Author: Tourism News live

German car maker Volkswagen has said it will temporarily shut down most of its European plants in light following the corona virus pandemic. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said the company would shut down production at factories operated by the group’s brands “in the near future,” with most European plants set to suspend work for at least two weeks. Production at Volkswagen plants in Spain, Slovakia and Italy would all be halted before the end of the week, Diess added. The decision to shut the plants come shortly after the world’s largest carmaker by sales, warned ... Read more

The Andaman and Nicobar administration has decided to close all tourist spots till March 26, as a precautionary measure to check the spread of the corona virus. Beaches, eco-tourism spots and water sports have been closed since yesterday. All tour operators may advise their clients accordingly.

Malaysia has decided to ban all tourists and foreign visitors from March 18-31. Those passengers returning from overseas destinations must undergo health screening and self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.

All bars, pubs and lounges including bars within restaurants in Dubai have been closed from yesterday, until the end of the month to prevent the spread of corona virus. A statement from the Department of Tourism said, “In line with Dubai government’s precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of its residents and visitors, Dubai tourism notifies all bards, pubs and lounges to close with immediate effect from March 16 till the end of the month.” However, restaurants can remain open. Restrictions are only in place for bars. “Dubai Tourism will continuously evaluate the situation in coordination with the ... Read more

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has unveiled an exciting new address showcasing the brand’s signature Swiss hospitality excellence in Vietnam. Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc is the first international premium resort to open along Phu Quoc’s idyllic Ong Lang Beach, and is poised to become the destination of choice for family adventures, company trips, dream weddings, romantic honeymoons and more. The hotel features 305 guestrooms, while the adjacent Mövenpick Residences Phu Quoc offers 329 apartment-style residences and 79 pool villas, perfect for families or extended stays. “This opening represents an evolution of the Mövenpick brand in Vietnam, and we are delighted ... Read more

An association representing all the major American airlines has sought a $50 billion bailout package, even as the White House looks to draft a financial assistance package to help the industry. Travel demand in the US has fallen steeply following the corona virus outbreak, bringing the airline industry to its knees. Airlines for America, the association representing many of the US carriers, has said that without timely action all airlines will run out of money by year-end. The association has said the industry needs $25 billion in grants, $25 billion loans and significant tax relief to keep its head above ... Read more

Norwegian Air will suspend almost all ts flights and temporarily lay off majority of its staff, as a the corona virus scare has choked the demand for air travel. The carrier has said that it will cancel 85% of its flight and lay off 90% of its staff that translates into 7,300 employees. “What our industry is now facing is unprecedented and critical as we are approaching a scenario where most of our airplanes will be temporarily grounded,” Norwegian Air said in a statement. The company will primarily fly a reduced schedule domestically in Norway and between the Nordic capitals. ... Read more

India has prohibited all airlines from carrying passengers from the European Union and the European Free Trade Association member states. The blanket ban will come into effect from March 18 from 5.30 pm onwards. “Travel advisories have been tightened as a preventive measure,” said health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal. An order by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, “No airline shall board a passenger from these nations from March 18. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.” The European Free Trade Association states include Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. United Kingdom and Turkey ... Read more

The Nagaland government has ordered an indefinite ban on the entry of both domestic and foreign tourists into the state, to check the spread of the corona virus. Nagaland has become the first state in India to take such a drastic step. The order issued by Nagaland chief secretary Temjen Roy has said such a step was taken as a “measure of abundant caution in the interest of the public”. The issue of fresh inner line permit (ILP) for domestic and foreign tourists and all other categories will remain suspended with immediate effect till further orders. The order added that ... Read more

There goes your European vacation. The European Union (EU) has banned non-essential entry of all foreign nationals into the continent for at least a month. The stern measure follows the corona virus pandemic, that is beginning to hurt almost all countries in Europe. Only residents, family members, healthcare works and medical experts will be exempt from the rule. The ban has been imposed for the next 30 days, as an initial measure. EU has also announced plans to set up fast green lanes on major roads to give priority to transport of medical goods, food and other emergency services. Ursula ... Read more

The Ministry of Tourism has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for developing them as iconic tourist sites, the Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel has stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The 17 sites include the Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh), Ajanta & Ellora (Maharashtra), Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort & Qutub Minar (Delhi), Colva (Goa), Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Somnath & Dholavira (Gujarat), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Hampi (Karnataka), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Kaziranga (Assam), Kumarakom (Kerala) and Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar). The Ministry will be developing the above ... Read more

The South Kerala Hoteliers’ Forum (SKHF) has urged the state government to advise departments like KSEB, KWA, tax departments and the Thiruvananthapuram corporation to grant hoteliers a deferred payment schedule that would give them relief for a minimum period of six months. With the corona virus spreading rapidly across the globe, the various hotels have been hit hard by cancellation of bookings. SKHF has requested for a GST waiver for a one-year period, as a relief measure. The forum has also asked the government to instruct banks and other financial institutions like KFC and KSIDC to grant interest free moratorium ... Read more

  The Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI) has requested the chief minister to urgently advise banks to extend the moratorium on repayment of loans and interest, pertaining to tourism entrepreneurs. In a letter to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CKTI president EM Najeeb said the moratorium should be extended at least for another year. The stakeholders in the tourism industry have invested huge amounts by mostly borrowing from banks and other financial institutions. The present setback in the tourism industry has affected the stakeholders drastically. The tourism sector in Kerala has been one of the most productive segments contributing largely ... Read more

As the spread of the dreaded corona virus has resulted in flight cancellations, many commercial airlines have announced cuts in their flight schedule. This has sparked greater interest in the availability of private jets. With clients looking to avoid crowded airports, steer clear from packed cabins of commercial flights or to evacuate affected areas, private jets are now being looked upon as viable alternatives. Passengers want to travel as quickly as possible and reach safer destinations without hassle, during this crisis period. Charter jet services like New York based FlyBLACK are serving a broader range of passengers than ever before. ... Read more

The global spread of the corona virus has hit Thailand tourism hard. Last year, the number of tourists who visited Thailand stood at 39 million, earning the country a revenue of more than $60 billion. According to a BBC report, out of the total number of tourists more than 10 million were Chinese. So when the virus hit China hard, Thailand felt the tremors. As more flights from China got cancelled, the Thai airports fell empty. Tourism contributes one-fifth of the country’s total economy, and with manufacturing and agriculture struggling, a hit on tourism was the last thing that Thailand ... Read more