Category: Top Stories

Saint Lucia has introduced several new and updated protocols for arrivals from July 9, following a reassessment of market conditions. Travellers will be required to obtain a negative PCR (polymerised chain reaction) test within seven days of travel unless they are arriving from countries in the travel bubble designated by the government of Saint Lucia. Visitors travelling only from destinations that have zero or a low instance of Covid-19 cases will be exempt from the seven-day pre-testing requirement, Breaking Travel News has reported. These destinations currently include Antigua, Barbuda, Aruba, Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, ... Read more

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes on Thursday said the low-cost airline can bounce back to profitability next year, but that it will look to raise 2 billion ringgit ($469 million) in the next six months to be in a “very comfortable” position. In an interview with Nikkei Asian Review, Fernandes expressed confidence that AirAsia can overcome heavy losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Malaysia-based company said earlier on Thursday that it was working to raise more than 1 billion ringgit ($234 million). Air Asia gave details of its plans after its shares fell sharply on Wednesday following a ... Read more

Uttarakhand has decided to allow tourists from other states provided they bring along a Covid-19 negative medical report taken not more than 72 hours before their arrival. The tourists will not be quarantined on their arrival in the state. However, till further orders, the Char Dham Yatra will remain closed for them as only residents of Uttarakhand are allowed to undertake this pilgrimage in a regulated manner. The State’s Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj said, “We welcome tourists from other states to the Devbhoomi. We hope each tourist will bring the Covid-19 negative test report and enjoy the beautiful ... Read more

Niraamaya Wellness Retreats, known for its bespoke wellness offerings, has devised a set of ayurvedic treatments that are being offered to boost immunity. The Niraamaya Immunity Booster Package, the hospitality firm says, is designed to help strengthen you against the various afflictions in the world today. In Ayurveda, the objective of immunity-boosting is achieved through rasayana, vajikarana and ojovardhaka therapies. Rasayana and vajikarana medications enhance the immune system by using immuno-modulatory agents of herbal origin. The Ayurvedic concepts of Vyadhi Kshematwa, Ojas and Bala are the primary focus areas, Niraamaya stated in a press release. The therapeutic strategy of this ... Read more

Norway will permit the residents of Schengen Zone and European Economic Area (EEA) countries to travel to the archipelago of Svalbard from July 15, according to the Norwegian’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Commercial flights, as well as expedition cruises (ships with capacity for 500 or fewer passengers), will be included in the reopening of Svalbard for travellers, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.  “It is important that tourism in Svalbard can also take part in the reopening we are now implementing in communities, but because of Svalbard’s emergency and emergency preparedness this opening must happen gradually and more controlled than on the ... Read more

The Chicago-headquartered Hyatt Hotels Corporation has said it will continue to grow the Thompson Hotels brand throughout the southern United States with deals for two new properties—Thompson Savannah and Thompson Buckhead—expected to open in Georgia in 2021. Marking the brand’s entry into the state, these projects will join four other Thompson hotels already under development including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas. These six new properties are expected to join Thompson’s nine hotels across the United States and Mexico, many of which have resumed operations and are welcoming back guests. Thompson Hotels is a subsidiary brand of Hyatt. “We ... Read more

Bali, the Indonesian tourism hotspot, will reopen its borders to international tourists from September 11. Terming it “New Era of Life Order Protocol”, Bali will roll out a three-phased plan to restore the island’s economy, which begins this week. From July 9, the local administration will allow some businesses to operate. These include health services, fishing, restaurants, modern markets and finance. Tourism activities begin in phase 2 from July 31, when Indonesians will be allowed to visit. The final and third phase, when the island opens to international visitors, will start from 11 September. However, it is yet to release details on ... Read more

The Haryana Tourism Corporation will run six liquor shops in Gurugram as a pilot project starting today. Officials said that it is the first time that a state government entity will be operating liquor vends in the district. The decision was taken by the state government after the tourism department suffered huge losses due to closure of tourism complexes and guest houses during the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19. During the lockdown period, the revenue receipt of the corporation was almost nil. The Gurugram excise department had placed an advertisement on June 23 for auction of 78 ... Read more

Airbnb is taking steps to reduce “unauthorized house parties” thrown by guests in rental homes. The San Francisco-based lodging company announced that it has sent out guidelines to US hosts to “protect the safety of our community” as coronavirus cases rage throughout the country. “Reducing the number of unauthorized house parties on Airbnb has always been a priority, and it’s more important now than ever,” Airbnb read. “With public health mandates in place throughout the country, we’re taking actions to support safe and responsible travel in the United States.” Under the policy, US guests under the age of 25 who have less than three positive ... Read more

Several German officials on Monday said they hope Berlin would soon ease its coronavirus-related travel restrictions so that tourism activities with Turkey could resume. Turkey is one of the most popular travel destinations for German holidaymakers; nearly 5 million German tourists travelled to Turkey last year.  “Every country should be treated fairly and I am pretty confident that tourism activity between Turkey and Germany will resume soon,” the German government’s tourism commissioner, Thomas Bareiss, told German broadcaster NTV. “I hope that I will have the opportunity to travel to Turkey this summer,” Nils Schmid, foreign affairs spokesman for the Social ... Read more

Uruguay’s selection as the only Latin American nation to be named on the European Union’s safe countries list makes it look like a surprise, but the decision was made on solid health grounds. Only 936 Covid-19 cases have been reported in Uruguay, and 27 deaths. A lockdown, initiated on March 13 with the cessation of university classes and quickly expanded to cover schools, shopping centres and the Argentine border, has been a success. Uruguay has announced that it is analysing the opening of its borders to EU countries. Uruguayan Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi said in Montevideo that the opening of ... Read more

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, India’s leading integrated travel services company, has introduced Honeymoon Specials & Romantic Breaks, a range of exclusive experiences for newly-weds or getaways for India’s couples looking to spend quality time post lockdown. India’s lockdown and work-from-home has put couples through increased pressures: a relationship test amidst juggling work with domestic chores. Thomas Cook India’s Romantic Breaks thus offers couples that much-needed time to unwind and rediscover themselves. The packages also serve as a unique opportunity to celebrate an anniversary or special occasions – for couples across age groups, Thomas Cook India stated. Set against spectacular locales, ... Read more

The Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) has announced that the Tourism EXPO Japan (TEJ) will be organized at the Okinawa Convention Centre from October 29 to November 1 this year as originally scheduled.  The event will be organized by following the public health guidelines drawn by Japan Exhibition Association and in line with the Okinawa Prefecture’s action plan ‘Okinawa Tour Style With Corona.’  The event will be downsized from 600 booths originally to 450 booths, probably 80 international booths to avoid congestion, and the deadline of applications for the exhibition has been extended by July 31, 2020. Under the ... Read more

Travellers needing information on Arkansas can now stop at an Arkansas Welcome Centre. The state’s Welcome Centres were temporarily closed from March 20 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to a news release from Arkansas Tourism. The centres are now open 8 am to  5 pm, seven days a week. “Arkansas is one of the nation’s most beautiful and inviting destinations,” said Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “Arkansas Welcome Centres offer our guests a friendly entry to The Natural State, as well as a rest and information stop to gather travel ... Read more

Wild horses are the lifeblood of the Namibian economy, drawing tourists who come to see them living amid inhospitable sand dunes and the barren plains. It is estimated that the wild horse population has declined from 286 in 2012 to just 65 adults now. A hotel owner Bernd Roemer told CNN last year, “If an attraction like the horses would fall away it will not kill tourism completely, but it will make a strong indent.” Biologist Telane Greyling says the future of the herd rests on a few precious foals, yet only one, named Zohra, has survived to see its ... Read more