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About India Outbound Magazine

India Outbound, a brand of Media India Group, is India’s only B2B travel media platform, that encompasses a print magazine, a website, an online TV channel and dynamic social media platforms, entirely dedicated to the promotion of foreign destinations and products in India. India Outbound is a niche platform not just for tourism destinations and products to promote themselves to the Indian travel industry, but also for decision makers to build/change their strategy in a context where the Indian outbound market is not only growing but changing with new dynamics. India Outbound brings to you the latest trends of the market with in depth analysis.

QR code on negative RT-PCR report mandatory for flying out of India from May 22

From May 22 onwards, international passengers flying from India will have to produce a negative RT-PCR test with a QR code failing which they would not be allowed to board the flight.

“Effective May 22, 2021, passengers carrying negative RT-PCR reports as per the requirement of their destination country, must ensure that the report has a QR code linking to the original report,” Air India Express tweeted on May 14.

It, however, clarified that the rule is only for the passengers who are required to carry a negative RT-PCR test report as per the guidelines/requirements issued by the destination country.

The new requirement has been mandated as a significant number of false or forged negative reports were being furnished by passengers travelling from India.

This has been done, also to ensure minimum physical contact and smooth movement of passengers amid the ongoing pandemic situation, without compromising on the verification, stated the Air India statement.

EU to reopen borders to fully vaccinated visitors, ‘emergency brake’ for India

The European Union member states have come to an agreement that the bloc's borders should re-open to non-essential travellers who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. They also agreed on easing the criteria for nations to be considered a safe country, from which all tourists can travel. Up to now, that list included only seven nations.

EU also agreed on an "emergency brake" mechanism designed to stop dangerous virus variants from entering the 27-nation bloc through quickly enacted travel limits if the infection situation deteriorates in a non-EU country. Such a brake has been proposed for India.

“It is important to limit to the strict minimum the categories of travellers that can travel from India for essential reasons and subject those who may still travel from India to rigorous testing and quarantine arrangements,” added the Commission's statement.

UNWTO committee on tourism ethics recommends responsible use of travel certificates

The Covid-19 certificates for international travel must be free, universally available and non-discriminatory. They must also be limited in time and use, the World Committee on Tourism Ethics has recommended.

As some countries work to welcome back visitors and restart tourism, the committee met to assess the implications health certificates might have on tourism ethics. As an independent and impartial body of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), it concluded that such certificates can be compatible with ethical tourism, though their use needs to be proportionate, measured and responsible.

The committee members, drawn from tourism sector leadership, academia and international organisations, adopted the recommendation on Covid-19 certificates for international travel, the product of a series of consultations with experts and stakeholders from around the world.

“We hope that this recommendation will provide a global ethical framework that will aid the much-needed recovery of tourism,” said Pascal Lamy, chair of the committee.

It has strongly opposed the concept of ‘Vaccine Tourism’ which is being talked about in international tourism. Citing the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the related Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics, the Committee also recommended that “vaccines should not form part of the vaccination holiday packages and must remain a global public good”.

Disneyland Paris plans to reopen on June 17

Disneyland Paris, one of Europe's biggest tourist attractions, said that it would reopen on June 17 as France eases Covid-19 restrictions. The theme park which employs 17,000 people, closed between March 13 and July 15 last year and has been shut again since October 30.

It has had to cancel its reopening plans twice because of the ongoing pandemic. “We are pleased to announce that Disneyland Paris will reopen on June 17,” the park said in a statement, adding that it will follow enhanced health and safety measures.

The theme park said it would require guests over six years old to wear face masks. Attendance would be limited, and advanced ticketing and reservations were required. Depending on Covid-19 guidance from the authorities, some attractions could be shut or modified, it said.


India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group