Category: Top Stories

South Africa’s tourism sector has lost an estimated R68bn in revenue amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has necessitated national lockdowns and enforced restrictions on global travel. The R270bn tourism industry, which anchors South Africa’s less-developed provinces, is reeling and counting the cost of the worldwide pandemic, says Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa. The entire value chain and associated industries that depend on tourism and hospitality are feeling the squeeze induced by the coronavirus crisis, The Africa Report has said. The R68bn revenue loss comes with loss of employment. The other industries and sectors we impact are going ... Read more

Italy’s massive tourism industry has taken a hit from two months of total shutdown and an ongoing ban on visitors from outside Europe. Hence, in a bid to revive the sector, which makes up 13% of the country’s GDP and 15% of jobs, some parts of the country are offering incentives to holiday in Italy this summer, reports The Local.it. Here’s a guide to what’s on offer if you’re planning to travel to Italy this summer. Sicily The island’s government wants to give discounts on plane tickets, subsidise hotel stays and cover the cost of guided tours for visitors arriving in ... Read more

People travelling from outside of the EU and the Schengen area will be able to visit Spain from June 30. Transcontinental non-essential travel to Spain from outside of Europe has been given the green light by the Spanish government, following the EU’s recommendation for member states to gradually reopen their borders from June 15 onwards. Tourists from the USA and Canada, Latin America, Africa, Oceania and Asia will in theory be able to book their holidays to Spain from that day, although the announcement published in Spain’s daily government bulletin states that restrictions on holidaymakers from outside of the EU and Schengen ... Read more

Restrictions on travel, introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a growing number of destinations, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said on Tuesday. According to the UNWTO’s latest research, as of 15 June, 22% of all destinations worldwide (48 of them) have started to ease restrictions – up from just 3% (7 destinations) on May 18 – with Europe leading the way. Destinations that have eased travel restrictions for tourists include: – 37 destinations in Europe, including 24 of the 26 Schengen Member States– 6 destinations in the Americas, including 5 Small Island Developing States– 3 destinations in Asia and the ... Read more

Lithuania is looking to attract tourists from Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and China to boost revenues and is taking proactive steps to spread awareness. Keliauk Lietuvoje (Lithuania Travel), a national tourism promotion agency, has opened search for representatives in these countries for initiating tourism marketing services. The aim of tourism marketing services would be to raise the profile of Lithuania as a country attractive for tourists and to boost incoming tourist flows, the agency told news wire BNS. According to the Central Procurement Portal, the agency signed contracts with Milan-registered Aigo (257,100 euros, ex-VAT), Travel Link Market ... Read more

Expedition cruise specialists Rainforest Cruises has announced conservation-themed Amazon River Cruises in Peru, this year. Guests will have the rare opportunity to participate in critical pink river dolphin research and raise their awareness of conservation issues in the region, said Rustourismnews in a report. Two voyages aboard the Zafiro vessel will be hosted by the Rainforest Trust to promote conservation awareness. A representative from the charity will lead the cruise and guests will have the opportunity to learn about their initiatives and hear from guest speakers from the local Amazon Rescue Centre (CREA) about their conservation efforts, with a special focus on ... Read more

North Macedonia’s Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi has said the country has outlined a set of measures to support tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Bekteshi declared that the support of local tourism, which is one of the most affected sectors by the coronavirus crisis, is the main priority for the Ministry of Economy. “Given that the hotel industry is most affected by the crisis, we will encourage activities related to training, conferences, and seminars in hotels. Events and conferences will be co-financed by 50% of the costs or up to 30,000 Macedonian Denar (about 549 US dollars) per applicant,” Bekteshi ... Read more

Bermuda is reopening its doors to all visitors from July 1, Forbes has reported. Located only 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina, Bermuda is ready to welcome even American guests, who are restricted from entering several other countries. But there are, of course, conditions to be met. Travellers need to have a negative COVID-19 test done within 72 hours of their flight, wear face masks and practice social distancing at their departure airport and in the flight, and upon arrival undergo another coronavirus test at the airport or their accommodation and quarantine until the results are in. Temperature ... Read more

Myanmar is expecting to restart domestic tourism in the third quarter of this year, an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism told Xinhua on Saturday. Under the COVID-19 Tourism Relief Plan recently launched by the ministry, domestic tourism will resume soon to help the tourism sector recover. The tourism ministry and Religious Affairs and Culture Ministry are in talks to reopen the pagodas and cultural sites so as to restart domestic tourism very soon. By the fourth quarter of this year, Myanmar will restart travel with neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, the official said. ... Read more

Dubai will begin allowing tourists in from July 7 and citizens and residents can resume outbound travel from June 23, the Dubai Media Office said on Sunday. Here are the new guidelines for air travel, according to the Dubai Media Office. DUBAI CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO TRAVEL ABROAD FROM JUNE 23 Citizens and residents are allowed to travel to any foreign destination, according to measures taken by countries regarding foreign arrivals. • Travelers bear full responsibility for their actions and for checking the COVID-19 situation of the country they wish to visit, as well as self-monitoring any symptoms they may ... Read more

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a new “Holiday at Home” campaign, with the  aim of encouraging residents to be a tourist of their own city and rediscover the beauty of Hong Kong with a new perspective.  HKTB Chairman Y K Pang said: “Due to the continued stringent travel restrictions and quarantine measures implemented by the Hong Kong Government and other governments around the world, the number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong remains at a very low level. Provisional data show only around 8,100 arrivals in May, nearly a 100% decrease year on year. The HKTB’s strategy ... Read more

Tour operators in Tanzania have unveiled a private, state-of-the-art, waiting lounge at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) as they seek to offer holidaymakers “a hassle-free welcome”. Tanzanian authorities have reopened its skies for international passenger flights from June 1, 2020, becoming the first country in the East African community to welcome tourists. Isack Kamwelwe, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, said in a statement that business, humanitarian, diplomatic, emergency and other special flights were allowed to land, take off and fly across the country’s skies as it was before. He said the opening of the skies followed an announcement by President John ... Read more

The Dominican Republic will reopen for tourism starting July 1 as part of the fourth phase of its reopening plan. The multi-step plan saw shopping centres reopen in late May and the reinstatement of private transportation company operations on June 3. Phase four includes resuming international tourism, as well as the reopening of hotels, airports, gyms and restaurants. The Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic has confirmed a series of sanitization and cleaning measures will be in place for reopening. Upon reopening, hotels will be required to adhere to “strict protocols to offer a clean, safe environment, promote social ... Read more

Rwanda has slashed gorilla permit fees by 60-80% as the government endeavours to revive the tourism sector adversely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park will now cost foreign nationals $500, while Rwandan citizens and foreign residents will pay $200, down from $1,400. The new price regime is valid until December 31. The decision was announced after a Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Paul Kagame. Rwanda has agreed to resume tourism activities after more than three months of inactivity due to the coronavirus lockdown. “Domestic tourism and international tourism for visitors travelling with charter flights ... Read more

French Polynesia’s president Edouard Fritch plans to go to Paris next month in an effort to secure loans amounting to $525 million to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. In an address to the assembly, Fritch said $375 million would be sought for the running of the territory whose tourist industry was crippled by the virus outbreak. He said $US150 million was needed for the social security agency CPS. Fritch stressed the need to open up for tourism, citing the plight of Bora Bora whose 10,000 inhabitants have been hardest hit. He said its employees in the tourism sector missed out ... Read more