Category: News

US National Parks is in a structured reopening phase after the coronavirus outbreak shuttered the areas. Although wildlife was certainly enjoying the freedom to roam uninhibited, there is now a plan to restore visitor access. The US Travel Association said providing visitor access to these parks, was a welcome move. Association President and CEO Roger Dow said, “The phased reopening of national parks is a welcome sign that the country is taking further steps toward a reopening strategy that focuses on caution and safety, but begins to unshackle the devastated US travel economy. “Polling data shows that six in 10 ... Read more

India will try to restart a good number of international flights before August, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said. “I can’t put a date on it (restarting international flights). But if somebody says can it be done by August or September, my response would be why not earlier, depending on the situation.” “I am fully hopeful that before August or September, we will try to start a good percentage of international civil aviation operations, if not complete international operations,” he said. “We must have a more ambitious goal. Why not start them by mid-June or June-end or in ... Read more

‘Contactless’ would be the buzzword at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, when operations resume from May 25.  In an effort to protect passengers and staff from the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has introduced a parking-to-boarding contactless journey at the airport.  With greater emphasis on minimum touch and minimum exposure between passengers and airport personnel, BIAL aims to minimise all physical contact at the airport. The technology will continue to enable a seamless airport journey, with greater emphasis on health and safety.  “We have introduced innovative contactless procedures to minimise exposure at the airport. These enhancements ... Read more

Beaches in the United States are bustling with travellers, as the country heads into the long Memorial Day holiday weekend. After more than two months of coronavirus lockdowns that kept Americans homebound, the beach-area traffic has tripled compared to the low point in mid-April. According to a report by Reuters, traffic in some areas is even expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Passenger car travel in US beach counties has more than doubled since Easter, according to data by transportation analytics company StreetLight Data, with Maryland’s Ocean City beach resort showing four times as much activity. “That’s an indication that part ... Read more

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has come up with a four-day work week plan to encourage domestic travel, in a bid to boost the tourism sector in the country. Ardern raised the potential of a shortened work week and more flexibility around leave in the workplace after meeting with local officials and tourism operators in the North Island-city of Rotorua. “How can we support New Zealanders to make the most of travelling around the country?” the prime minister asked in a live video. “Some have been saying, “Well, if they had a bit more flexibility in terms of their ... Read more

Greece, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, has said June 15 will be the official start date of the tourism season. While announcing the date in an address to the nation, the Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said the tourist season has been delayed by the global coronavirus pandemic and that direct international flights to the country’s various tourist destinations would resume gradually from July 1. According to a report in The Guardian, holidaymakers from the UK and other countries would not be quarantined but would have to undergo coronavirus tests, the centre-right leader said in ... Read more

One of the world’s most luxurious properties, The Ritz Carlton Bali, has launched an exclusive offer to be booked before June 15, 2020 for stays until May 31, 2021. Priced from IDR2,750,000 including tax and service per room per night, this special offer includes accommodation in a Sawangan Junior Suite with extensive daily buffet breakfast for two at the Senses restaurant. Guests are also given a daily resort credit of IDR500,000 which can be used towards further indulgences such as room upgrades, dining or spa treatments. Located on pristine white sandy beaches of Nusa Dua, guests at the property can ... Read more

Californian tourism has been on a growth curve for more than a decade. However, the coronavirus outbreak seems to have put the brakes on it. Tourism Economics projects California will lose $72.1 billion in state-wide travel related spending in 2020. It has also found the pandemic will affect 613,000 California jobs by the end of May, which is more than half the tourism industry’s workforce. “The coronavirus pandemic has devastated our tourism economy, but we know tourism is a resilient industry,” Ernest Wooden Jr., the president and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, said in a statement. “It’s ... Read more

Iconic car rental company Hertz has filed for bankruptcy protection, devastated by the fall in business due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 100-year-old company which started its business with a dozen Ford models, went on to become one of the largest car rental companies in the world, before running up a pile of substantial debt. Hertz said late on Friday that it would use more than $1 billion in cash on hand to keep its business running while it proceeds with the bankruptcy process. “Today’s action will protect the value of our business, allow us to continue our operations and ... Read more

China has acquired a stake in budget airline Norwegian Air after the cash-strapped carrier underwent a major restructuring, according to a notification to the Oslo Stock Exchange. BOC Aviation, owned by the Chinese government via subsidiaries including Bank of China and China Investment Corporation, has emerged as one of the new owners of the Norwegian low-cost airline. “Upon completion of the conversion [of lease obligations], BOC Aviation will hold 389,053,742 shares in NAS [Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA], representing 12.67% of the outstanding shares and votes in the Company,” read the notification. AerCap, a top aircraft leasing company headquartered in Ireland, ... Read more

Emirates has restarted regular passenger flights to nine international destinations from Dubai airports, and there are new safety procedures in place for travellers. The Dubai airline has launched flights from the UAE to Europe, the US, Canada and Australia from Thursday, May 21. Upon check-in, Emirates will give all passengers free hygiene kits. These will include face masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser. The gloves and masks must be worn at the airport and the face masks are also compulsory on all Emirates flights. At Dubai International Airport, thermal temperature scanning is in place and protective barriers have been ... Read more

The Chinese Embassy in Ireland has reminded its passport holders that they must not transit two Schengen countries at one time. The advisory was for those stuck in the Schengen areas due to border closures, travel bans and other restrictions amid the Coronavirus outbreak. Through a notice published on its website, the Chinese Embassy noted that many citizens are planning to return to China with repatriation flights from the Schengen countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. The Embassy reminds these citizens that they must not transit in two or more Schengen area countries consecutively as they may face penalties. ... Read more

Eurobank will make available a fund of $821 million (750 million Euros) to help Greek hotels and support tourism, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. The revival of the tourism sector, which employs about one in five Greeks, is viewed as central to lessening the impact of an expected deep recession, with the European Commission estimating Greece’s economy may contract by 9.7% this year. “Eurobank is the bank of Greek tourism, we are there not only for the sunny days,” Eurobank’s CEO Fokion Karavias said. “Supporting the hotels sector, the heart of the tourism industry, is important ... Read more

No meals, no eatables, no magazines, no on-board sales, Aarogya Setu not required for kids below 14, limited baggage, minimal use of lavatory, less contact by security staff and using masks throughout the journey. That’s new age flying for you. India has issued detailed guidelines for airlines, airport, passengers and other stakeholders, for resumption of domestic flights after a gap of two months. The domestic flights will operate again from May 25, as lockdown restrictions continue to get eased. Here are the new norms: Before arriving at airport Familiarise yourself with the new procedures, especially about norms of social distancing, minimum ... Read more

IndiGo will join the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians stranded overseas. This will be the first instance of a private airline joining an exercise that was a monopoly of Air India till date. In a statement on Thursday, the country’s largest airline said that it has been authorised to operate 97 reparation flights between Kerala and the Middle East. Adhering all the precautionary measures, the flights will be operated between Kerala and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Doha, Kuwait and Muscat. IndiGo has been granted nearly half of the total 180 repatriation flights allotted to private airlines. “We had ... Read more