As per the latest news reports, the Ministry of Tourism has written to tourism secretaries of all states and Union Territories urging them to take immediate measures to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated travelers from other states and allow their entry on the basis of a valid certificate of double vaccination. According to the Tourism Ministry, dropping the requirement of the RT-PCR report for fully vaccinated travelers would help build confidence among travelers and in turn, boost tourism.
While some states like Maharashtra and Sikkim do not ask fully vaccinated travelers for a negative RT-PCR report, some other states like West Bengal, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh insist on a negative RT-PCR report, irrespective of the vaccination status of the travelers.
Reportedly, this is the second time the Centre has sent an official letter to the states requesting their support in establishing a uniform travel protocol during COVID and making travel across India hassle-free for fully vaccinated travelers.
Union Tourism Minister, G. Kishan Reddy, addressing one of the ‘vaccine tourism’ questions asked in Lok Sabha, said (on 9 August), “The ministry of tourism has requested the state governments/ UT administrations to exempt the double vaccinated passengers from carrying the latest RT-PCR report at the time of interstate travel on the production of a valid final certificate of double vaccination.”
