Tag: covid-19 crisis

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) deputy governor for international marketing, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, has said there was “no talk of a timeline issued for reopening the country to inbound or outbound leisure travel”. He said he doesn’t expect Thailand to welcome tourists until at least 2021. He noted that discussions about potential re-openings had been very “risk averse”. “The Christmas period, usually the high season, is in jeopardy and I’m looking horribly even to Chinese New Year in February, which is an iffy proposition at best now. Unfortunately, this is not a rosy picture.” Earlier plans for travel ... Read more

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urged global leaders around the world to save the struggling travel and tourism sector. A joint letter from industry leaders has been sent to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and nine other heads of state of the G7 group of countries – Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Japan and the US – as well as Australia, South Korea and Spain, the world’s major source markets. If the global leaders fail to come together, WTTC warns there will be “irreversible damage” to the travel and tourism sector, along with rising job losses. Travel and tourism accounts ... Read more

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has extended the deadline for implementation of their sustainability requirements. Titled the “19 Sustainability Requirements and Carbon Calculator”, the requirements look at how a hotel performs across a number of metrics, while the Carbon Calculator looks at a hotel’s carbon footprint in a month. The department announced that the deadline for these practices has been moved forward by 12 months. In a statement, DTCM said the decision will not only help hotels finalise their compliance, but also give them time to focus on recovery amid the pandemic. The 19 Sustainability Requirements include ... Read more

In its latest series of government decrees issued under Italy’s coronavirus state of emergency, a stimulus package worth 25 billion euros has been included, even as face masks, social distancing and travel restrictions remain in place. Cruise ships will return from August 15, according to a report by The Local.it. The stimulus package looks to extend Italy’s employee furlough scheme and allows taxpayers to defer payments, among other measures. Italy is seeking funds from the European Union to help cover the cost. Face masks compulsory until at least September As expected, the new decree keeps Italy’s rules on face masks ... Read more

The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International, Inc., today welcomed Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa to its unique ensemble of iconic hotels, marking the debut of the portfolio in Abu Dhabi. Just a 30-minute drive from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa is located deep within the expansive landscape of the UAE capital. With a design reminiscent of a historic desert village, it is an intimate retreat suffused with natural beauty, unique tranquillity, and rare experiences, the hotel chain stated in its press release. “We are delighted to welcome Al Wathba, Desert Resort & ... Read more

Here’s your chance to work from Las Vegas, if you had enough of working out of your home? MGM Resorts is rolling out the red carpet to target business professionals with a travel package called “Viva Las Office.” Incentives include cheap rooms, discounted jet service, private pool access and even an “executive assistant”, says a CNN report. There are three different “Viva Las Office” packages offering remote workers a playful workweek in Sin City. There’s a three-day minimum stay, and prices starting at $100 with your choice of amenities that include access to a private pool, free massage, daily food and drinks ... Read more

Abdenabi Nouidi sold his favourite horse for USD 150 to help feed the others on the team that pulls tourists in carriages through the buzzing streets of Marrakech. Still, he’s worried about the future of the rest of the horses. The prospect of starvation looms for carriage horses and other animals normally used in Morocco’s tourist mecca, since visitors have vanished during the coronavirus pandemic, says a report by the Associated Press. The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, or SPANA, says hundreds of Morocco’s carriage horses and donkeys are threatened amid the collapsing tourism industry. They are among ... Read more

Maldives’ five eco-tourism zones, to be built with grant assistance from India, have been launched. The contract award ceremony was held on Monday as part of Delhi’s neighbourhood first policy. As the implementing agency for these projects, Addu City Council (Maldives), is responsible for steering the entire project cycle including tendering, tender-evaluation, award of contracts, monitoring and execution of the projects. Addu is a city in Maldives that consists of the inhabited islands of the southernmost atoll of the archipelago. It is the second largest urban area in Maldives. The five eco-tourism zones, under this project, will come up in ... Read more

The Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica is now open for tourism. The “Nature Island” officially reopened its borders to international travellers (including those from the United States) on August 7, Caribbean Journal has reported.   All travellers to Dominica must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours prior to the day of their arrival. They must complete Dominica’s COVID-19 travel screening questionnaire, at least 24 hours prior to travel. Discover Dominica Authority CEO Colin Piper told Caribbean Journal that all travellers will be tested via Rapid Diagnostic Test upon arrival.  Those who are tested will be subject to mandatory quarantine ... Read more

Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sectors are seeing a “rapid rebound” after the July 7 reopening, in a positive turn of events which has surprised the travel industry. Bookings by Emirates Airline and flydubai are also on the upswing, with the former now confirming 70 destinations, while flydubai will cover 66 destinations over summer, says a Gulf News report. “Since then (July 7), we have been greatly encouraged by the market’s response in the second phase of our recovery strategy, which was activated along with the gradual resumption of economic sectors, as well as the staggered and tentative restart of travel ... Read more

Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS), a research and advocacy NGO working on environmental impact of tourism on local communities in India, has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to withdraw the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020. Instead, it should conduct a detailed and broad public consultation involving all stakeholders and the public in order to draft a strong and robust Act. “The proposed draft EIA Notification falls short in many ways, particularly with respect to tourism. It fails to take into account that tourism requires a robust environmental scrutiny,” the NGO has said. “The COVID-19 crisis ... Read more

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed satisfaction with the measures being taken by stakeholders in the hospitality sector to protect tourists from the coronavirus pandemic. He said Kenya is ready to receive tourists and encouraged local and foreign travellers to take advantage of the prevailing low rates to visit the country’s famous tourist sites, says a report by CGTN Africa. “I want to take this opportunity to encourage every single Kenyan to take advantage and to travel…You can travel, you can move,” the President said. “And now as you know, we have also opened up our skies and flights are ... Read more

Millions of Americans consider Ireland a home away from home. But as the number of coronavirus cases in the United States surges, many Irish businesses say they have been forced to turn away some of their most lucrative customers – vacationing Americans – according to a report by NBC News. Most visitors to Ireland, including those from the US, have to fill out a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form that includes their contact details while in the country and where they will be staying. They also are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, staying indoors and avoiding contact with other people as much as ... Read more

The Karnataka government has tweaked its quarantine requirements and has dropped the seven-day institutional quarantine for international travellers. So far, international returnees had to undergo seven days of institutional quarantine, with the exception of those above 60 years of age, children under the age of 10, pregnant women and people with terminal illnesses who were allowed to self-isolate at home. But this rule has now been changed. Asymptomatic international returnees to Karnataka will undergo a 14-day home quarantine instead.  Those who are symptomatic will be sent to COVID-19 centres for testing. Their swabs will be taken, one for the rapid antigen ... Read more

Indian-Americans have welcomed India’s decision to restore the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card benefits, including the visa-free travel to the country, which were suspended in view of the coronavirus pandemic, reports PTI. The OCI card, which allows lifelong visa-free travel to India with certain limitations to people of Indian-origin, was suspended by the Indian government on April 11 amidst a nationwide lockdown and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The sudden decision had created chaos and anxiety among the hundreds and thousands of Indian-origin people. A large number of them had taken to the social media platforms like ... Read more