Oman's decision to lift travel ban delights stranded expats

Muscat: For the stranded expatriate employees and their families, the long exasperating wait is finally over with the Sultanate’s decision to lift air travel restrictions.

The relief was visible when the news was flashed in different websites and WhatsApp groups that Oman will be lifting the travel ban on fully vaccinated travellers from South Asia and many other countries, which earlier featured on the Red List.

The decision was welcomed by expats who expressed their relief to be reunited with their family members stranded abroad.

“I travelled home in an emergency following my father’s admission to hospital. I never thought that I would be stuck for so long. I am relieved that I can now return to Muscat,” said Salim Mohamed, who has been in India since mid-April.

What thrills Samad Sainuddin, a Bangladeshi national, is that he doesn’t have to go in for quarantine as per the new announcement.

“I am so relieved not only that I can travel back exactly two days before the expiry of my resident card but also that I do not have to undergo quarantine. I have already taken two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech”, he told Observer in a WhatsApp reply.

Starting September 1, vaccinated travelers can enter Oman provided they carry a certificate containing QR code stating that they have received the two doses of Covid-19 vaccination that are approved by the Sultanate.

And expatriates who have valid residency visas, but are outside the Sultanate for more than six months, can travel back on a request from their employers/sponsors.

Ashiq Mirza, a Pakistani national said his family has been stranded in Karachi for the last five months. “I am so happy about this news. My wife received both doses of the vaccine and my children are below 15 years of age. So, they qualify to travel. I can’t wait to see my wife and kids.”

But the rising air fares have dampened the joy of the expats. Since the announcement, the fares, especially from cities in major South Asian countries have skyrocketed.

An economy class ticket from the southern India cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi now costs above RO320 for the first week of September. Tickets from the Indian capital New Delhi to Muscat are also in the same range while tickets from Mumbai are hovering around RO 220.

Ticket rates from three of Pakistan’s major cities – Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi — are all priced at about RO 230 and above.

Lifting of the travel regulations will be effective on countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Argentina, Ethiopia, Colombia, Iran, Indonesia, Iraq, Malaysia, Libya, Philippines, Nigeria, Sudan, Singapore, Thailand, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, Tunisia and Vietnam.