India to Open for Foreign Tourists from October 15, but Government “preparing” for up to Five Lakh Cases a Day
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Even as India is preparing to open up for foreign tourists from October 15, nearly a year and a half since suspension of all international flights in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the government said it was “preparing” for a surge of 4.5-5 lakh cases per day during the possible third wave.
“We don’t have a straight-forward formula to calculate what extent the peak could reach this time after reaching 71% vaccination with the 1st dose. The government is preparing for a surge of 4.5 to 5 lakh cases per day,” said Dr VK Paul member (health) of the Niti Aayog, on Thursday. His cautioning came on a day when India recorded just over 22,000 new cases on Wednesday, as per the government data released on Thursday morning.
There are 28 districts, including a few in Arunachal Pradesh & Assam, which have case positivity rate between 5% & 10% that is high infection rate. There are 34 districts which are reporting a weekly positivity rate of over 10%,” said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry.
Ahead of the festival season, the health ministry issued a warning asking people to be cautious from October to December and celebrate festivals in a way that we do not spread Covid-19.
Lav Agarwal had earlier said: “Attend Durga Pooja and Ram Leela virtually. Meet your loved ones online on Diwali.” Thursday is the first day of the nine-day Navratri festival, marking the beginning of the festival season for Hindus across India.
On the other hand, the government announced that it would begin issuing visas from October 15. However, for a month, tourists would be allowed entry into India only on chartered flights. Those wanting to visit India on scheduled commercial flights would have to wait till November 15, the government said.
“After considering various inputs, the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has decided to begin granting of fresh Tourist Visas for foreigners coming to India through chartered flights with effect from October 15, 2021,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that foreign tourists entering India by flights other than chartered aircraft would be able to do so only with effect from November 15 on fresh Tourist Visas.
“All due protocols and norms relating to Covid-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare from time to time, shall be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations,” the statement said adding that with this, the restrictions placed on visa and international travel stand further eased given the overall Covid-19 situation.
Sources said the decision had been under deliberation by the government for over a month and the Ministry of Tourism had been pushing for the opening up of tourist visas as the tourism and hotel sector had suffered the most during the pandemic. The decision is also informed by a high number of vaccinations achieved in the past couple of months and a significant dip in the number of infections being reported from large parts of the country.
Even as the health ministry expressed apprehension of the country touching a staggering figure of 4.5 to five lakh cases a day, the union home ministry said, “The Covid pressure has eased up considerably and so the government has decided to open up the economy further. However, we are taking one step at a time as we do not want an influx of tourists suddenly. So, initially chartered flights are being allowed. Tourists can together themselves or through a travel company and hire a chartered flight to visit India. Regular tourist operations will begin only from November 15.”
Due to the pandemic, all visas granted to foreigners were suspended last year. Various other restrictions were also imposed on international travel by the Centre to arrest the spread of the pandemic. After considering the evolving Covid-19 situation, foreigners were later on allowed to avail any kind of Indian visa other than tourist visa for entry and stay in India.
“However, the MHA had been receiving representations from several state governments as well as various stakeholders in the tourism sector to start Tourist Visas also, to allow foreign tourists to come to India. Therefore, the MHA consulted all major stakeholders like the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism and various State Governments where foreign tourists are expected to arrive,” the MHA statement said
Cautioning people about the need for using the protective gears to ward off spread of the infection, Lav Agarwal said “Masks will remain very important. Vaccination is a shield. Festival and wedding seasons convey victory of good over evil.”
“Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar and Sikkim have vaccinated 100% of its population with the first dose of vaccine,” he added.
