India and Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding for reciprocal recognition of Covid vaccination certificate. The move will ease travel between the two countries for fully vaccinated people. It also marks another milestone in robust Covid-19 related cooperation and coordination between India and Nepal.

The MoU was signed by India’s ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra and Roshan Pokhrel, Secretary at the Ministry of Health & Population, Government in Nepal.

After a brutal Covid 19 wave earlier this year, the Himalayan nation is gradually opening up to tourists.

After over a year and half, the bus service between Siliguri in West Bengal and Kathmandu resumed.

Also read: Siliguri-Kathmandu bus service resumes after remaining closed since outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic

The service was halted after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Passengers wishing to avail the service would have to be fully vaccinated. India has administered 118 crore Covid 19 vaccines so far. About 29.5 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated. As India’s vaccination pace picked up steam, it is also set to resume exports of the jabs to its neighbouring countries including Nepal.

For Nepal, the tourism sector is a key as it is one of the main contributors to the country's GDP. It is also a major source of foreign exchange and revenue. But the Covid 19 pandemic has dealt a huge blow to this sector.