Category: Top Stories

Greece’s Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis has said the country is trying to do everything possible to ensure that the country remains an attractive tourist destination with a low rate of coronavirus infections. Talking to BBC Radio he said that the country’s measures to control the pandemic has proved to be successful. “We’re taking specific targeted measures where we see specific concentrations of cases,” Theocharis told Radio 4’s “Today” program. He went on to note that coronavirus cases in Greece remain far below the European Union average in proportional terms and the UK threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 residents per week, ... Read more

Recovery in China’s domestic tourism sector is picking up pace thanks to the summer holiday travel rush, CGTN has reported. Shanghai students are back on campus and the World Expo Museum is finally getting a break. In July and August, the museum welcomed 60,000 tourists, a big jump from previous months. Tourists still need to book in advance to visit, but that hasn’t stopped them from coming. And most of the visitors are young local students, the CGTN report said. “We saw an obvious increase. In July and August, we were seeing 1,500 or 1,800 every day, 15 or 20 ... Read more

Marriott International has curated a selection of handpicked staycation offers across their hotels in India. Guests can book now and indulge in a peaceful getaway until December 31, 2020.  Ensuring maximum flexibility and savings, guest packages will be tailor made, to each unique holiday need and preference. These staycations come with the added benefits of a complimentary pick up and drop, room upgrade on check-in and free stay for kids. That’s not all, select hotels will also let guests indulge in special evenings curated by our chefs or avail of in-room movie experiences, topped with snacks and beverages. Marriott Bonvoy ... Read more

Sri Lanka will implement a short-term action plan to revive the country’s tourism industry which has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said on Monday. He said the government will allocate nearly $1 million over the next four months to revive tourism and the short-term action plan was being finalized, reports Xinhua news agency. Under the plan, 12 new tourist attraction sites identified in several districts would be developed while community tourist villages would also be developed, IANS said in a report. Ranatunga said the action plan will also be taken to modernize the Negombo, ... Read more

Fernando de Noronha, a tropical island off Brazil known as one of the world’s most coveted travel destinations, said it is reopening to visitors, who have already had COVID-19. The island, part of a pristine volcanic archipelago that limits tourism to several hundred arrivals per day, closed five months ago to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, AFP has reported. Officials said in a post on the island’s Instagram account that it would begin reopening in phases from September 1, with strict health controls to “guarantee everyone’s protection.” “In this first phase, only tourists who have already had COVID-19 ... Read more

picture credit – Taylor Burk Photography Canada is extending travel restrictions on incoming foreign travellers for another month as coronavirus continues to pose a threat to public safety, CIC News has reported. Travel restrictions are now being extended until September 30. This is the third time Canada is extending travel restrictions that were originally put in place from March 18 until June 30. The federal government has been reviewing the coronavirus situation month-by-month and adjusting travel policies accordingly. In addition, the mandatory quarantine order that was in effect since March has also been extended. Exempt travellers will have to carry out ... Read more

picture credit : Manish Chopdekar The Goa government has withdrawn the need for transit permits for people to visit the state. However, the requirement for Covid-19 tests either prior to departure, upon arrival and home quarantine will continue for the visitors. No travel permit is now required to enter Goa, but a modified health protocol now requires travellers to carry a negative test report secured 48-hours prior to entering the state. The new instructions follow orders from the Union home ministry which said there shall be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods and that no ... Read more

Avani Hotels & Resorts has officially opened its latest resort and the first in Thailand’s southern beach town of Krabi – the Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort. Centrally located, the resort boasts stunning views of limestone formations rising up from the Andaman Sea. Just steps away from local cafes and bars, as well as the ever-popular Ao Nang Night Market, visitors can immerse themselves in the bustling social scene while still being able to enjoy Ao Nang’s natural beauty, the resort said in a press statement. The contemporary 178 guest rooms and villas reflect Krabi’s natural landscape and are ... Read more

With the coronavirus pandemic dealing a severe blow to Malaysia’s tourism sector and domestic travellers unable to revive the industry, the country’s tourism ministry has welcomed the government’s decision to launch travel “green zones” for foreigners, says a report by Arab News. “We’ve always been consistent in our approach of asking the government to review international borders,” Tan Kok Liang, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), told Arab News, adding that the green zones are “most welcome.” Domestic travel, despite several efforts taken by MATTA, is not enough to “regenerate sustainable revenues streams” for the ... Read more

Costa Rica will soon reopen its doors to American tourists — but only from six states. Starting September 1, residents of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont will be permitted to travel to the Central American country, according to an announcement made by Costa Rica’s tourism board. “In these six states, there has been a very positive evolution of the pandemic and their epidemiological indicators are of high quality,” Gustavo Segura, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, said in a statement. In order to enter the country, American travellers will be required to present a valid driver’s license ... Read more

A report from the United States Travel Association states nearly half of the 16.9 million jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector were wiped out in March and April, but at least in Niagara Falls, there are some signs that brighter days are ahead. “We are seeing some slight indications of recovery now,” said John Percy, the President and CEO of Destination Niagara USA, adding, “We’ve seen that hotel bookings have increased 28% week over week on an average.”  There could be many reasons for the recent uptick. For example, pent up demand for travel. “Our areas match up to what our ... Read more

Emirates will operate repatriation flights to Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram till August 31. These special flights will facilitate travel for Indian citizens in the UAE wishing to return home, and for UAE residents who are currently in India. Only Indian citizens stranded in the UAE will be allowed to fly from Dubai to the five Indian destinations. All flights will be operated with the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER and can be booked on emirates.com or via travel agents. Passengers must meet all the entry requirements of the destination to be allowed to board the flights. Flights will be available for UAE nationals ... Read more

Chandy’s Windy Woods, Munnar, has been awarded by TripAdvisor, as the “first among the best 25 luxury hotels in India” and also as the “9th among top 25 hotels in Asia”. It also has been ranked “17th among world’s top 25 hotels”. Chandy’s Windy Woods, Munnar, has always been a “classic choice” for family vacations, honey mooning, destination weddings and corporate events, the hotel management said in a statement. “We believe our success mantra to be our quality service, hospitality, food and of course the breath-taking view of the tea plantation from every room,” the statement added. “We are humbled by this ... Read more

Thailand’s tourism ministry aims to introduce its “Safe and Sealed” tourism plan in Phuket by October 1, while operators in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are teaming up as a northern hub for long-stay travellers, Bangkok Post has reported. Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the ministry will join a meeting with Public Health, Interior, Foreign and Transport ministries on August 27 about the plan to open the country to tourists from low-risk cities or provinces who seek an excursion to Thailand. After a plan is developed, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) must approve it before launching the scheme. ... Read more

Private airline Vistara is likely to start flight operations between India and the UK, Germany and France under the bilateral air bubble arrangements that have been signed with these countries, news agency PTI has said. Earlier this month, India and the UK signed a bilateral air pact, under which the airlines of both the countries can operate international flights with certain restrictions. India had signed similar bilateral pacts with Germany and France in July. Vistara got its second B787-9 wide-body aircraft on Saturday. It received its first B787-9 aircraft in February. “Vistara has already got the slots at the Heathrow ... Read more