Following months of closure due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government today decided to reopen the tourism sector from September 1.
Tourism was one of the worst-affected sectors since the coronavirus struck last year. The Meghalaya government had opened tourism in December as case numbers around the country went down but had to reimpose closure in April.
Vaccination will be a key plank in the government’s plan to get tourism going once again.
All tourists from outside the state will have to be double vaccinated, failing which they will have to produce a negative RT-PCR, TruNAT or CBNAAT test report on entering the state not more than 72 hours after the sample was taken.
Tourists will also have to generate an e-invite through the government’s portal, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said. This is similar to what was required of visitors prior to the second lockdown.
Sangma also said that it is mandatory for tourists coming into the state to book at least one night’s stay in a hotel, home stay or guest house and declare their complete itinerary.
“Tourists who are staying as guests of a family or friends in Meghalaya shall declare their full address and contact details,” the CM said.
Even local tourists will have requirements for vaccination or testing placed on them. In their case they will need to have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine prior to entering any tourist spots. Without this, they will need to produce a Covid-negative test report.
