A tourist is seen trying out ornaments with a group of Naga women in one of the traditional Morungs in this picture taken during the Hornbill Festival on December 2, 2018 at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama near Kohima. (Morung File Photo)
Kohima, December 22 (MExN): After almost nine months of restriction on the entry of tourists to Nagaland due to COVID-19 pandemic, the State will reopen its door for domestic tourists from December 27 onwards.
According to a notification issued by the state Tourism Department on Tuesday, the decision was taken during a meeting of the High Powered Committee on December 18. The tourist travel/visits will be permitted only for pre-booked or package tours, it said.
The Tourism Department also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all tourists visiting the State and informed that there will be only one entry point to the state from Dimapur by road, rail or air.
Among others, the SOPs mandated that every tourist will be expected to possess a negative report of COVID-19 test done not earlier than three days prior to arrival in Nagaland through RT-PCR, TrueNat or CBNAAT.
“The tourist should carry the soft/hard copy of the negative test report and produce it whenever asked by the competent authority,” it said, while adding that RAT negative tests of COVID-19 would not be considered adequate for entry into the state.
It advised persons above the age of 65, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10, to avoid travelling in view of the risk of transmission. It also informed that tourists having symptoms of COVID-19 will mandatorily be tested as per the state Health Department’s protocols, even if they possess COVID-19 negative reports.
The SOPs also stipulated that all tourists who wish to visit the state of Nagaland would be required to obtain the Inner Line Permit (ILP) for tourists through the portal www.ilp.nagaland.gov.in.
After obtaining ILPS, all tourists will need to mandatorily register on the state tourism portal www.tourism.nagaland.gov.in or install ‘The Nagaland Tourism App’ and generate an E-Invite for the proposed itinerary.
Tourists have also been advised to visit the state portals to peruse the existing health and safety protocols and guidelines issued by the state government and health department and strictly follow them during their visit.
