Welcome to edition 2 of this month’s travel news article. The month of October has something very interesting to offer to the travel and tourism industry.
With festivals like Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali coming up, tourism-friendly states are hoping for a slow revival. Although cases in India are still on the rise, the pent-up desire to travel among city dwellers has forced state governments to open up tourism in a phased manner but of course with the strictest precautions in place. Here is the latest Indian travel industry news you need to know this week –
1. Kerala to open for tourists from October 12, here’s what travellers need to know
Kerala is finally open to domestic tourists from October 12, while the beach destinations will remain closed and will be opened on November 1. The domestic tourists need not undergo quarantine for trips up to seven days. For those who wish to spend more than seven days need to carry a COVID-negative certificate or undergo a test in Kerala at their expense. Otherwise, they will have to undergo a seven-day quarantine in the state. Read all precautions here.
2. Fancy a ski holiday? Gulmarg Gondola opens for tourists after six months
The Gondola was open for the first time in six months on World Tourism Day, September 27. It then resumed daily operations from October 10 taking tourists to Kongdori Mountain at a height of 8,530 ft. Tourists have started trickling in amid proper Covid-19 protocols of social distancing and masks. Know more about a holiday in Gulmarg here.
3. Rishikesh is all set to heal your lockdown blues with white water rafting
In the past ten days, Rishikesh has welcomed over 8,000 tourists, with almost 6,000 people coming to participate in river rafting in the past three days over the long weekend. Earlier, ten persons were allowed in a single raft, but now, only four tourists are going, with two guides in one raft. Read more about the new normal river rafting in Rishikesh here.
4. Sikkim opens its doors to domestic tourists, issues travel guidelines
The state government of Sikkim decided to welcome tourists from Saturday, ie, October 10. The tourism industry in the state is resuming operations after months of inactivity due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. In a 23-page Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) the state has mentioned all 11 protocols tourists need to familiarise themselves with. Read all protocols here.
5. Kamakhya Temple reopens for devotees amidst strict COVID protocols
The Kamakhya Temple in Assam closed since March, reopened on 11th October for devotees amidst strict COVID protocols. The ‘garbagriha’ or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple will, however, remain closed for devotees. Devotees have to undergo the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at the foot of the Nilachal Hills, atop which nestles the famed Shakti temple, and also a whole body sanitization at the sanitization chambers are set up to ensure COVID prevention, before entering the temple premises. Read the full article here.
That’s it folks for this week’s edition 2! These are a few of the latest India’s travel news today. See you next week again with new updates on travel news in India. Till then, travel safe and travel responsibly!
