On March 10, Nepal threw the door wide open to tourists, removing all pre-arrival testing requirements for fully vaxxed travellers in a bid to recharge its moribund tourism industry. SHUTTERSTOCK
The government has decided to remove the mandatory rule of filling the online international traveller form, a passenger locator form at the Covid-19 Crisis Management Coordination Centre (CCMCC), to make it easier for travellers to enter Nepal.
This was the last document related to Covid-19 restrictions imposed a year ago for all travellers entering Nepal.
Sunita Nepal, spokesperson for the CCMCC, said that a formal decision to this effect will be announced soon.
“We have decided to remove the form to reduce travel hassles,” said an official at the CCMCC. “Travellers returning to Nepal won’t be burdened by unnecessary forms and testing requirements. Now we look forward to seeing the pre-Covid normalcy.”
However, said the official, as some information on travellers is still required because the pandemic is not yet over, the CCMCC has decided to add a few provisions in the immigration form that passengers need to fill separately.
A technical team is working on that, according to the official.
The CCMCC said it decided to remove the form following a request from the Tourism Ministry.
On March 10, Nepal threw the door wide open to tourists, removing all pre-arrival testing requirements for fully vaxxed travellers in a bid to recharge its moribund tourism industry. All foreign visitors have to do is flash their vaccine cards
Travellers who have not been vaccinated or have received only one jab need to produce a negative RT-PCR test not older than 72 hours.
But the CCMCC decided not to remove the travellers form. The forms have attracted complaints as being long and complex.
Nepal on Friday reported 18 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the nationwide infection tally to 1.11 million.
Health officials say that the vaccination progress has also been good so far.
As of Friday, 64.7 percent or 18.89 million Nepalis out of a total population of 29.19 million had received both shots. Similarly, 21.95 million or 75.2 percent of the population had received their first dose, Health Ministry statistics show.
Sangam Prasain is Business Editor at The Kathmandu Post, covering tourism, agriculture, mountaineering, aviation, infrastructure and other economic affairs. He joined The Kathmandu Post in October 2009.
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