due to the lockdown to conduct training for skill enhancement so that they can be provided employment in the hospitality sector. We are trying to provide employment opportunities to these people and will come out with the modalities within a couple of weeks, he said.

Read more