After nine months of restriction on the entry of tourists to Meghalaya due to COVID-19 pandemic, the State on Monday re-opened its doors for tourists.

With tourists already flocking at the entry points of Meghalaya, the Tourism Department has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all tourists visiting the State.

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Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong along with State Minister H Dohling and other dignitaries inaugurated the Umling Facilitation Centre in RiBhoi district, where tourists in considerable number have already started to check in.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 took to the twitter to express his happiness.

“#Meghalaya reopens for #Tourism today & our tourists have already checked in at the Centre,” Conrad Sangma tweeted.

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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 at https://www.meghalayatourism.in/

A valid Photo ID card needs to be uploaded on the Meghalaya Tourism App including that of other members who are traveling in the group. Members travelling together can register and generate one E-Invite.

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.

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 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 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.

An original copy of the COVID Negative report as per para 7 of this SOP has to be also produced by the tourist at the Entry Point.

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.