Travellers flying from the UAE are being warned: even a slightly worn passport can now stop you from boarding. As immigration and airline checks tighten, minor wear and tear, such as frayed edges, water stains, or a scratched chip, is enough to get a valid passport rejected, regardless of visa status.

Passport wear can mean denied boarding, even with a valid visa

International travellers departing from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are facing increased scrutiny over the physical condition of their passports. UAE-based airlines are now enforcing stricter rules, often stopping passengers at check-in if their passports show even minor damage, regardless of visa validity or passport expiry date. Common types of damage that can raise red flags include:

Authorities say these issues, though sometimes minor, may compromise embedded security features such as microchips, holograms, and machine-readable zones. If these features are damaged, passport scanners may fail, leading to suspicion of forgery or tampering by immigration officers. Airlines departing from the UAE are also held accountable. If a passenger is denied entry due to passport condition, the airline may face penalties or be required to bear the cost of deportation. This has made airlines extra cautious at the check-in stage, often barring travellers with visibly damaged passports from boarding at all.

Countries with the strictest passport integrity checks

While the UAE is leading this push for pristine passports, other countries are also enforcing similar measures. The following nations are particularly strict about the condition of travel documents:

What counts as “damaged” and when to replace your passport

Officials generally split passport damage into two categories:

Even a partially damaged passport can lead to denial of boarding or entry. Travellers are strongly advised to renew their passport at the first signs of wear, before problems occur. Prevention is key: keeping the document dry, using a protective cover, and avoiding inserting papers or folding the passport helps maintain its integrity.

Why authorities are so strict, the risk of tampering

Modern passports are more than just identification; they are high-security documents embedded with:

Damage to any of these features can cause technical issues at automated border control gates or manual inspection points. A passport that fails to scan correctly could appear tampered with, triggering suspicion and potential detainment. Officials emphasize that the strict enforcement is to protect national security and maintain document integrity. With the rise in identity fraud and document forgery, immigration systems are designed to flag any inconsistencies, no matter how small.

Rajasthan’s heritage has just found itself a new stage, on the sides of buses. From the steps of Jaipur’s Albert Hall Museum on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari flagged off Rajasthan-themed FlixBuses, their exteriors drenched in images of forts, palaces, and folk motifs, ready to turn heads in both the United Kingdom and India.

Rajasthan-Themed FlixBuses Flagged Off From Jaipur

Hon’ble Deputy CM of Rajasthan, Ms. Diya Kumari flagged off the FlixBus Heritage on Wheels initiative at Albert Hall, joined by Commissioner of Tourism Mrs. Rukmani Riar-IAS, and Managing Director of FlixBus India Mr. Surya Khurana.@KumariDiya #HeritageOnWheels #DiyaKumari
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/FijCHDoy5B

— Rajasthan Tourism (@my_rajasthan) September 10, 2025

According to Travel Trade Journal, the idea, as said by Divya Kumari, is not just about transport but about storytelling on wheels. She reiterated that Rajasthani culture and heritage are the soul of their identity. She added that they want travellers from across the world to experience this essence. These buses will serve as moving ambassadors, showcasing their traditions and tourism potential. This initiative will enhance their global image, open new opportunities for the youth, and contribute to economic growth.

The collaboration was first sparked during Divya Kumari’s visit to Munich under the Rising Rajasthan initiative. Months later, it’s hitting the road in two high-visibility corridors: the London-Cambridge route in the UK, and the Dehradun-Haridwar-Delhi-Jaipur stretch in India.

But these buses are more than rolling posters. A quick scan of the QR codes printed on their sides opens the Rajasthan Tourism website, where travellers can browse itineraries, read about heritage landmarks, or even plan a trip to Jaipur straight from their seat.

Beyond Forts And Palaces

For FlixBus, the project is an experiment in marrying mobility with culture. Surya Khurana, Managing Director of FlixBus, said that this initiative connects heritage with modern travel experiences. He further added that they wish for passengers to enjoy more than just a journey, and want them to experience the richness of Rajasthan’s history and culture firsthand.

To make the debut tangible, the first 100 passengers rolling into Jaipur on these buses will get free entry to the Albert Hall Museum, the very site where the initiative was launched. Social media campaigns and calls for user-generated content will extend the buzz online, ensuring the buses’ cultural messaging doesn’t stop at the roadside.

Also Read: Travelling To Ranthambore? 7 Animals You Can Sight At This National Park In Rajasthan

All You Need To Know

Divya Kumari used the launch to stress that Rajasthan’s tourism identity must stretch beyond its postcard landmarks. The buses, she said, are a way to remind travellers that the state’s richness lies as much in its living traditions and diverse experiences as in its monumental architecture, as stated by Travel Trade Journal. 

Themed buses are a bold step in experiential marketing, pushing Rajasthan’s image into everyday spaces like highways and bus stations. They make the state visible not just at travel expos or ads, but to commuters, tourists, and locals alike. By fusing cultural imagery with upbeat infrastructure, the government hopes to bring in new audiences, generate jobs, and place Rajasthan more firmly on the global travel map.

Also Read: For Vivek Agnihotri, Going Nowhere Is Travelling; Says, Travelling With An Objective Is Tourism Not Travel

In Divya Kumari’s words, the buses are “moving ambassadors.” In practice, they’re something more: a signal that Rajasthan Tourism is ready to take its story wherever the road leads.

Cover Image Courtesy: tweetkishorec/X

For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.

First Published: September 13, 2025 5:04 PM

Vacationing in India, is always about wandering off to the dry deserts in Rajasthan to the huge lagoons of Kerala to snow-capped peaks of Himachal. Despite all this, the Northeastern part of India is quite unexplored and has some of the most breathtaking landscapes and cultural treasures of the country. This part, including the so-called seven sisters: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura-Apart from Sikkim-has finally been put on the map for must-visits.

Raw, Untouched Nature

The North East of India is probably a land of the last unknown natural landscapes and undisturbed raw beauty. From rolling tea gardens of Assam to the ethereal living root bridges in Meghalaya, those from Kanchenjunga-housed Sikkim to Arunachal’s mystical-yet-iconic monasteries realize that the region indeed gives you every type of landscape imaginable. Those addicted to nature can trek through alpine meadows, visit dense forests abundant in biodiversity, or take river cruises on the mighty Brahmaputra. Away from the commercialized tourist circuits, the Northeast has that remaining charm and tranquility to retain.

A Cultural Kaleidoscope

The Northeast is a mix of all ethnicities, customs, and languages. Over 200 tribes inhabit this set of states, each practicing its local customs, dyeing, and craft; festivals and culinary flavors; it is an experience all by itself. The festivals like Hornbill of Nagaland, Sangai of Manipur, or Bihu of Assam offer spectacular glimpses into day-to-day life. Here one may sample native art forms, folk music, and crafts that are very ancient but stand apart from mainstream Indian culture.Read more: Beyond Marine Drive: 10 Mumbai parks best for family outing

Adventures Await

This is the region for adrenaline junkies. Right from cave explorations in Meghalaya to white-water-rafting in Arunachal, paragliding in Sikkim, or mountain biking on tough tracks in Nagaland, this part of North East India truly has it all for adrenaline junkies. The untouched terrain safeguards the purity of any such adventure experience across here.

Sustainable and Responsible Tourism

Conscious traveling is hitting zeniths, and drawing up an ecology road for the North East is a classic example of sustainable travel. The region’s community, deep-minded of ecology, has been carrying out ecologically conscious life for centuries. Choosing from different modes of responsible tourism is one of doing the eco-homestays, eco-camps that save the environment while restoring a livelihood for the locals.

Exploring Culinary Delights

North East denotes a plethora of culinary traditions, with each being a figure of a particular cultural identity. Each state has its culinary specialties-from from Assam fish curries that are sour and hot, to smoked meat and chilling atmosphere of Nagaland; from jadoh rice of Meghalaya, to momos and thukpa of Sikkim that are highly famous. Neither a few fresh herbs here, nor a couple of bamboo shoot there, in combination with those local spices, would guarantee that the food is worth reminiscing. So for those wanting to taste some real, off-the-beaten-path flavors-the region is a ready-made paradise to go to.Read more: 8 incredible safari tours around the world that aren’t about Big Cats

Boosting Connectivity and Infrastructure

Now with the availability of direct flights to such destinations from prime locations in the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, it is better observed with more accessibility. Improved road network, new airports, improved rail connectivity are all making the region ever more accessible. The “Act East Policy” of the government has also ensured increased investments for infrastructure, further opening gates for tourism. Easy access has been made possible currently because of new direct flights from metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

The Traveler’s Safe Haven

Perhaps due to not very many people being aware of the site, the Northeast really answers the description of a safest and most hospitable land for any traveler to venture into. The Northeast people, friendly and accommodative, are ever willing to share their culture with the outsiders. Single travelers, more often than not, especially female ones, rave about the safety and the sense of belonging they experienced when traveling in the region.

The Foreign Edge in Tourism

With international places becoming too pricey, North-East India can offer experiences at a fraction of the cost. It offers a pristine beauty that can compete with the alpine meadows of Switzerland; its wildlife sanctuaries can give others a run for their biodiversity; and its cultures are rich, rivaling Southeast Asia—all the while, making travel easier for the already home-based tourist. So, the place remains a hot cake not only for domestic tourism but also for international tourism. In many ways, North East India is no longer the “hidden gem” of India; instead, it is all set to steal the limelight in the tourism map of the country. In 2025, the spotlight will fall on the region as one that truly blends nature, culture, adventure, and accessibility. The North East is not just a destination but a genuineness, sustainable, and truly memorable travel alternative.Author:

Mr. Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)