More countries open to travellers sans vax

More countries open to travellers sans vax

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.07.2021 

In what could be a sign of revival of international travel, nine countries have opened their borders for people to travel to without vaccination.

Turkey, Egypt, Maldives, South Africa, Ukraine, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and Russia are allowing passengers who have not got vaccinated against Covid-19. But visitors will have to carry a RT-PCR test report along. Except in Turkey, quarantine is necessary in the other countries only if tested positive. Maldives will be open for travel from July 15.

This move by the nine countries is a blessing for travellers looking for a short vacation. It also leaves people who work in the Middle East and the US with more options for transit and the mandatory 14-day quarantine before heading to the destination, since the locations have banned direct travel from India.

Travel and tour operators said travellers who have been looking for options to spend more than14 days outside India, so that they can enter Dubai or transit via Dubai to other countries such as the US, can now fly to Maldives, Egypt or Russia. People have been entering Dubai, which is open for tourists, via other countries.

Basheer Ahmed of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) said, “Many people who work in the US and the Middle East are stuck here because they are not allowed to fly directly from India. People have been travelling to Saudi Arabia and the US after staying for a few days in another country. Now, they can travel to Dubai too. More countries opening up is also helping people who want to try and have a vacation. Those who are returning to India from the US also now have more transit options.”

J Sethuraman of Travel XS said this definitely is a way out for people because they have been stuck for more than a year unable to travel. “When Maldives opened last year, Indians were the biggest clients for the country. It will be similar this year too,” he said. “The countries allowing people without quarantine will help boost travel and is a plus,” Sethuraman said, but added that vaccination is key for international travel in the long run.