Category Archives: Domestic

COVID negative report, vaccine mandatory for tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag

Authorities in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir have made a COVID-19 negative report and vaccine certificate mandatory for visitors to tourist places, including the famous resort of Pahalgam, in the district to prevent the resurgence of coronavirus, officials said on Sunday.

The district administration of Anantnag in South Kashmir, which is home to several tourist spots and public parks, said the visitors to public parks and tourist spots will be permitted only upon producing vaccination certificates and COVID-negative reports to combat the spread of the virus, the officials said.

As per an order issued by Additional District Magistrate, Chief Executive Officer, DDMA Anantnag, joint enforcement teams of civil and police administration have been constituted to ensure observance of COVID-19 SOPs at tourist destinations and public parks.

The enforcement teams shall also comprise officials of floriculture department, development authorities and municipalities, the officials said.

The prescribed preventive protocols have been issued to prevent possible spread/transmission of COVID infections, they said.

The chief medical officer has been asked to deploy teams at public parks/tourist sites for on-spot testing and vaccination of visitors, they added.

The order asked the joint teams to file a daily action taken report regarding the imposition of fines, etc. in case of violation of COVID SOPs.

The constituted teams shall ensure COVID-19 protocols are followed in Wazir Bagh Park, Achabal Garden, Verinag Garden, Pahalgam, Aru, Betab Valley, Dara Shikoh Garden, Kokernag Botanical Garden and other tourist spots/parks, the officials said.

Pahalgam and other tourist spots in the district as well as in other districts of the valley have been witnessing heavy influx of visitors due to rising temperature in Srinagar and other urban areas. (Source: PTI)

 

Only 50 tourists allowed at Mussorie’s Kempty Falls

Only 50 tourists will be allowed at Mussorie’s famous Kempty falls in Uttarakhand with a maximum permissible time limit of 30 minutes, said an official, adding an air horn will be used to signal the exit time, reports Dinesh Mansera for NDTV.

“A check-post will be set up to set up to monitor the tourists,” said District Magistrate Iva Ashish Shrivastava.

The development comes after undated videos, circulated widely on social media, showed a large number of tourists bathing at the falls without maintaining social distancing norms.

Vaccination is the only option if India has to mitigate the impact of the possible third wave of coronavirus infection, which is expected to reach its peak in the second week of August, says a State Bank of India report.

A deadly and virulent second wave tore through the country in April-May during the second wave, bringing the health infrastructure to its knees with massive shortages of key medicines, hospital beds and oxygen supplies.

There should be no space for carelessness or complacency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his revamped council of ministers, adding that many countries are witnessing a spike in cases and the virus is also mutating.
Earlier, the Centre had cautioned that people roaming in hill stations and markets without following COVID-19-appropriate behaviours can nullify the gains made in the management of the pandemic so far.

Violations of Covid protocols, the government said, will lead to further increase in the infections as it stressed on wearing of masks and maintaining of physical distancing.
(Source: NDTV)

Delta Corp re-opens Sikkim casino

Delta Corp, India’s largest gaming company, has confirmed re-opening of its casino in Sikkim. The casino was re-opened following relaxations in COVID-19 restrictions in the Himalayan state, reports NE Now News.

Delta Corp informed that it re-opened its ‘Casino Deltin Denzong’, located at the Denzong Regency hotel in Gangtok, Sikkim on Tuesday.

Re-opening of the casino has been allowed by the Sikkim Government subject to safety norms being followed.

Meanwhile, Delta Corp has informed that it “will follow all the safety norms laid down by the state in this regard”.

All casinos were ordered closed in late April this year as the COVID-19 situation in India spiralled out of control.

However, the company is yet to take a decision on re-opening its Goa branch, with the State government there extending lockdown measures till July 12. (Source: NE Now News)

 

Amarnath Board launches online services

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday launched various online services of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board to provide a personal experience to the devotees.

“For millions of devotees who are unable to visit the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shrine Board has brought Darshan, Hawan, and Prasad facility under the virtual mode. The devotees can book their Pooja, Hawan, and Prasad online, and priests at the holy cave will offer it in the devotee’s name.

Prasad will be subsequently delivered at doorsteps of the devotees,” a spokesman of the board said. With the launch of new online services of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the devotees of Lord Shiva from across the world can perform online virtual ‘pooja’ and ‘hawan’ at the holy cave, the Lt Governor said.

The online ‘prasad’ booking service was also extended to the devotees through this initiative, he added. “Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board is extending online services including virtual pooja for devotees in their name, virtual hawan (with darshan) by name and online prasad booking,” said Nitishwar Kumar, CEO of the shrine board.

The CEO said online services can be booked through the board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com by visiting the ‘Book Online Pooja/ Hawan/Prasad’ page and also through the board’s mobile application from Tuesday onwards, by paying Rs 1,100 for virtual pooja, Rs 1,100 for prasad booking (with 5 gm silver coin of Amarnathji), Rs 2,100 for prasad booking (with 10 gm silver coin of Amarnathji), Rs 5,100 for the special hawan or combination of any of the above.

The virtual pooja or hawan would be carried out by the priest at the holy cave by pronouncing the name and ‘gotra’ of the devotee along with chanting of ‘mantras and shlokas’.
The devotees would be allowed in a virtual online room through Jio meet application where they would be having a special virtual pooja and darshan of the holy ice ‘lingam’ in their name, he added.
“We are making an arrangement with the postal department for dispatching the prasad within 48 hours,” Kumar said. (PTI)

 

Govt warns of re-imposing Covid-19 restrictions as tourists flock to hill stations

The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that it can re-impose restrictions again if Covid protocols not complied with, reports Mint. During a press conference, Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that the people travelling to hill stations were not following Covid-appropriate behaviour. “We can nullify the ease in restrictions again if protocols not complied with,” he said.

Referring to the massive footfall of people in hill stations, the Health Ministry stated that gross violations of Covid appropriate behaviour can nullify the gains so far.

ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava said that the pictures from hill stations are frightening. He said people must comply with Covid-appropriate behaviour.
Due to heatwave in Delhi and relaxations in curbs, thousands of people travelled to hill stations like Shimla and Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

Pictures of overcrowded tourists places went viral on social media with some slamming those violating Covid norms while travelling. Some said that if people continued to behave in such way then the third wave might not be far away.

Commenting on pictures coming from tourist places, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka said: “The way Indians are thronging the streets without Covid appropriate behaviour, I expect the third wave in September. Maybe there will be a fourth wave later.”

News agency ANI reported that in less than a month starting from June, there has been traffic of around 6-7 lakh tourists in Himachal Pradesh. As the number of new Covid cases started declining in the country, tourists have started thronging to the destinations like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, and Narkanda.

 

nirmala_sitharaman_finance_tourist_guides

FM announces financial support to over 11,000 registered tourist guides, stakeholders to revive tourism sector

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced financial support to over 11,000 registered tourist guides, travel agents and tourism stakeholders under the new loan guarantee scheme.

“The personal loans or working capital will be provided to people in the tourism sector to discharge liabilities and restart businesses impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic,” the Finance Minister said while addressing a press conference.

Under the new loan guarantee scheme, Travel and Tourism Stakeholders (TTS) — recognised by the Ministry of Tourism — will be able to get INR 10,00,000 loans per agency with 100 per cent guarantee. Also, a provision to provide loan of INR 1,00,000 for tourist guides licensed at regional or state level has been made.

The Finance Ministry assured that there will be no requirement for any processing charges, waiver of foreclosure or prepayment charges, or additional collateral for these personal loans.

Sitharaman mentioned in her address that this new loan scheme will cover 10,700 regional level tourist guides who are recognised by the MoT and tourist guides recognised by the state governments. The scheme will be administered by MoT through NCGTC.

 

INDUSTRY REACTION

 

Madhavan Menon, MD, Thomas Cook India Group

“We welcome the announcement today by the honourable Finance Minister, Smt Sitharaman – this is a much needed step towards the revival of tourism – a sector that is a significant contributor to the GDP, foreign exchange receipts and employment generation – with a cascading force multiplier effect on allied sectors. The 3 pronged approach for the sector covers 100% guarantee for loans upto INR10 lakhs per government recognised Travel & Tourism stakeholder (TTS), upto INR 1 Lakh financial support to over 11,000 licensed guides at a state/regional level, and 5 lakh gratis visas that will serve to catalyse much needed inbound inflows. The stimulus announcements are a reflection of the government’s focus on the travel and tourism sector and augurs well for the industry, while simultaneously building consumer confidence in travel.”

MP Bezbaruah, Secretary-General, Hotel Association of India
“FM’s announcement on free visas has a very strong symbolic message that we have the confidence to welcome visitors and that tourism and hospitality is a strong pillar of post-Covid economic recovery strategy. We sincerely hope that such measures will be logically followed by measures to make the industry recover and be ready to welcome tourists. Measures like liquidity support and exemption from statutory taxes. HAI would like to compliment the FM on this initiative and look forward to some more pragmatic initiatives to create jobs and livelihoods through a rejuvenated Tourism and Hospitality industry. As always HAI will be there for a committed role to be played by the Tourism and Hospitality industry in the national economic development programme.”