Meghalaya, Dec 8: After months of lockdown, Meghalaya is all set to reopen for tourists from December 21. State government had restricted tourists from entering the state since March due to the COVID pandemic.
Announcing the state government’s decision, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma tweeted, “We are reopening #Tourism in #Meghalaya for tourists from outside the State from 21st Dec, 2020. To ensure the safety of everyone, registration through the @meghtourism app is made mandatory and SOPs are put in place. The Home Of Clouds looks forward to welcoming you.”
#Meghalaya reopens its #Tourism from 21st December, 2020. While you're planning your next trip, here's what awaits you in the #LandOfClouds. #CheckInToNature@narendramodi @prahladspatel @DrJitendraSingh @tourismgoi @meghtourism @MDoNER_India pic.twitter.com/BfsX7EeKNq
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) December 8, 2020
State government has also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for tourists.
In an order issued by the Tourism department of the Meghalaya government asked tourists to produce an original copy of the Covid-19 negative report at the entry points.
The order said, “The Government of Meghalaya has now decided to reopen the State of Meghalaya to tourists visiting from outside the state with effect from 21st December, 2020.”
“It is mandatory for tourists to come with a Covid Negative RT-PCR/TruNat/ CBNAAT report which will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. The RAT Negative Test is not valid for Tourists who are entering the state,” the order read.
“All tourists who wish to visit the State of Meghalaya will need to mandatorily register on the Meghalaya Tourism App and generate an E-invite for the proposed itinerary. The Meghalaya Tourism App is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store on the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xlayer.meg.gov.tourism for Android and https://apps.apple.com/in/app/meghalaya-tourism/id1524458250 for iOS.”
“The E-Invite can also be generated on the website of Meghalaya Tourism. A valid Photo ID card needs to be uploaded on the Meghalaya Tourism App including that of other members who are travelling in the group. Members travelling together can register and generate one E-Invite,” it said.
“It is mandatory to book at least two nights stay [Either Hotel/Homestay/Guest House] for the first two nights and declaration of the complete itinerary for the E-Invite to be generated,” the order further said.
“The services of Registered Tour Operators listed on the Meghalaya Tourism website at the link https://www.meghalayatourism.in/plan-your-trip/tour-operators/ and on the Meghalaya Tourism App, can also be used to obtain an E-Invite,” the notification read.
“If the tourist is staying as a guest of any family or friend in Meghalaya, then the tourist shall declare the full address and contact details of the family or friend and the complete itinerary for the E-Invite to be generated. The E-Invite with the QR Code will have to be produced to the officials at the Entry Points to the State by each tourist along with the Valid Photo IDs. The process of entry is contactless whereby the tourist can display the E-Invite with QR Code on the mobile phone or a print out of the E-Invite with QR Code,” the Meghalaya tourism department said in the order.
The tourist places of Meghalaya were opened for local tourists since October 16 by strictly following Covid-19 protocols.
