KATHMANDU, MARCH 10

In a bid to revive the COVID-battered tourism sector, the government has removed the mandatory provision of RT-PCR report for fully-vaccinated international tourists.

As per the new 'Travel Advisory' notice issued by the Department of Immigration, today, fully-vaccinated international tourists have to present either COV- ID-19 negative report obtained within 72 hours from the first port of embarkation or vaccination certificate to be granted entry into the country.

Similarly, the provision of hotel quarantine has also been terminated.

Director General of DoI Narayan Prasad Bhattarai told The Himalayan Times that the department had relaxed travel restrictions in view of increased vaccination rate and the fact that the dominant Omicron variant of coronavirus was not causing severe health complications as per the direction of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre.

'We have eased restrictions to accelerate the return to normalcy as vaccination rates have gone up, while cases of COVID infection are steadily declining.

As per the new travel advisory, fully-vaccinated international tourists now have the option of presenting a COVID-19 negative report or vaccination certificate,' said Bhattarai.

He, however, informed that all tourists must comply with other health safety protocols such as wearing mask in public places and maintaining social distance.

Earlier, all travellers to Nepal - including those fully-vaccinated - had to present a negative PCR report obtained within 72 hours of departure from the first port of embarkation and a printed copy of International Traveller Online Arrival Form obtained after online registration in the COV- ID-19 Crisis Management Centre website.

Nepali tourism entrepreneurs have welcomed the new travel advisory stating that it will help in the recovery of the COVID-battered tourism sector.

Senior Vice-president of Hotel Association Nepal Binayak Shah said relaxation of travel restrictions scrapping the mandatory PCR report for fully-vaccinated tourists would give a positive message to the world - Nepal is ready to welcome tourists.

According to Shah, the government should simultaneously focus on promotional events and policy reforms to revive the tourism sector. He also urged the authorities to initiate diplomatic channels to remove Nepal from the 'red list'.

'Nepal is still in the 'red list' of several countries, including the US, Australia and European Union despite the rising vaccination rate here.'

According to former president of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal Nava Raj Dahal, the government should have amended the travel protocol earlier to salvage the spring season.

'Nevertheless, we expect tourist numbers to steadily rise,' he said.

Private sector tourism stakeholders have taken numerous initiatives to lure international visitors. However, the stringent criteria that was in place earlier had discouraged travellers.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 11, 2022, of The Himalayan Times