Covid-19 Travel Advisory for Planning Tours in India

The Kerala government has issued some COVID – 19 guidelines to visit the state, which are in the best interest of the tourists and locals, alike. The standard operating procedure (SOP) and health advisory issued by the state are:

• Tourists have to install the Aarogya Setu App on their smartphones.
• They have to register themselves on the Covid-19 portal and get an entry pass.
• Wearing a mask in public places is a mandatory.
• Travelers must wash hands regularly or carry a hand sanitizer and an extra face mask.
• They should not extend their stay in Kerala without obtaining prior permission from Government authorities concerned.
• Tourists must carry a COVID-19 negative test certificate and also upload it on the web portal during registration.
• RT-PCR test, TRUNAT, or CBNAAT must be done within 96 hours of the arrival at the state border.
• Visitors must adhere to the safety guidelines and maintain social distancing.
• All tourists who are planning to visit any other state or Union Territory after entering Kerala will be needed to have an entry pass for Kerala and the state or Union Territory they are intending to visit.
• Tourists who are visiting Kerala for a short period for travel purposes like business, medical, property management, official, trade, or court cases will be exempted. The government has allowed them to stay only up to 7 days without mandatory quarantine but only after obtaining an e-pass.
• The thermal screening will be done
• COVID test will be done for symptomatic passengers.

Rajasthan government tourism department issues Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and forms strategies to ensure safe tourism. The tourist destinations and monuments are being sanitized regularly. The government and other agencies have been working on policies and assuring safety against the highly contagious disease.

Here are COVID-19 travel guidelines issued by the Rajasthan government for tourists:

• It is mandatory for travellers to install the Aarogya Setu app in their mobiles.
• Tourists have to submit a self-health declaration form upon arrival.
• Thermal scanning shall be done for all the tourists.
• Symptomatic domestic travellers shall be taken to the nearest medical facility.
• It is mandatory to wear a mask in public areas and while travelling.
• Following social distancing norms is compulsory.
• For international travellers, 7 days of institutional quarantine and 7 days of home quarantine is mandatory.
• All tourists must carry a negative COVID test report from ICMR approved no earlier than 72 hours before arriving.
• Quarantine for 15 days is mandatory at their own expense for all tourists without an RT-PCR report.

The Madhya Pradesh government has lifted all the travel restrictions and issued new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the safety of tourists. The tourism board of Madhya Pradesh introduced a new campaign ‘Intezaar Aapka’ to attract tourists.

Here are the COVID-19 travel guidelines for tourists:

• It is mandatory for tourists to download the Aarogya Setu app.
• All inbound and outbound travellers are required to submit a self-health declaration form with their personal contact details.
• If a traveller is symptomatic, then he/she will get transferred to the nearby hospital. The person will be in institutional quarantine until the report is made available. If the test report is positive, the person will be transferred to the COVID care centre. If the report is negative, no quarantine is required.
• International passengers are required to undergo 7 days of institutional quarantine (at their own cost) and 7 days of home quarantine.
• Thermal scanning and health profiling shall be done upon arrival.
• It is mandatory to wear a mask in public areas and while travelling.
• Practicing social distancing norms is compulsory.
• Tourists coming from Maharashtra to Indore must carry a negative RT-PCR report with them. It must be approved by ICMR and not older than 48 hours before arrival.
• Travellers are required to install the Indore311 app, register themselves, and update their health status for 14 days after arrival. All the tourists coming from Maharashtra without a negative RT-PCR report must self-quarantine till the reports arrive.
• There will be no quarantine for business and corporate travelers.

The Uttarakhand state government has allowed to start inter-state bus operations in the state since October 1, 2020. Mr. Om Prakash, Uttarakhand’s Chief Secretary has issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the movement of inter-state and intra-state bus services.

Here are the COVID-19 safety guidelines for Uttarakhand:

• Tourists are allowed to enter the state without a COVID negative report.
• Tourists can visit the state without quarantine restrictions.
• Every public vehicle needs to be properly sanitized before and after the journey to operate.
• Passengers must install the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones.
• The buses have to be boarded as per the allowed capacity.
• Consumption of tobacco, pan, and cigarettes is strictly prohibited on the buses.
• All the passengers, conductors, and drivers need to wear face masks throughout the journey.
• Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) will operate only 100 trips each day (to and from) in the first phase.
• Taxis, cabs, auto-rickshaws, auto-Vikram, and e-rickshaws are allowed to operate on inter-district and inter-state routes in accordance with the prescribed capacity.
• Safety norms like the use of masks, thermal screening, and the use of sanitizers must be followed along with social distancing.
• The thermal screening will be done for all tourists.
• Tourists coming from the states of Kerala, Gujarat, and Maharashtra must take a COVID test. And if the result is positive, they will be sent for quarantine.
• If the official of Uttarakhand returns to the state after 5 days, then a COVID test will be done.
• There will be no quarantine for people staying less than 7 days but they have to provide the address of the place of stay to the authorities.
• Home quarantine for tourists staying more than 7 days.
• For Army & paramilitary personnel, there will be 10 days of 0 days of Institutional quarantine.
• Government officials from state and center, Judges of Supreme and High court and other judicial officers, MP’s and MLA of Uttarakhand, and support staff are not required to quarantine.

The Himachal Pradesh state government has lifted travel-related restrictions and issued certain guidelines for tourists. In a major relief, the government has amended some of the regulations to revive corona-hit tourism in the state.

Here is all you need to keep in mind while planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh. The COVID-19 travel guidelines for Himachal Pradesh are:

• As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), there shall be no requirement of online registration of inter-state movement. No separate permission is required for any movement.
• Prior testing and COVID-19 negative certificates are also not required to enter the state.
• Tourists must have the Aarogya Setu App in their mobiles.
• It is advised to follow the guidelines for safe and responsible tourism.
• It is mandatory to wear a mask and follow social distancing norms while travelling to Himachal Pradesh.
• The movement of inter-state buses will remain to be suspended till further orders.
• Tourists will undergo thermal screening upon arrival.

Goa is a popular beach getaway, which has opened for the tourists. The government also relaxed the travel norms and issued the revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on preventive measures for tourists. It is compulsory for the tourists to follow those rules and regulations for the safety of themselves and others.

Here are the COVID-19 safety guidelines for Goa:

• COVID-19 testing or negative test certificate is no longer mandatory for the tourists to enter the state.
• Tourists have to follow social distancing norms.
• Wear a mask in public areas.
• Get your temperature check facilities are available at the restaurants, bars, hotels, and tourist places.
• Stay at hotels having the highest safety and hygiene standards is allowed.
• Tourists have to install the Aarogya Setu App on mobiles.
• All tourists need to carry original ID proof.

• Visitors have to book water sports online.
• The venture operator shall examine different options for operations, where possible, such as advanced tickets, timed entries, and smaller groups.
• Ask the operators to take you in small groups so that a physical distance of 2 feet is maintained.
• Operators will accept bookings only from those tourists, who have no COVID-19 infection history in the last 28 days.
• A safe physical distance of at least 2 meters is recommended for customers at all times.
• If a tourist’s body temperature is more than 37.5°C (99°F) with flu-like symptoms shall not be permitted for the water activity.

• The thermal screening of visitors/staff is to be carried out at entry points.
• Provisions for hand sanitization should be made available at all entry points and in work areas.
• The occupancy of the boats shall not be more than 50% of their total seating capacity.
• Seating arrangement inside the boat to be made to maintain required physical distancing.
• People should use apps/QR codes, etc. for ordering food as much as possible.
• Multiple sale counters in the food and beverage area are made available wherever possible.
• Regular cleaning and disinfection of the main ticketing office, food and beverage areas, employee and staff lockers, toilets, public areas, and other office areas shall be ensured.
• Only packaged food and beverages shall be allowed.
• Booking and travel plans are only accepted for tourists without any medical history with COVID in the past 28 days.

Safety guidelines for travellers:

• Only pre-booked tour packages, done via local tour operators of the state are allowed to operate. All the services including transport services and accommodations will be authorized by a local tour agent.
• Now, visitors will be required to present four other additional documents with the Inner Line Permit (ILP), which includes tour itinerary, vehicle details, COVID-19 certificate, tour booking slips, details of the guide and driver.
• Tourists have to provide a COVID-19 negative certificate (RT-PCR or True NAT test) issued by the ICMR-authorized lab. As per the government guidelines, the negative test certificate must have been issued 72-hours before the date of arrival.
• All the visitors, accompanying drivers and guides from the outside state must have been adhered to the COVID-19 testing protocol and government safety guidelines.
• Tourists have to follow social distancing norms.
• All the payments should be made via digital mode, wherever possible. Visitors are also expected to wear a mask in the tourist places.
• Aarogya Setu app is mandatory for tourists including tour guides and drivers.

COVID-19 travel guidelines for travellers:

• Travellers are required to install the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones.
• Wearing a mask in all the public areas and while travelling is compulsory.
• Tourists above 65 years of age are not allowed to visit the Andaman Islands.
• Thermal checking and scanning shall be done upon arrival.
• Tourists are advised to maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from one another in public places.
• Travellers should reach the airport at least 2 to 3 hours prior to the departure time.
• Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail is operational with 50% capacity. Only e-tickets are available for museums as well as tourist places.
• All the payments should be made via digital mode as much as possible to avoid contact.
• Beaches including Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach, and Kalapathar Beach are open from 10:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M daily.
• Tourists with RT-PCR report not older than 48 hours before entering can proceed with their journey.
• Any tourist without a negative COVID test report will be deported on the same flight.
• Traveling to North, Middle, and Little Andaman Island is not allowed for tourism purposes for now.