Travelling Abroad In The New Normal

From thermal checks in hotel lobbies, negligible human contact, cabin crew in PPE kits to contact tracing apps, Covid-19 has altered the way we travel. Here’s a first-person experience of travelling safe, and still having fun

- Rupali Dean

The coronavirus made us all stay home, and all the places we love, including airports, wore a deserted look. Amidst closed borders, annulled flights, travel came to a near standstill. While we still fight the pandemic, things are slowly looking up, and international travel is not a distant dream anymore, albeit a slower one, though.

Let me first address the main question — Where can Indian tourists holiday in the current scenario? Countries are establishing air bubble flights, and by the time this piece went to print, India has established the same with 16 countries — The United States of America, France, The United Arab Emirates, Germany, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Iraq. However, air bubble flights and visas for most of these countries are meant for work, business, or study purposes only, and not tourism.

Experts weigh in, and Riaz Munshi, Managing Director, N Chirag Travels, and President, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, explains, “The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced that India is negotiating with 13 other countries to resume international flight operations. These countries include Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.”

Holiday destinations that Indians can travel to for tourism, are Dubai, Maldives, Kenya, and Tanzania. Bhutan is opening up for tourism too. Mauritius is welcoming tourists for a longer stay, and one needs to quarantine for 14 days before they can explore the destination.

I decide to go to two destinations — Maldives, and Dubai. Here’s a lowdown on everything from the pandemic lens of travel.

MALDIVES