Kerela removes all the restrictions!

As far as destinations go in India, God’s Own Country—Kerala is a huge draw for both domestic and international travel. The state’s decision to stay shut has been a disappointment for the hospitality and travel industry, which always felt that the state’s well developed, popular destination spots would definitely spur on the industry.

Kerala’s announcement that it would now be open to receive tourists from outside the state has come not a moment too late. The decision opens hill stations, adventure tourism spots, and backwater destinations—with houseboats complying with Covid guidelines—for tourists with immediate effect, though beaches remain off-limits till November 1, 2020.

While opening the state for tourists from other states, the government has decided to relax the entry norms as well. Tourists coming for holidaying for less than seven days from other states, are not required to carry quarantine nor negative Covid-19 certificates. However, they have to register on the Covid Jagratha portal. The state had earlier removed the mandatory quarantine for business visitors visiting the state for a week.

However, tourists who want to stay in the state for more than seven days have to carry a Covid negative certificate or undergo testing immediately after entering the state.

The government has also come out with strict Covid-19 guidelines for destinations, hotels, and tourists. The stakeholders have to keep the record of travelers and the destinations have to be sanitized and kept clean on a regular basis. The government has given the responsibility to monitor strict compliance with Tourism deputy directors and Secretaries of District Tourism Promotion Councils.

Announcing this, Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Minister of Kerala has said that the government decided to open the state with strict compliance of the Covid protocol considering the constant demand of the tourism industry and lakhs of life supported by it. The minister said that the state’s exemplary track record in fighting the pandemic and the robust health system will give confidence to travelers to visit Kerala without any hesitation.

The Responsible Tourism Mission of Kerala has prepared more than 100 Rural Tourism/Community tourism packages for visitors who want to taste the rural life and culture of the state.

The tourism industry has welcomed the decision of the government to open up the State for domestic tourists. “It’s a welcome decision by the government. The decision to allow tourists from other states without negative certificates or mandatory quarantine is an encouraging decision for the tourism industry which has been in a near lockdown situation for more than six months now. We hope for a positive outcome in the short term,” said Riyaz UC, Convenor, Tourism Committee, FICCI Kerala Chapter.

News Courtesy: ET