(Image source from: moneycontrol.com)

The ‘heaven on earth’, Jammu and Kashmir after giving access to reopening of parks and gardens is now allowing tourists arriving by air as a part of phased reopening.

With effect from Tuesday, July 14, the J&K administration has decided will restart tourism in a phased manner in which only tourists arriving by air would be allowed for sightseeing and other activities.

This decision comes days after J&K has given access to parks and gardens in the state to resume functioning.

However, the authorities have advised the people above the age 65 to refrain from arriving to the Union Territory. The government has also announced mandatory RC-PTR testing at the airport itself to all the visitors.

Any deviation to the rules decided by the government by any of the visitors will attract penal action under the disaster management act.

Tourism has always been the backbone of the J&K’s economy. The Union Territory’s economy has suffered acutely since the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdown since March.

On July 8, the government has opened parks and gardens for locals after 100 days of closure.

The order issued by government regarding the phase wise opening of UT for visitors outside J&K read that all the visitors arriving to the Union Territory by air as part of phase-1 opening must have confirmed hotel booking and return ticket with them.

According to the order, if any tourist tests positive in the RC-PTR testing at the airport, he/she shall remain in the hotel booked by them till the test results turn out negative. The hotel management shall ensure compliance to the government’s orders. While those who test negative at the airport screening need not stay under isolation.

Medical facilities would be assigned by the government for the treatment of those visitors who test positive for coronavirus at the airport screening.

The transport facilities or cabs should be pre-booked by the visitors and the proof the same would be checked upon arrival by authorities.

Moreover, all the tourists flying by air to J&k must install Arogya Setu app on their mobile phones and would be checked for safe status on the app at the airport.

The hotel, guest house or house boat authorities would will arrange for the transport of the tourists till the airport during their return from the Union territory.

By Gayatri Yellayi