KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 22
The government of India has revised COVID guidelines for people flying into the country, scrapping the earlier requirement of filling out Air Suvidha form, after witnessing a decline in the number of coronavirus cases. The previous guidelines mandated passengers arriving in India from overseas to fill up the Air Suvidha form and submit a negative COVID-19 RT- PCR report.
According to media reports, the revised guidelines for international arrivals came to effect from today. Now, air travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their country as per the latest issued guidelines.
Although the Indian government has removed the requirement to fill the Air Suvidha form, among others, upon arrival into the country, people going to India from Nepal will still have to follow the safety and health protocols and carry the necessary documents with them, Ramesh Thapa, president of Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (NAT- TA) said.
Thapa also said that the government of India issued the guidelines during the time of the pandemic but the procedure has not created any issues for people travelling via air.
"Many Nepalis travel to India for work, education, or as a transit before moving to another country. Passengers have not complained about encountering any issues during their arrival process due to the measures put in place. The tour agents in Nepal had been informing the passengers of the required documents and even assisting them in filling out the Air Suvidha form," he said.
Despite some ease in air travel, Nepali tour operators complain of existing issues for people travelling to the country by road due to the closure of some border entry points between the two countries.
Thapa said that the closure of land border entry points by the southern neighbour has created issues for tourists who want to visit Nepal from India.
"As some land borders remain closed for entry due to the risk of COVID-19, many tourists cannot enter Nepal from those entry points. This has affected tour operators and we are holding discussions to resolve it."
As per the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India, health officials present at the point of entry will conduct thermal screening of the arriving passengers. Passengers are also required to ensure physical distance. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, and taken to a designated medical facility.
As per reports, the present guidelines are being revised in light of the sustained declining COVID-19 trajectory and significant advances being made in COVID-19 vaccination coverage both globally as well as in India. Passengers are also advised to use masks and follow physical distances during flights and after arriving at the point of entry.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 23, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
