Pune: The Union Ministry of Tourism now encourages the state and region of Union (UTS) to eliminate RT-PCR mandatory tests for fully vaccinated people who choose inter-country travel and show their final vaccination certificate on arrival.
“The Ministry on Wednesday sent written communication to the Secretary of State, urged America and UTS to adopt a uniform travel protocol during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Rupinder Brar, said the Additional Director General, Minister of Tourism.
Until now, several states allow to enter tourists who are fully vaccinated without negative RT-PCR reports.
But it states like West Bengal (for travelers from Mumbai, Pune and Chennai), Karnataka, Goa and Chhattisgarh are still asking for the RT-PCR negative report regardless of the double vaccination status of travelers.
Brar said the ministry tried to convince all countries to adopt uniform protocols – not to mandate the RT-PCR test for tourists who were fully vaccinated which showed their final vaccination certificate.
The Ministry of Tourism held a meeting with representatives from the Federation of Associations in tourism and Indian hospitality and all state governments on August 5, with discussions mainly focusing on harmonizing the travel protocol during the Pandemic Covid-19.
“Countries such as Sikkim and Maharashtra allow travelers from other parts of the country based on full vaccination and not in the RT-PCR test report.
In principle, all states which are part of the agreed meeting this is a logical choice,” said Brar.
“We are now hoping to see something positive out of this in the coming days.
However, we have written to all state governments to strengthen this line of thought and hope to get a confirmation letter from them in one or two days,” he added.
The Ministry of Tourism will also hold meetings with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Civil Aviation to see how uniform protocols can be taken in front and more relaxation can be done by travelers.
“The Tourism Secretary has written to all countries a month ago to prioritize vaccinations for frontline staff in the hospitality and tourism sector.
Many countries respond to affirmatively and start doing so,” said Brar.
“For example, the Amarkantak pilgrimage city in Madhya Pradesh has reported a 100% frontline staff vaccination in two sectors.
Certain countries are trying to ensure full vaccination of hospitality staff in heavy tourist hubs,” Brar added.
Tourism Minister Union G Kiswan Reddy on August 9 answers questions at Lok Sabha on whether countries are directed to only allow vaccinated tourists, especially for popular national monuments, cities and spots.
“The Ministry of Tourism has asked the state government of the state to free the double vaccinated passengers from carrying the latest RT-PCR reports on the inter-state travel on the production of legitimate double vaccination certificates,” Reddy said in the house.
Tourists who are fully vaccinated have faced problems, especially because some countries insist on the RT-PCR test before entering.
The National Technical Advisory Group of Immunization Chair Dr.
N Arora has said on Tuesday that the top panel recently reaffirmed at the center of the previous recommendation about excluding travelers who were fully vaccinated from RT-PRC tests and inter-country trips.