India-UAE travel: Visit visa holders to benefit the most as Covid PCR testing rules are eased

India-UAE travel: Visit visa holders to benefit the most as Covid PCR testing rules are eased

Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Go Air announced exemption to carry negative PCR tests for travellers

Published: Sun 20 Feb 2022, 2:32 PM Last updated: Sun 20 Feb 2022, 2:33 PM

The Indian airlines’ decision to drop the Covid-19 PCR test requirement for passengers flying from UAE to India who received the two doses of vaccine in India will boost tourist inflows from India to UAE, say travel industry executives.

They called for the further easing of travel restrictions and removal of rapid PCR test requirements at the Indian airport before departure to UAE, which will substantially boost passenger traffic flow between the two countries.

On Saturday, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Go Air announced exemption to carry negative PCR tests for travellers from UAE to India who have received the two jabs of the vaccines in India.

This new relaxation doesn’t cover travellers who obtained vaccines in the UAE.

TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Tours and Travels, said generally, all the Indian carriers have started accepting passengers who have taken jabs in India.

“There are many passengers from India here on a visit visa who came to explore Expo 2020 Dubai. And this being the nearest point from India as well as easy availability of