Tag: covid-19 pandemic

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has told India’s flag carrier Air India that transportation of passengers — whether UAE nationals or not — to the emirates will not be allowed. If any one wishes to fly on a Vande Bharat Mission flight from India to Dubai, he or she will require “specific approval from the Embassy of UAE in New Delhi and UAE ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation (MOFAIC),” said an Air India spokesperson on Wednesday. “All passengers including the Indian Nationals who are holding valid Residency Permit/Work Permit of United Arab Emirates and have procured approval of the UAE’s Federal Authority ... Read more

Australia is likely to keep its borders shut to international travellers till 2021 to contain the spread of COVID-19. Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has announced that one of the reasons that helped Australia to contain the virus successfully was its decision to close down the borders. He added international border restrictions are likely to be there for some time to come. When he was specifically asked if it was more likely to happen next year, he added, “I think that is more likely the case”. It has been three months since an indefinite ban was implemented on international travel due to ... Read more

Pubs, hairdressers and cinemas will be able to open from July 15 if coronavirus cases continues to decline in Scotland, its First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Sturgeon said the move was possible thanks to “real and sustained progress” in suppressing Covid-19. People in Scotland will be allowed to meet up with two other households indoors from July 15 and outdoor hospitality such as beer gardens will be allowed to re-open from July 6. Sturgeon also said the five-mile travel limit will be lifted from July 3, while non-essential retail within indoor shopping centres will re-open from July 13. Households will ... Read more

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have decided to extend support to Ukraine’s tourism sector, in a bid to mitigate the losses suffered. “Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism and hospitality industry across the world is expecting more than a billion tourists to cancel their holiday plans, leading to an 80% compared with 2019. In response, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have teamed up to offer emergency support and recommendations for Ukraine’s tourism industry, which has also been badly affected by the ... Read more

The UAE has completed its national sterilisation programme and lifted all movement restrictions effective Wednesday. This means residents can travel freely across the country any time of the day, Khaleej Times has reported. Earlier, they were required to stay home during the national sterilisation programme timings between 11 pm and 6 am in Dubai and 10 pm and 6 am in all other emirates. “Today we announce the completion of the National Disinfection Programme, which covered the country’s public facilities and transportation. However, the public buildings will continue to be regularly disinfected,” said Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for National ... Read more

The tourism industry in Japan is showing signs of a gradual pickup after the novel coronavirus crisis dealt it a severe blow. According to a Japan Times report, many lodging facilities that resumed business after the lifting of the government’s coronavirus state of emergency in May are seeing a gradual recovery in reservations this month, mainly from local customers. Financial aid from local governments for regional tourism has also contributed to a pickup in demand. However, inbound tourists from outside Japan remain almost non-existent, and concerns over a second wave of coronavirus infections linger. “Cancellations of domestic travel reservations have ... Read more

The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has called on the government to turn its attention to the deteriorating tourism sector and commit enough resources to boost infrastructure for a better outcome. The Federation in a statement signed by the President, Bella Ayayee Ahu, noted that it has been working tirelessly to improve on service quality of the industry to ensure growth and development. According to the Federation, the state of physical and soft infrastructure in the sector, inadequate investments, reputation as a high cost destination, poor tourism support services, lack of professionalism and service quality are factors that continue to hamper ... Read more

With Covid-19 cases continuing to rise steadily in Kerala, the government has decided to discourage travel of aged people and children below 10 years and enforce reverse quarantine vigorously. On Monday, the state reported 138 fresh cases taking the tally to 3,310, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office said. In the last three days, the state has reported more than 100 Covid-19 cases daily. The government is worried because a large number of expatriates from Persian Gulf countries are expected in the coming days. More than 80% of recent Covid-19 cases in the state were expatriates or people who came from ... Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only causing distress in the health sector but has also brought other activities, including tourism, to a grinding halt leaving many families on the brink of uncertainty, news agency UNI has reported. After the ban on coal mining in April 2014, which was the highest revenue earner for the State’s exchequer, tourism had emerged as an economic saviour, but with the spread of coronavirus, which, subsequently led to the lockdown for nearly three months, stakeholders are now staring at a bleak future. With no tourists at all for nearly three months now, those running tourist ... Read more

Solomon Islands has called on the Australian and New Zealand governments to ask for their active consideration in allowing the COVID-19 free island nation to be included in a potential ‘South Pacific travel bubble’ when international travel restrictions are finally lifted. Tourism Solomon CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto, while praising the government for the proactive steps it has taken, added that Australian and New Zealand travellers could be assured of their safety when visiting the destination. Australian and New Zealand travellers form the bulk of the country’s international visitor intake and allowing the destination to be included in the bubble would ... Read more

The Bahamas has reversed itself on COVID-19 tests for tourists. After announcing that foreign visitors and Bahamians returning home will not need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test when the country reopens on July 1 to international commercial flights, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told Parliament that a negative test will now be required, Miami Herald has reported. “There has been much concern expressed about the reopening of the country to foreign visitors,” D’Aguilar said. “The Bahamas, which now requires a COVID 19 test to enter the country up to July 1, will also require a COVID-19 test after ... 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

DJ Hector It’s a trickle. But that’s enough for now. Green shoots have started to dot the domestic tourism map of Kerala, with guests braving the pandemic to light up their travel plans. Let’s take the example of Gokul and Suramya, a honeymooning couple, who decided to drive all the way from Thiruvananthapuram to Wayanad to beat the lockdown blues. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, considering the surge in coronavirus cases not just in Kerala but across India itself. Their parents and relatives had suggested some places near Thiruvananthapuram for their stay. A few others did not want ... Read more

To boost domestic tourism in India, safety and hygiene at travel destinations will be important,  tourism minister Prahlad Singh Patel has said. Tourists want to ensure that the places where he is staying, eating and travelling are safe and sanitized, he said. All over the world, with the lockdown being enforced and flights being halted, places that mainly rely on tourism for their revenue have been suffering. Moreover, the hesitation of most people regarding the sanitization of the destinations is also a major hurdle. In an interaction with the Indian Express, he said India needs to show a new spirit ... Read more