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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.

Indian tourists to receive Russian e-visa

Indian passport holders can now travel to Russia with an electronic visa. Starting January 1, 2021 citizens of 52 countries, including India, will be able permitted entry to Russia with an e-visa valid for 60 days. It will be possible for tourists from India to enter through any checkpoint with the necessary documents, approved by the order of the Government of the Russian Federation, and will be able to travel throughout the country.

Indian travellers can get an e-visa for tourist, business, humanitarian and guest visit purposes. In addition, foreign visitors will not be required to provide an invitation, hotel reservations or any other documents confirming the purpose of the trip. All they will have to do is just fill in a form on the Russian Foreign Ministry website or via a mobile app, upload a personal photo and a copy of the passport — all of which can also be performed by a travel agent. There are four Russian consulates in India located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Tourists will also need to pay a consular fee of USD40 (free for children under six).

At the moment electronic visas are issued for the period of up to eight days and allow tourists to travel within just one region of the Russian Federation. However, starting from 2021, the period of stay of tourists in Russia will increase to 16 days with the possibility of travelling throughout the country.

Thailand opens ‘Special Tourist Visa’ for all

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced that the Royal Thai Government is now allowing long-stay visitors from around the world to apply for the ‘Special Tourist Visa’ (STV), previously available only to travellers from countries considered low- to medium-risk for the Covid-19 pandemic.

This decision comes into effect immediately, to welcome long-stay visitors to Thailand of all types – from tourists to business travellers, investors and others, as well as travellers and crews of foreign yachts.

To qualify for the STV, visitors must comply with Thailand’s Covid-19 control and preventive measures which include undergoing a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, having proof of their long-term accommodation or residence in the Kingdom – such as a hotel reservation, rental contract or evidence of condominium ownership, holding the required medical and travel insurance, and a valid Fit To Fly medical certificate. Those arriving by foreign yachts must provide proof of advance payment for mooring fees and must strictly follow the rules and regulations set by the marine department.

The STV allows for a 90-day stay in the Kingdom, which can be extended twice for a further 90 days each time and is available through until September 30, 2021. The visa fee is 2,000 Baht and an additional 2,000 Baht per extension. Applicants must enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in their home countries before making any bookings because an application for the STV is to be made only in the traveller’s country of origin at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General.

Nepal reopens to international tourists from Dec 17 only via air

Nepal has allowed international visitors into the country coming only via air, while the land borders continue to remain closed for all foreigners. However, tourists will have to undergo mandatory seven-day hotel quarantine. They are also required to carry a Covid-negative certificate of tests conducted within 72 hours prior to their departure from their home country. Only children below 5 years of age are exempted from submitting such a report.

A statement issued by the Department of Immigration of Government of Nepal has stated, “Foreigners working at the diplomatic missions in Nepal, international organisations and their family members, Non-Residential Nepali (NRNs) or foreign passport holders with Nepali origin including their family members are allowed to enter Nepal without any pre-approval letters or recommendations. All the foreigners except mentioned above should obtain a tourist entry visa from the Nepali diplomatic missions abroad, else should have a pre-approval /recommendation letter from the concerned ministries for ensuring their on-arrival visa."

Nepal had stopped international flight operations from March 20 and had imposed a nationwide lockdown from March 24. Although it had reopened the borders on October 17, but that was restricted to trekkers and climbers only.

Nepal and India have entered into an air bubble arrangement through which the national carriers of both the countries will start ferrying passengers between New Delhi and Kathmandu from December 17. On the other side of the border, sacred Hindu shrine Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of Bagmati River has reopened under the health protocols its door for the devotees after eight months of shutdown.

Sri Lanka to resume international flights from Dec 26

Sri Lanka will resume international flights operations from December 26, almost eight months after they shut down their two international airports in view of the Covid-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown, officials said. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has said that it would be soon issuing directives to the travel industry on the opening of Sri Lanka's airspace for commercial and charter flights operations. Initially, Sri Lanka had planned to reopen international flight operations by the end of August but the Covid-19 cases worldwide rose and the plans were delayed. Sri Lanka was also hit by a coronavirus second wave in October.

Virgin Atlantic cancels the launch of Delhi and Mumbai flights from Manchester

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled the launch of services between Manchester airport and the Indian cities of New Delhi and Mumbai. The routes were announced in mid-October, with Mumbai initially due to launch in December this year and Delhi in January 2021, using Boeing 787-9s. The Mumbai service was later pushed back to January.

“We are continuously reviewing our flying programme and in response to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 we have made the difficult decision to withdraw our Manchester to Delhi and Mumbai services, which were due to launch in January,” the airline has stated.

While launching the Indian routes from Manchester, Virgin had said in October that it was “benefiting half a million Indian diaspora living across the north” of England with services aimed at “capturing demand for business and leisure travel to the region as global economies gradually recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Virgin’s announcement comes two days after it launched services between Manchester and the Pakistani capital Islamabad. However, the British carrier still serves New Delhi and Mumbai from London's Heathrow airport.

Machu Picchu closes again indefinitely

The crown jewel of Peru's tourism, Machu Picchu, closed its doors again for an indefinite period owing to security reasons amid protests by locals over train services. The surprise decision came just six weeks after the tourist attraction reopened following an eight-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, 2,000-3,000 people used to enter this Inca citadel every day and in high season, up to 5,000.

“Due to the announced stoppages in the Machu Picchu district and in order to safeguard the integrity of its visitors, the citadel of Machu Picchu will not be open from December 14 until this situation is restored,” said a statement issued by the Directorate of Culture of Cusco, the nearest city.

The suspension is expected to last until the end of protests by residents of the towns of Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo against the railway companies that offer local train service. The local communities are demanding cheaper fares and more frequent trains on the route between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The train is the only means of transport for tourists visiting the citadel and it is also widely used by the inhabitants of the area.



Tanzania to install cable cars on Mt Kilimanjaro

The government of Tanzania has approved a plan to install cable car on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, an official said. The cable car will ferry people up to 3,700 metres on the 5895 m high mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano and is also the highest single free-standing mountain in the world. Over 50,000 trekkers from across the world attempt to reach the summit of the mountain annually. Tanzania is currently experiencing a boom in tourism and the country is actively seeking to capitalise on the success to a maximum.

The cable car would give those unable to make the week-long trek to the summit the opportunity to experience the mountain’s awe-inspiring beauty. The route will run along the Machame Route, known for its spectacular beauty and being one of the absolute favourites on the mountain.

However, porter and guide groups have expressed their opposition to the idea of cable cars as they think that it could lead to a decrease in the number of climbers, which would impact the job opportunities of the nearly 250,000 porters, their families and entire villages they support.

International Festival of Circus of Monte-Carlo gets postponed

Since the establishment of the Circus Festival in 1974 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the International Festival of Circus of Monte-Carlo became one of the most prestigious events globally. Organised and chaired with by Princess Stephanie of Monaco and broadcast across the world, each year the festival presents a selection of the best international acts. For 10 days, a selection of spectacles comes to life under the Fontvieille Big Top with breath-taking performances. Acrobats, animal trainers, trapeze artists, clowns, they all show their best performances bringing huge fame to the festival.

In view of the sanitary and health conditions due to Covid-19, the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo postponed the 45th edition of the festival to January 2022. However, the Office des Timbres of the Principality of Monaco will put two stamps on sale on January 07, 2021 - one is to commemorate the centenary of famous Russian clown Yuri Nikulin, and the other one is to celebrate 125th anniversary of Spanish clown, Charlie Rivel.


India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group