Does any have an idea when things will be returning to normality re Tourist Visas being available again ? I want to travel to India again, back to Goa and Assam before I get too old to travel safely. My old pins are getting a little creaky with age and the prospect of being wheeled around does not appeal to me. Hope are well out there .

Hello PJ ---Hope you are OK. I often wonder how the previous Goa Posters are!

Didn't reply before in case there were replies from others who knew in detail. Gov.UK not really clear---OCI can travel.
Visas can now be applied for but not used until end of September? Not sure if this is latest or not.
We left at end of March---not returning yet as OH is isolating due to age and health.

Covid cases are obviously still rising but deaths very low rate in wealthier States. I think this may be a statistics anomaly as some very well-off seem to be admitted at the slightest symptom.

(Found this link)

https://e-visa.co.uk/india/corona

Tui are advertising package holidays from 10 th of October ! Also in todays Times Dalrymple is asking Uk authorities to examine why statues to General Havelock, who is in Trafalgar Square and John Nicholson, whose statue is in Northern Ireland are allowed to stand as both were implicated in terrible massacres of Indians during the uprising on 1856/7....Both of them are responsible for terrible crimes and should be considered war criminals.

1) Not sure about statues, there are so many of people who had a history of atrocities elsewhere---including Churchill. It would be a difficult job to pull them all down.
Perhaps putting a fixed plaque at the base giving history in all its bad and good points might be an idea?

2) There is a major spike of Covid cases in Goa at the moment---message yesterday from doctor niece. Due to large gatherings at Ganesh Chaturthi---(against all rules). People are not obeying advice.
However it should settle but then Diwali (November) will be the same! Hopefully vaccine by Christmas!

All the signs are for at least 3 to 4 vaccines should be available before Christmas. Its going to be a strange Christmas for some but for others a time to reflect on its original form as Christian festival, not a shopaholic fest with booze ! The last time they banned Christmas was in 1644 and it was The Puritans-and look what happened to them !

In India Christmas seems to be more religious for the local people (not tourists!), It's Diwali that is buy, buy, buy--- jewellery and clothes shops make their profit!

Like Ramadan in The Middle East (at least in Saudi) Shop till you drop ! Consumerist jamboree.