Only domestic toursits in phase-I
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Dimapur will be the only entry point
In view of improvement in the overall situation vis-à-vis COVID-19, the State government has announced reopening of the State for tourists from December 27.
However, only domestic tourists will be allowed in the first phase and Dimapur will be the only entry point either through rail, road or air. The announcement follows a decision taken by High Powered Committee (HPC) in this regard on December 18. Persons above 65 years of age, with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years have been advised to avoid travelling in view of the risk of transmission of the virus.
According to a notification issued by tourism department’s commissioner & secretary I Kitto Zhimomi, any tourist who wishes to visit Nagaland will be required to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP).
In the first phase, ILP for tourists will be available only in online mode through the portal www.ilp.nagaland.gov.in. For further details and other conditions regarding the online ILP for tourist, tourists have been asked to refer to the notifications of November 8, 2019 and December 21, 2020 issued by the Home department. Further, every tourist will have to possess a negative report of COVID-19 test done not earlier than three days prior to arrival in Nagaland through RT- PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT and carry soft/hard copy of the test report and produce it whenever asked by the competent authority. As negative test report of COVID-19 will not be considered adequate for entry into the State, test should be done through RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT only.
Advising tourists with symptoms of COVID- 19 not to travel, the notification stated that such symptomatic individuals, even with a COVID-19 negative report, will be mandatorily tested on arrival/entry as per the protocols of health & family welfare department and charged for the test.
After obtaining ILP and possessing a COVID-19 negative test report, a tourist will have to register on wvvw.tourism.nagaland.gov.in or install Nagaland Tourism Official App, available both on Google Play Store and Apple Store by clicking the ‘e-invite’ link wherein he will be required to provide the details and upload ILP number, COVID-19 negative test report and personal details/tour itinerary
All tourist travel/visits will be permitted only for pre-booked/package tours and, for this purpose, an e-invite for the proposed itinerary will be generated.
Every tourist before his/her entry into the State will also have to install and register on Aarogya Setu and follow three Ws (wear mask, wash hands, watch distance) and avoid 3Cs (crowded places, close contact setting and closed & enclosed spaces) during the period of stay. The tourist will have to strictly follow all health safety protocols and SOPs and guidelines issued, as applicable to any visitor. These include travelling by private and passenger vehicles, staying in hotels and other hospitality units, going to restaurants, shops, commercial establishments, shopping malls, gymnasiums, barber shops/salons, cinema halls/theatres/multiplexes, entertainment parks/outdoor parks/recreation areas, museums/exhibitions/art galleries, religious places/places of worship, participating in social events and for assemblies and congregations etc.
The notification stated that every tourist will also have to follow the November 12, 2020 order of the State home department regarding penal provisions for violation of certain measures aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 like not wearing mask at public places, etc.
Every tourist on entry and during the entire duration of stay in the State will have to self-monitor his/her health for development of any COVID-like symptoms – fever, cough, difficulty in breathing etc, – and immediately report to the nearest government hospital or contact the respective district health helpline or State helpline 1800 345 0019 in case of development of any aforesaid symptoms, besides following the advice of the respective district administration and health authorities.
All cost that may be involved in testing/treatment/isolation will be borne by the tourist.
The notification cautioned that any violation of the SOP could lead to penal action as per the relevant section of Disaster Management Act 2005, and the Nagaland Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations 2020.