Tag Archives: mandatory

Dubai makes hotel booking & return ticket mandatory for incoming tourists

In a significant move to streamline the visa process and enhance tourism management, Dubai has introduced new prerequisites for obtaining a tourist visa. Effective immediately, travellers must present proof of confirmed hotel bookings and a return flight ticket to secure approval.

Key Requirements for Tourists
Hotel Booking Confirmation:
Applicants must provide valid proof of accommodation, such as a confirmed hotel reservation. Those planning to stay with friends or family are required to submit additional documentation, including proof of the host’s residency.

Return Flight Ticket:
A confirmed return ticket is now mandatory. Open-ended or one-way tickets will not be accepted and may result in the rejection of the visa application.
Dubai, known as a global tourism hotspot, aims to:
• Prevent overstaying beyond visa validity.
• Manage tourist inflows effectively during peak seasons.
• Enhance the overall travel experience by encouraging pre-planned itineraries.

For more detailed guidelines, travellers are encouraged to visit Dubai’s official visa portal or consult the UAE General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

 

 

Kerala introduces heli-tourism connecting 11 destinations in the state

In a significant move to boost tourism and enhance connectivity, the state of Kerala has inaugurated a pioneering heli-tourism project. Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas officially launched the initiative, designating Kochi as its central hub.

This ambitious project aims to connect 11 key destinations across the state, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Jadayu Para, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Munnar, Kumarakom, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod.

Minister Riyas highlighted that the heli-tourism initiative seeks to minimize time spent on travel, providing tourists with efficient and seamless access to popular destinations. In addition, Kerala Tourism plans to unveil an informative microsite dedicated to heli-tourism.

Further developments in the project include the introduction of new helipads in strategic locations. Discussions with private stakeholders have already commenced to streamline the project’s implementation.

The heli-tourism services will be categorized into three types: ‘City Rides’ for short trips within or near cities, ‘Destination-to-Destination Connect’ facilitating exploration of tourist destinations within the state, and ‘Tourism Packages’ offering curated trips linking multiple destinations.

Kerala Tourism will play a facilitating role, while private agencies will be responsible for providing services, adhering to all security specifications. Approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is mandatory for the commencement of services.

Choppers used for heli-tourism will have a seating capacity ranging from 6 to 12 passengers. Expressions of interest will be invited shortly, requiring aspiring operators to submit detailed plans for consideration, as outlined by Minister Riyas. The launch of this heli-tourism project is poised to transform the tourism landscape in Kerala, offering visitors a unique and efficient way to explore the scenic beauty of the state.”

IndiGo clarifies web check-in ‘recommended’ but not mandatory

Amid a spike in reported complaints of airlines forcing passengers to opt for a paid seat, IndiGo has clarified that web check-in is not a mandatory requirement, but is recommended to the customers for a “hassle-free experience”.
“Web check-in is not a mandatory requirement, however, for a hassle-free flight experience, we recommend our customers to web check-in in advance. Web check-in allows customers to have a smooth experience at the airport,” India’s low-cost airline said in a social media post.

 

IndiGo clarified that web check-in is a complimentary service and does not incur any charges, adding that the charges mentioned in the communication are specific to the preferred seat selection. Passengers can choose from any available free seats during the online booking process, or they have the option to let the system auto-assign a seat, which is also free of charge, it said.

 

Covid booster dose mandatory for entering France, the rule came into effect from February 2

According to international media reports, France will not allow tourists to enter the country if they received their Covid vaccine more than nine months ago. However, travellers without a recent Covid vaccine can only enter France if they have a “compelling reason”. This could mean a dying relative, for example, but not for holidays.

Eurostar services have already warned customers, announcing, “If you had your full vaccine course nine months ago or more and you haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccine booster, you must follow the rules for unvaccinated passengers to enter France.” Simon Calder an eminent freelance UK travel journalist and broadcaster also criticised the move.

France’s new rule came into effect from February 2. However, there is no official confirmation from the France government yet.

7-Day Mandatory Home Quarantine For All International Arrivals In India

According to a NDTV report, people flying in from abroad will need to home quarantine for a week after landing in India and test on the eighth day, in new rules that take effect on January 11 (Tuesday) to tackle a huge Omicron-driven surge in Covid cases in the country.

The number of “at-risk” countries has been increased to 19; nine more have been added since December.

All passengers have to go into home isolation for seven days and take an RT-PCR test after that. If they test positive, they will be sent to an isolation facility and their samples will be sent for genome testing.

Passengers seated near them and cabin crew will be treated as contacts.

If the test is negative, the passengers “will further self-monitor their health for next seven days”, the rules say.

For flights from countries that are not on the “at-risk” list, two per cent of the passengers picked randomly, will be tested on arrival.

The new rules were announced on a day India reported 1,17,100 new cases of Covid – a 28 per cent jump in 24 hours. Cases have gone from 10,000 to more than a lakh in just a week as the virus spreads at an unprecedented pace, driven by the Omicron variant.

Passengers found symptomatic during screening will be isolated and taken to a medical facility. If they test positive, their contacts will be identified.

If travellers under home quarantine or self-health monitoring develop signs and symptoms suggesting Covid or if they test positive on re-testing, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility.

The rules for those arriving from countries “at-risk” remain the same – they have to take a test and wait for the results before leaving or taking a connecting flight.

The highly contagious Omicron has been racing through the world since it was found in November. India now has 3,007 cases of the new variant, which has spread to 27 states. Maharashtra (876) and Delhi (465) have the most infections.

One dose of COVID-19 vaccine must for those visiting monuments in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

According to a TOI report, anyone who has not taken even a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be denied entry at historic monuments and sites in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Referring to this, an official in the know how stated that District Collector Sunil Chava has passed the said orders, and the same have already been put into place.

As per the orders, when the district administration found that the vaccination figures in the region were relatively low, it passed the said order. Now, as per the latest rules, at least one dose of vaccine is mandatory for those seeking to visit the historic monuments and sites.

Reportedly, the government as well as private offices that are connected to the tourism industry, have also been instructed to make sure that their staff is fully vaccinated against Coronavirus. All those visiting ticketed museums, monuments and places such as Arungabad, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Pitolkara, Ajanta and Ellora caves should have at least taken one jab of COVID-19 vaccine, the order stated.

Reportedly, the government health agencies have also been directed to establish vaccination booths at places that are registering high footfall of tourists. Further, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has also been directed to check if staff at tourist locations has taken at least one jab of COVID-19 vaccine.