Tag: covid-19 crisis

A number of Air New Zealand lounges will reopen across the country today. The lounges will not be serving alcohol, but plans to introduce more food and alcohol options in the coming weeks. There will also be a maximum of 100 people allowed in the lounges at any one time. The Auckland Regional, Wellington Domestic and Christchurch Domestic lounges will open, along with nine of its regional airport lounges. This includes regional lounges in Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Nelson, Queenstown, Dunedin and Invercargill. While the lounges may be reopening, some things will be different. “In line with ... Read more

Outdoor partying is on in full swing in many parts of the United States, as people continue to take total advantage of the new found freedom. After several weeks of lockdown, citizens seem to have broken free causing a great deal of concern for health authorities. Despite several weeks of warnings from health officials to follow “social distancing” measures and wear face masks in public, Americans across the country crowded the beaches and partied in large numbers over the Memorial Day weekend. A video from a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter captured dozens of people blocking traffic near Daytona Beach, ... Read more

Spain will reopen to overseas tourists from July, the country’s prime minister has announced, pledging that the government will guarantee the safety of visitors and locals as the country emerges from one of Europe’s strictest coronavirus lockdowns. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said a €3bn (£2.7bn) minimum basic income scheme to help families, most affected by the pandemic, would come into effect in the next few weeks. Sánchez said: “As you know, Spain receives more than 80 million visitors a year. I am announcing that from July, Spain will reopen for foreign tourism in conditions of safety. Foreign tourists can start ... Read more

Portugal has said that it’s ready to welcome tourists, expressing confidence that its public health care system can take care of the tourists. Portugal’s foreign minister Augusto Santos Silva has said no quarantine will be imposed on people arriving by plane. He said that “minimal health controls,” which he did not specify, will be enforced at airports. Other European countries, including Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, have preferred a 14-day self-isolation rule for arrivals. Santos Silva said in an interview with Observador radio station that Portugal’s public health system has coped well with the new coronavirus outbreak, though doctors ... Read more

Ever since the World Health organisation has declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, Kerala has been taking all measures to contain the outbreak through strict surveillance and infection control measures. In order to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID among the drivers and passengers the following advisory is issued: Drivers & crew The drivers and crew (conductors, cleaners and helpers) should wear three-layer masks at all times during travel and while in public places. Drivers and crew shall wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially before and after getting in and out of the vehicle. ... Read more

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) has announced a new collaboration with Google to expand the industry’s efforts to meet the continued demand from first responders and healthcare workers for accommodation in hotel rooms. This joint effort comes two months after the launch of American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) ‘Hospitality for Hope’ an initiative designed to match emergency and healthcare workers who require temporary housing in hotels during this unprecedented health crisis. More than 17,000 properties across the country volunteered to serve their communities and participate in the programme. The initiative was designed to boost collaboration between the ... Read more

Indian skies opened up for domestic passenger services from today after a hiatus of two months due to coronavirus-induced lockdown across India. Indigo’s Delhi-Pune and Mumbai-Patna flights were among the first to take off. Most of the states in India have given a go ahead for flight services from Monday. The two distinct exceptions are Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Andhra Pradesh will resume flights from May 26 and West Bengal from May 28. Maharashtra had earlier said that it will allow only few flights each day from Mumbai airport. But on Sunday, the state said it will allow 25 ... Read more

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

Renowned Malayalam film director P Padmarajan would have turned 65 years of age on May 23, if fate hadn’t snatched him away so early. Born in 1945 in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Padmarajan is widely regarded as one of Malayalam cinema’s best ever directors. Along with KG George and Bharathan, Padmarajan formed a formidable trio responsible for the renaissance of Malayalam movies in the ‘80s, before he passed away in 1991. No, we are not going to dissect his movies and script writing here. Instead, there is ample scope for exploring the way in which he used travel and locations to ... 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