Himachal Pradesh allowed entry of tourists with some conditions such as a test a prior hotel booking of at least five days and max 72 hours old report showing negative for COVID-19, about 100 days after a ban was imposed to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.
In an order issued by the Anil Kumar Khachi, on Thursday, the state government relaxed the ban as part of the phased reopening from the coronavirus-induced lockdown — ‘Unlock-2’.
“Tourists with valid pre-booking, preferably for durations not less than five days and having been tested for COVID-19 by an ICMR-accredited laboratory not earlier than 72 hours at the time of entry may also be exempted from the requirement of quarantine,” the order stated.
All inter-state movement will be monitored through registration in the COVID e-pass software. “The people coming to Himachal Pradesh from other states shall strictly adhere to the prevailing guidelines/standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the health and revenue departments of the state,” the order stated.
Himachal Pradesh barred entry of tourists in March to check the spread of the novel coronavirus. Further, inter-state bus service will remain suspended till further orders.
Thousands of hoteliers and others in the tourism industry have shut shop for over three months now due to Covid-19. Unlike other states, the peak tourist inflow in Himachal is from April to June.
The medical colleges are allowed to open in the state for final-year students to strengthen the health system in coming days along with the health training institutions from July 15 subject to SOPs issued by the department of health and family welfare, the order stated.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said his government would issue Standard Operating Procedure(SOPs) for tourists on Monday.
“We are studying SOPs of other states—Goa, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. We will issue SOPs for tourists so economic activities can start again. Tourism has been most affected,” he told reporters on Saturday.
“We expect tourists to follow SOPs. They should follow social distancing, and wear masks,” he said.
To get more details about tourism facility in Himachal Pradesh. Visit website Himachal Tourism.