Planning a Trip to Kerala Post-Covid-19: Kerala Opens its Door for Tourism

In a move that will delight travel enthusiasts as well as tourism industry professionals, Kerala will now welcome visitors without any restrictions starting Monday 12th October 2020.

However, beaches will stay out of bounds for tourists till November 1st. After that, all hill stations, adventure activities, and the prized Kerala backwaters tourism spots will be accessible to all tourists.

Kerala, also known as ‘god’s own country, is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. Kerala is especially renowned for its backwaters, beaches, spa & Ayurveda. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year, the state closed its doors to tourism in March.

After nearly 6 months, the Kerala government has finally decided to reopen the travel & tourism activities and properties. Hopefully, it might bring in some travelers to the state and save the travel and hospitality industry in dire straits due to the national lockdown.

The Kerala government has also announced some SoPs that tourists and service providers will have to follow to observe proper safety and hygiene measures to check the spread of the Coronavirus.

Mentioned below are some of the SoPs for tourism in Kerala post-Covid-19

- You don’t need a Covid-19 negative certificate for a Kerala tour of less than 7 days, but like in Uttarakhand, visitors must pre-register themselves at www.covid19jagratha.kerala.nic.in
- Visitors must have the Aarogya Setu app installed on their mobile
- If a visitor spends more than 7 days in Kerala, they must get Covid-19 tested at a registered RT-PCR center before entering the state. Visitors themselves will bear the cost.
- If a visitor spending over a week doesn’t get Covid-19 tested 72 hours or less from entering the state or immediately upon entering the state, s/he will be sent for quarantine for 7 days.
- Visitors must follow all the Covid-19 protocols put in place strictly while visiting the tourist attractions and spots.
- It is mandatory to wear masks in public places at all times. It is also recommended that you carry alcohol-based sanitizer all the time. Maintaining 6 feet social distance in public places.
- If visitors exhibit Coronavirus symptoms during their visit, they must contact the DISHA helpline and seek immediate assistance. They will have to undergo the Covid-19 test at an authorized lab, and if found positive, they will be sent to a mandatory quarantine of 14 days. Visitors themselves will bear all the expenses.

With lockdown came monotony. But now, with the recovery rate surpassing new infections, more and more people are looking to break the shackles for a change of scenery. Locked for almost 3 months at home and with tourist places locked down for nearly 6, there were no options for travelers for a long time.

With Unlock 5.0 in place now, many destinations in India have opened up for tourism post-Covid-19 travel. Uttarakhand and Rajasthan were the first to open their door. After that, Himachal and Goa followed suit, and just recently, on the 10th of October, Sikkim opened its doors to travelers, joining Darjeeling & Kalimpong in North East India.

Selective places in South India like Ooty, Kabini, Coonoor, and Kodaikanal are also open. There is indeed some risk when it comes to traveling, but more and more people are traveling out to breathe fresh air and for a change of setting. Hills are especially popular with Mount Abu, Shimla, Manali, etc., sold out on weekends. With the Kerala government’s announcement, it is expected that tourism will finally take off along the Malabar coast again.

Also, the remarkable Indian festive season is here with lots of holidays. Durga Puja is approaching, followed by Diwali. Then we have Christmas and New Year. This is the peak season of tourism in India. It’s wedding season as well, and couples are definitely looking out for more and more options to plan their honeymoon in India in winter.

No matter which destination you choose for your vacation, be it a family holiday, honeymoon, or traveling with friends, by following the protocols in place and observing all SoPs, ensure that you travel safely and don’t spread the virus when you travel.

Please read our posts specifically to help you plan Covid-19 safe holidays in India. Bon, voyage!