Swine Flu Hijacks Tourism in Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators Association (APTOA) has reacted to the dual policy of the state government on travelers coming to the state after the Swin Flu hit the country.
If the Health Department and the Tourism Department are seriously thinking of safeguarding the local citizens from Swine Flu disease then they should impose the eight days outside the State stay order and compulsory medical check up of all the travelers coming into Arunachal Pradesh from the mainland India as the danger of H1N1 virus is not from the foreign tourists but from the Indians coming from swine flu infected areas within and outside the country.
Govt of Arunachal Pradesh should immediately lift foreigner’s 8 days outside stay order as they are the safest visitors who under go three tier medical checks before entering Arunachal Pradesh.
To quote a latest news clipping as on 1st Sept 2009 – Germany has a confirmed 15878 Swine Flu patients, no death, Switzerland 1014 patients, no death, like wise Portugal 2244, no death, Norway 1023 cases, no death, Italy 1800 cases, no death, Greece has 1839 patients, 1 death,. Now coming to India, the latest figure states 3987 swine flu cases detected 105 deaths. From the above statistics one can deduce that the danger of Swine Flu disease is not from foreign tourists but from the mainland Indian travelers and visitors, the Association stated.
A delegation led by its Chairman Tsering Wange and the President John Panya met the Commissioner Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Arunacha Pradesh to appraise him the Swine Flu and the state government policy which has hit the Tourism Industry in the state.
The Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh had issued a circular dated 20th June 2009 stating that foreigners and Indians coming from abroad will not be issued entry permit unless they have already been in India for at least eight days prior to their request for the permit. While foreigners are made to wait for minimum eight days before they are allowed to enter Arunachal Pradesh there is no restriction for Indian travelers whether they are coming from Pune, Mumbai or Delhi.
Earlier Department of Tourism, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh also issued a circular dated 7th May 2009 stating that no PAP will be issued to foreign tourist coming from Swine Flu affected countries. Because of these official circulars and orders, many foreign tourists had to change the itinerary at the last moment incurring huge expenses while others had to cancel the whole programme of visiting Arunachal Pradesh. Nowhere in India have such anti tourism circulars been issued in the name of containing Swine flu.
APTOA Chairman stated that foreigners plan their holidays several months in advance. They are medically checked in their country and a declaration is made that they are free from Swine Flu. They are again checked at International airport for symptoms of H1N1 virus when they first land in India.