Tag: covid-19

A second wave of Covid-19 and the ensuing restrictions can eliminate the tourism sector in Kerala, the industry’s captains and workers fear, announcing they will observe May 1 as Black Day to press the state government to resolve the grave issue. The Tourism Samrakshana Samithi, while noting that the segment was struggling even amid a stimulus package from the government, said the future looked bleaker with the prospects of massive job loss and shutdown of allied businesses. Even those generating some revenue out of tourism are in dire straits, noted the umbrella body for 20 organisations. It will observe the ... Read more

The much-awaited Haridwar Kumbh Mela kicked off yesterday amid the second wave of covid in the country. Tourists have started flocking to see the Haridwar Kumbh Mela which is held once in 12 years. One of the largest peaceful and religious gatherings in the world attracts visitors from all over the world. As there is a significant increase in the number of covid-19 positive cases, this year’s Kumbh Mela will be held with proper guidelines and security precautions. Covid negative test results have been made mandatory for people coming to Kumbh Mela from 12 states including Kerala. Covid RT-PCR should ... Read more

President Joe Biden on Monday is expected to reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions to combat COVID-19 infections. The restrictions, which were in place for most of 2020, apply to non-U.S. citizens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. Then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his term. “With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” the now-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Twitter last Monday. “On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not ... Read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released guidance to ensure that the air cargo industry is ready to support the large-scale handling, transport, and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Distribution provides recommendations for governments and the logistics supply chain in preparation for what will be the largest and most complex global logistics operation ever undertaken. Reflecting the complexity of the challenge, the Guidance was produced with the support of a broad range of partners, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),  International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA),  International Federation of Pharmaceutical ... Read more

Chances are that very few domestic travellers may be looking at Odisha as a travel destination. Its tourism brand is not as strong as some of the other states and hence people tend to overlook it. But things are changing.  Its temples, architecture, natural beauty, beaches, lakes and music have begun to attract tourists. Moreover, Odisha is known as an ancient  civilization. Let’s look at the key destinations. Jagannath Temple, Puri is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in Odisha. It is the temple of Lord Vishnu and holds great significance. Sun Temple, Konark : This is a World UNESCO heritage site. It was built ... Read more

The number of foreign tourists in Thailand may plunge by almost two-thirds to 14 million this year. This will be the lowest level in 14 years, as the coronavirus pandemic hits global travel, according to estimates from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), a Reuters report said. The TAT now predicts only 14 million to 16 million foreign visitors this year, sharply down from 33.8 million projected in March. Last year’s foreign arrivals were a record 39.8 million. Tourism is crucial to Thailand as spending from foreign tourists amounted to 1.93 trillion baht ($59.98 billion), or 11% of GDP last ... Read more

The airline and travel industries are adopting novel measures to build confidence among travellers. CarTrawler, a Dublin based mobility solutions provider, has come up with a report about the various ways in which the companies are trying to drive up confidence among consumers. Airlines, hotels, vacation rentals, car hires, airport transfers, and sightseeing companies are already making decisions to ensure the safety of their customers, the report said. This confidence will be built in layers, and here are some of the examples provided in the report: Emirates prohibits large carry-on bags in an effort to reduce congestion in the aisles ... Read more

The Civil Aviation Ministry has come out with a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for commencing commercial passenger services in the country, that will make travelling safer but more tedious. The passengers will need to show the `green status’ on their Aarogya Setu app, go through temperature checks, do web check-in and fill up a detailed questionnaire, if the draft is approved. One of the key recommendations is not to allow cabin baggage in the aircraft. The passengers will also have to reach airport at least two hours before the flight departure. The draft SOP has also mooted having the ... Read more

Edgard Ziebat is not your regular tourist. He is a wanted criminal in his home country of Germany and had landed in New Delhi on March 18 from Vietnam. That’s where his luck ran out. He was looking to get to Turkey, but India ended up cancelling all flights to that country on the same day. Few days later, India suspended all international flights as the coronavirus pandemic was gathering pace. So, there he was, stuck at the transit area of the Indira Gandhi International airport with nowhere to go. When airport authorities contacted the German embassy, they refused to ... Read more

When the aviation sector finally gets to operate globally – though no one knows when that would be – there could be some remarkable changes in the way we fly. Here are some of the possibilities: ·     Most likely you will be wearing a mask ·     Middle seats will be empty ·     Many short haul flights may not have cabin service ·     The flight attendant will also be wearing a mask ·     Queue at immigration will take longer to clear ·     Social distancing at every stage ·     Border control will have mandatory swab tests ·     Quarantine will be a norm, even if you test negative at the airport ... Read more

Virtual guided tours are picking up steam this year. As no one can really go out and experience a real vacation due to the epidemic, many online tour companies are creating virtual tourism experiences. One such company is the online tour company Walks, which has put together a selection of `Tours from Home’ offered by expert guides, chefs and storytellers. But while Stephen Oddo, the CEO and founder of Walks, was happy to find a way to provide small income source to some of the company’s tour guides as well as a way to keep brand awareness high, he also ... Read more

A new ayurveda protocol will take shape in the post-Covid era aimed at keeping tourists safe and healthy, given that any wellness treatment would involve high degree of body contact. A set of ayurvedic associations like the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI), the Ayurveda Hospital Management Association of India (AHMA) and Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) have been engaged in sustained conversations with the Central government on the subject. A new protocol document has been submitted by the associations for approval and a panel is currently looking into it. Talking to Tourismnewslive.com, Baby Mathew Somatheeram, Kerala Travel ... Read more

Below are some take aways from the discussion: Ø             Engage with employees at home & hotel, as they are the real assets. Ø             Safety and security are of paramount importance. Ø             Online learning to update skills. Ø             Work with government authorities, health workers, police etc. Ø             Engagement with guests. Use loyalty program to engage with the guests. Ø             No buffet service in near future,  portion food to be served. Ø             In case having displayed buffet, only trained associates to serve food from the buffet, as per FSSAI instructions. Ø             Guest to leave the in-room dining (IRD) tray outside their room. ... Read more

The air travel industry has its first major victim. Virgin Australia has said that it has entered voluntary administration, making it Australia’s first big corporate casualty after the coronavirus outbreak. Voluntary administration as a legal concept is equivalent to filing for bankruptcy. The country’s second-largest carrier had cut almost all flights last month following wide-spread travel bans. It was already struggling with a long-term A$5bn (£2.55bn; $3.17bn) debt. The airline is now seeking new buyers and investors, after failing to get a loan from Australia’s government. Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah said: “Our decision today is about securing the ... Read more

The South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) has urged the Kerala state government to help the hospitality sector by issuing suitable directions to the electricity board to help them reduce their overheads. In a letter to electricity minister MM Mani, SIHRA vice-president (Kerala) Suresh M Pillai said power bills are one of the major expenses for the hospitality industry. The letter requested the minister to waive off demand charges during the lock-down period and energy bills be charged on the basis of actual consumption units. The load factor incentives should be calculated excluding the lock-down period and average bills ... Read more