By Noel Swain
After a lengthy wait, the UAE opened its borders and lifted the ban on travellers from India. With flight services now operational, it is the ideal time for travellers to resume international travel with a trip to the substantially awaited ‘Dubai Expo 2020’. Dubbed to be the World’s Greatest Show, the Dubai Expo is scheduled to be held from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
While frequent travellers are anticipated to be nicely versed with the standard drill of international travel, a pretty distinctive practical experience awaits as numerous prepare to set off for maiden international trip because in the post-pandemic world.
Here’s a wise checklist of issues to recall for international fliers.
1. The initial port of entry
While numerous elements of travel have changed but all international trips start with finding a visa. Accurate paperwork for visas and passports is the most essential factor to full from your travel checklist. While the method of procuring a visa may sound time-consuming and laborious, VFS Global has you covered. Having been related with the UAE government via Emirates Airlines because 2002, VFS Global facilitates visa services for travellers on the flagship carrier in 16 nations worldwide via visa application centers in Afghanistan, Algeria, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey and UAE. Travellers on Emirates or travel agents applying on behalf of prospects can stroll in and apply for the UAE visa. VFS Global also provides visa on the web application services on emirates.com enabling residents from more than 180 nations to apply for their UAE visa conveniently
2. Book now or rue later
The next vital step to practical experience the mega cultural gathering is booking your tickets early. This way you can seamlessly discover your selected itinerary at the Expo. The Expo 2020 Dubai provides a selection of passes to suit everyone’s desires from regular tickets such as one-day passes, premium practical experience to bundle tickets such as family packages and Jubilee Experience. You can book your spots by way of VFS Global, an authorised ticket reseller for Dubai Expo 2020 in GCC, India, China, Russia, UK and Germany.
3. Beyond passports and Visas
Even as covid-19 instances have come down, updates on Covid-19 credentials along with vaccination status have develop into a mandatory requirement for all types of travel. Currently, Dubai-bound, travellers will have to present a valid unfavorable Covid-19 Test certificate issued inside 48 hours from the time of collecting the sample and from an authorized wellness service provider, which use the QR code System, as nicely as Rapid PCR Test report performed at the departure airport 6 hours prior to departure, supplied with a QR code program. No GDRFA or ICA approval is expected for vacationers travelling to the UAE. Travellers will be asked to present proof of any necessary testing, quarantine, or isolation duration in each their departure and location nations. One may well be unable to enter or leave the nation, as nicely as board any airline, if they fail to present these documents. Since these regulations are topic to transform, travellers are advised to go to respective airlines and government web site prior to departure.
4. The vital Expo Itinerary
Dubai Expo 2020 is a complete action-packed occasion regardless of whether you are searching for business enterprise prospects, want to express your creativity, discover a world of flavours, or let your inner techie go, there’s normally anything to be excited about. To prevent the anxiety of missing out on an practical experience, it is most effective to schedule your preferred activities at the Dubai Expo ahead of time. The Expo provides a plethora of fascinating experiences like indoor rainfall of the Netherlands pavilion, cuisines from about 200 restaurants, grand operas, theatre shows, concerts, retail therapy from exclusive brands and numerous more.
5. Befriend tech and contribute to saving the planet
Post pandemic, the travel and hospitality sector has undergone tremendous measures to boost traveller’s self-assurance by supplying services that are touch-no cost and contactless as nicely as feasible. Contactless services are becoming the regular rather than the exception from digital payments, remote application submission, digital gateways to facial recognition for faster access, travel today really is finish-to-finish digital. Thus, travellers will have to warm up to the concept of applying contactless services and discover comfort and ease even though operating new age technologies that guarantees travel security. On the other hand, going digital also unknowingly promotes green travel, a habit that has been in our minds but hadn’t been executed so far. The Travel Industry utilizes technologies to discover possibilities and develop options that will enable travellers recognise the lengthy-term environmental rewards of prudent travel. The endless paper trails are now concise and place with each other only a click away from submission, generating it effective to embark on the green journey.
Even with an array of alterations in travel provided the pandemic, our will to travel is nonetheless essential. Having mentioned that, Expo 2020 Dubai is also a as soon as in a lifetime practical experience and not getting to get pleasure from the journey to the fullest due to poor preparing can be a disappointment. Hence, preserve this checklist handy and make the most of your awaited international holiday.
(The author is Business Head – Schengen, eVisa and Passport Services, VFS Global. Views expressed are individual and do not reflect the official position or policy of the TheSpuzz Online.)