New Normal Tourism of INDIA

The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill, and tourism has been the worst affected of all major economic sectors. In India, few states begin to reopen in some way after the coronavirus thrust the country into lockdown since the end of March.

In the first phase of unlock, Hotels, restaurants, malls were allowed to open so that the economic condition of tourism can revive. Now, in phase 2 of unlock, interstate and intrastate movement restrictions have been removed from July 1 with some states reopening for tourism.

As restrictions ease, we are slowly getting used to the new normal. There are substantial variations in how states were deciding to open up, with some conditions. Planning a trip to some of these tourist destinations might just get easier for those who are looking out for an escape after the lockdown in the country.

 

Rajasthan is open for tourists. The resumption of tourism was marked by several cultural performances at venues like Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall among many others. 

The Rajasthan government has issued an SOP to the authorities maintaining the museums and monuments, directing them to practice regular sanitization and ensure social distancing among visitors. All staff and visitors will have to go through thermal screening before entering the establishments.

-          Monuments will be open for four days a week—Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

-          Should follow the protocol of Social distancing.

-          Masks have been made mandatory and tourists will be allowed to enter only in groups of five. 

 

Madhya Pradesh offers an assortment of attractions to everyone who loves to travel. It is the state with the forest area cover of approx. 77,700 sq.kms (Approx ¼ of the total land area) filled with Sal Trees & Bamboos. It has numerous wildlife hotspots with 11 National parks & 24 Wildlife sanctuaries such as Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Chambal Ghadiyal Sanctuary. The UNESCO World Heritage sites at Khajuraho, Bhimbetka & Sanchi are the iconic sites in the state. Madhya Pradesh has re-gained the tag of being “The Tiger State of the Country” by having maximum Tiger count (526) in the state. The roar of Tigers has increased in the dense and beautiful forests of Madhya Pradesh. 

Madhya Pradesh is not only home to two Jyotirlingas Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar. Burhanpur, Bhopal, Gwalior and Mandu are some of the beautiful architectural sites, whereas lndrasagar, Gandhi Sagar, Tawa and Bargi are the spellbinding water bodies. Cultural events like Khajuraho Dance Festival, Mandu Festival, Orchha Cultural Festival, Tansen Festival are some of the annual tourism promotional festivals to attract tourists from all walks of life.

-          Tourist activities are open along with the reopening of state-run hotels and resorts. 

-          All national parks of the state are open.

-          In the first Phase the wildlife, Parks and temples have opened from 15th June and in the second phase, ASI monuments opened from 6th July.

-          MPTB is offering RV caravans to help maintain social distancing while visiting the state. 

-          Film, television and web series shooting can resume in Madhya Pradesh.

-          MPTB has come up with short road itineraries mainly for two to three nights.

-          Only 15 crew members can be involved in indoor shooting, and 30 for outdoor ones.

-          Equipment needs to be sanitized daily.

-          Shooting crew need to submit health declarations in a prescribed form and would need to vacate the location in case someone is detected with the novel coronavirus.

-          Sanitiser, hand-washing, masks, thermal scanner etc should be in place during shoots.

-           Crowding will not be allowed at shoot locations.

                                                                                   

Goa, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, has remained shut for travellers since the nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown finally reopened for tourists from 2^nd July 2020.

-          Tourists having pre-booked accommodations only will be permitted to enter the state of Goa.

-          Fill up a self-declaration form- The form will be available at the pre-booked accommodation unit

-          Quarantine upon arrival in Goa is not required.

Option A: carry a Covid-19 negative certificate issued in the last 48h (in this case, no extra test needed in Goa)

Option B: get tested in Goa, at your own cost, at the state entry point. Pay the test fees online or at state entry point.

-          Go to the tourism kiosk at respective entry point. All tourists will undergo a basic screening through a thermal Gun.

-           Get your mandatory documents checked at the tourism kiosk (as mentioned in before travel)

-           Your swab sample will be collected at the state entry point. If you carry a COVID negative certificate from your port of origin, please avoid the further points.

-          Go to your accommodation for check-in. You will stay in isolation until the result comes (not applicable in case you are carrying a COVID-19 negative certificate) Before the travel Travel Upon arrival

-           Your result will come after 1 or 2 days. If negative, you can stay Goa. If positive, you will go to institutional quarantine.

 

Uttarakhand government has allowed the reopening of its borders for tourism activities. Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is one of the most beautiful northern states of India that enthralls everyone with its spectacularly scenic landscapes. Charming hill stations juxtaposed against snow-capped peaks, quaint villages along winding mountain roads, serpentine rivers carving their way through the hills, world-renowned conservation parks like ‘Jim Corbett Tiger National Park’ and ‘Asan Wetland Conservation Reserve’, world heritage sites like ‘Valley of Flowers’ and ‘Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve’, waterfalls hurtling down slopes and serene lakes shimmering amidst beautiful towns – that’s Uttarakhand for you.

-          Uttarakhand has opened borders for inter-state and inter-district tourism activities.

-          For Char Dham Yatra, only residents of Uttarakhand will be allowed inside the temples.

-          Hotels and homestays are now open for business, but only in those areas that are not in the state’s containment zones.

-          Hotels have to make it mandatory for their guests to have undergone RT-PCR tests from ICMR authorised labs, which will need to reflect that they have tested negative for COVID-19. 

-           A mandatory COVID-19 negative test result.

-          Seven days of hotel booking.

-          Anybody entering the state from other parts of the country will have to upload their COVID-19 test report on their website, i.e., https://smartcity dehradun.uk.gov.in.

-          COVID 19 test report should not be earlier than 72 hours from their time of arrival. 

-          No institutional quarantine with COVID-19 negative test result.

 

Himachal Pradesh has opened borders for inter-state and inter-district tourism activities.

Himachal Pradesh is one of the most popular and easily accessible Hill State of India. People from all parts of the country as well from different parts of  the world visit this beautiful State to enjoy its natural beauty.

-          Tourists shall get themselves registered on www.covidepass.hp.gov.in atleast 48 hours before visiting Himachal under Tourist Category.

-          Every tourist must have been tested not more than 72 hours before entering the State of H.P. and carry COVID TEST CERTIFICATE ( RT-PCR test based report) issued by ICMR authorized/ certified lab with a negative report.

-          Must have downloaded Arogya Setu App.

-          Tourists must have confirmed booking for atleast 5 days in a registered hotel in Himachal Pradesh. The proof of booking needs to be shown at the entry point of the State.