India Prepares Reopening To International Tourists

Last Updated 3 years ago

After closing to the world for over 18 months, the Indian government has begun preparations to reopen the border for international tourism in the coming weeks.

The news comes as cases continue to fall as the vaccination rates rise nationwide. The pandemic has hit the nation’s tourism economy hard, and the border reopening will be an attempt to revive the aviation, tourism, and hospitality sectors.

According to reports, top union home ministry officials are deliberating with all stakeholders on the expected date of when the country reopens to foreign tourists. The government expects to make an official announcement in the next 10 days on the date of reopening and the restrictions upon entry.

The government is proposing a free visa to tourists until March 31st, 2022. Officials stated that they expect the free-visa move to encourage short-term visitors to enter India in the next 6 months.

The government has suspended the normal E-Visa since March 2020 after India went into a nationwide lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The Possible Entry Restrictions

Although there’s no official confirmation on the entry requirements, the Home Ministry has declared that they are debating whether to exclude unvaccinated travelers from entering India and having a negative list of countries where COVID-19 cases remain very high.

After closing to the world for over 18 months, the Indian government has begun preparations to reopen the border for international tourism in the coming weeks. The news comes as cases continue to fall as the vaccination rates rise nationwide. The pandemic has hit the nation’s tourism economy hard, and the border reopening will be an attempt to revive the aviation, tourism, and hospitality sectors. According to reports, top union home ministry officials are deliberating with all stakeholders on the expected date of when the country reopens to foreign tourists. The government expects to make an official announcement in the next 10 days on the date of reopening and the restrictions upon entry. The government is proposing a free visa to tourists until March 31st, 2022. Officials stated that they expect the free-visa move to encourage short-term visitors to enter India in the next 6 months. The government has suspended the normal E-Visa since March 2020 after India went into a nationwide lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases. The Entry Restrictions Although there’s no official confirmation on the entry requirements, the Home Ministry has declared that they are debating whether to exclude unvaccinated travelers from entering India and having a negative list of countries where COVID-19 cases remain very high. Furthermore, the officials said the reopening will be a phase-wise reopening, and not a complete reopening at first. There was no mention of whether India may impose a short quarantine on arrival when it does reopen. When India sets out its complete guidelines, we will be the first to let you know in the coming days. The COVID-19 Situation in India After a bad outbreak of the Delta variant — an outbreak that caught the world’s attention — India has started to see COVID-19 cases drop. The current 7-day case average is 30,177 cases nationwide. However, the 7-day case average was almost touching 400,000 new cases per day in May 2021. India has currently fully vaccinated 14.5 percent of its population, which is almost 200 million people. The nation has administered a total of 796 million vaccination doses. India has also given 42.9 percent of its population the first vaccination. After massive pressure on India’s healthcare service during May and June, the pressure is lifting and life is slowly getting back to some type of normality. Asia’s Reopening Although large parts of Europe, South and Central America, and North America have reopened for travel, the vast majority of Asia remains shut. That said, we’re starting to witness plans to reopen all across Asia as vaccination rates rise and countries prepare to live alongside COVID-19. Thailand is pushing to fully reopen to international visitors in the coming weeks as COVID-19 cases begin to drop after a large outbreak in recent months. Thailand started the Phuket sandbox scheme in July, but travel remains largely challenging and restricted despite the partial reopening to vaccinated visitors. Vietnam also announced its plan to reopen its popular island destination of Phu Quoc to fully vaccinated visitors next month. Furthermore, Indonesia declared its desire to reopen the country next month to fully vaccinated visitors. The government has closed Bali since March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, much of Asia is still way behind Europe in regards to vaccinations, and very few Asian nations have properly reopened for travel. Only Asian nations such as the U.A.E have begun allowing fully vaccinated tourists into the country for non-essential travel. Slowly but surely, we’re starting to see Asia plans its reopening and this nightmare beginning to subside.

Furthermore, the officials said the reopening will be a phased reopening, and not a complete reopening at first. There was no mention of whether India may impose a short quarantine on arrival when the country reopens.

When India sets out its complete guidelines, we will be the first to let you know in the coming days.

The COVID-19 Situation in India

After a bad outbreak of the Delta variant — an outbreak that caught the world’s attention — India has started to see COVID-19 cases drop. The current 7-day case average is 30,177 cases nationwide. However, the 7-day case average was almost touching 400,000 new cases per day in May 2021.

India has currently fully vaccinated 14.5 percent of its population, which is almost 200 million people. The nation has administered a total of 796 million vaccination doses. India has also given 42.9 percent of its population the first vaccination.

After massive pressure on India’s healthcare service during May and June, the pressure is lifting and life is slowly getting back to some type of normality.

Asia’s Reopening

Although large parts of Europe, South and Central America, and North America have reopened for travel, the vast majority of Asia remains shut. That said, we’re starting to witness plans to reopen all across Asia as vaccination rates rise and countries prepare to live alongside COVID-19.

Thailand is pushing to fully reopen to international visitors in the coming weeks as COVID-19 cases begin to drop after a large outbreak in recent months.

Thailand started the Phuket sandbox scheme in July, but travel remains largely challenging and restricted despite the partial reopening to vaccinated visitors.

Vietnam also announced its plan to reopen its popular island destination of Phu Quoc to fully vaccinated visitors next month.

Furthermore, Indonesia declared its desire to reopen the country next month to fully vaccinated visitors. The government has closed Bali since March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even Cambodia has started to plan its reopening to international visitors.

However, much of Asia is still way behind Europe in regards to vaccinations, and very few Asian nations have properly reopened for travel.

Only Asian nations such as the U.A.E have begun allowing fully vaccinated tourists into the country for non-essential travel.

Slowly but surely, we’re starting to see Asia plan its reopening and this nightmare beginning to subside.

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

alex

Wednesday 22nd of September 2021

I am praying no quarantine, no vaccination requirements. Please lead the way India. Freedom for all! I hope to be there soon!

Anil Jalan

I really fail to understand how a free visa helps us or for that matter poor travellers ? Anyone who plans to come to India, even for just 1-2 weeks will surely be spending hundreds of dollars. Few more for VISA won't create a big hole in any one's pocket, however it does affect India's revenue. Provide better travel experince, and people will be happy to pay for it.

Matt

Friday 24th of September 2021

@Anil Jalan, applying for the indian tourist visa before was a significant headache - the form was lengthy and complexed, the website was a disaster, it was a complete joke compare to say Sri Lanka evisa (click, click, a few fields, pay done, pdf job done, 10mins max). The fee was only part of the problem, albeit expensive for some countries iirc, they were also often rejected for minor errors which frustrated a lot of traveller. You provide a better travel experience by removing obstables, your experience starts the day you book..

william shatner

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

these countries are living in clown world

garrytravel

India had a giant delta spike, and since then its gotten better, despite low vaccination rate. It kind of flies in the face of the more vaccinations is better assumption. It kind of disproves the assumption in fact, especially looking at high vax rate but with growing problems countries. Not sure what to make of it.

Sara

I would love to travel to India to see the Taj Mahal.

Hukum Singh

@Sara, thanks Sara, we welcome you. If you need any kind of help it will be plusere for us.