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IATA calls for simplification of Covid-19 travel rules

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to adopt “simple, predictable and practical” measures to safely facilitate the ramping-up of international travel as borders re-open. Specifically, the trade body urged governments to focus on simplified health protocols, digital solutions to process health credentials and Covid-19 measures proportionate to risk levels. The vision to address the complexity is outlined in the newly released policy paper. “As governments are establishing processes to re-open borders, in line with what they agreed in the ministerial declaration of the ICAO High Level Conference of Covid-19, the blueprint will help them with good practices and practical considerations. “Over the next months we need to move from individual border openings to the restoration of a global air transport network that can reconnect communities and facilitate economic recovery,” said Conrad Clifford, IATA deputy director general. The document aims to facilitate the efficient ramping-up of global connectivity. “We must have processes in place to safely and efficiently manage the ramping-up of international travel as borders re-open. “With over 18 months of pandemic operational experience and traveller feedback we know that a laser-focus on simplicity, predictability and practicality is essential. “That is not the reality today. “Over 100,000 Covid-19 related measures have been implemented by governments worldwide. “This complexity is a barrier to global mobility that is exacerbated by the inconsistencies these measures have created among states,” said Clifford. Key recommendations include the removal of all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine. The management of travel health credentials (vaccination or testing certificates) should also be handled digitally, IATA argued, enabling travellers to complete the process in advance so that they can arrive at the airport ready-to-travel. This will facilitate automated check-in processes, reducing airport queuing and wait-times. “Travel is important - pre-pandemic some 88 million livelihoods were directly connected to aviation. “And the inability to travel freely by air has impacted the quality of life for billions of people. “We know that travellers feel confident with the implementation of the Covid-19 safety measures. “But they have clearly told us that the current travel experience needs to improve with better information, simpler processing and digital solutions,” concluded Clifford.

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Pride Group of Hotels signs up Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland in Gujarat

Pride Group of Hotels signs up for the Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland, Vadodara. Located at the Aatapi Wonderland, an award-winning theme park in the outskirts of Vadodara at Ajwa, Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland will have the best amenities and services spread across over approx 70 acres. Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland will have authentic cuisine options like Kathiyawadi and Punjabi. The resort will have 02 lawns that can accommodate 500 guests in the banquets at a time. Commenting on the development Atul Upadhyay, Vice President, Pride Group of Hotels, says, “In the last few months, things have accelerated positively for the Hospitality market in Gujarat. We are excited to announce the signing up for Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland. It is one of the unexplored adventures in Gujarat and we are confident that we will be able to promote Gujarat tourism with Pride Resorts further. The location is perfect for large gatherings, MICE events, and celebrations. We look forward to welcoming our guests soon.” Pride Resort Aatapi Wonderland will be the perfect holiday destination for Adventure tourists and Outdoor enthusiasts. Easily accessible from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and other Gujarat cities, the location is also great for weekend family trips and quick drives. It has more than 40 rides and attractions like Spectacular Water Laser Show, mesmerizing Jugnoo World, which is also India’s 1st Glow Garden, Vrundavan Garden with dancing fountains, India’s 1st Tubby Jump, and many more thrilling rides to attract toddlers and grown-ups both. The amusement park has 06 restaurants serving a variety of fun foods already.

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India has every right to build its own aviation hubs to support Indian carriers' global aspirations: Ajay Singh

Ajay Singh, CMD of SpiceJet Airlines has said that India cannot afford to continue with liberal Open sky policy which only supported the international carriers to pick up travellers and cargo from India and distribute it through their hubs outside across the globe. He said that it is time policies are adjusted so that India builds its own aviation hubs which helps the sector create more economic opportunities and jobs in the country. Singh was reacting to a query by ET TravelWorld on the allegation especially by players in the travel and tourism sector that the government is sacrificing the wider interest of the tourism sector for protecting the interest of few Indian carriers by not opening up skies for international scheduled operations, at the event organised by the airline to announce the reinduction of the B-737 Max carriers into their fleet. He said that India cannot afford “the free flow” from here in the name of tourism when countries of the world create walls with a lot of conditions when Indian carriers want to operate passenger and cargo flights. He said that there is a realisation in the government also that the earlier policy was not right and needed adjustments. Today, the government also wants Indian carriers to fly long haul, carry Indian passengers and cargo to different parts of the world directly, he said. There is little or no reason for India depending on Middle East and South East Asian carriers to distribute our passengers through their hubs, he said. He expressed that it’s time India develops its own aviation hubs at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc. using its population and demographic advantages. While the Indian aviation sector is open for business and competition, Singh opined that “it cannot be unequal competition always.” Singh further said that the company will be inducting 50 new airplanes into its fleet over the next two years and around 15 to 20 of them will be replacement of old machines. While the reinduction of all the grounded Max planes will be a big leap forward in terms of building a sustainable airline company, Singh said that the company has also been able to “clean up” its balance sheet to a great extent over the last one year through several dispute settlements with airline companies, lessors, etc. Singh announced that they have arrived at a settlement with Boeing for the losses suffered due to grounding of the Max fleet for two years.

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Union Tourism Minister reviews tourism projects and cruise terminal in Visakhapatnam

Union Tourism, Culture and DoNER Minister, G Kishan Reddy visited and reviewed different tourism projects in Visakhapatnam on his visit to the city on Tuesday. He also reviewed the cruise terminal and explored the developments to promote cruise tourism in the region. The projects are being implemented under the Swadesh 2.0, the flagship programme of the Ministry of Tourism to promote destinations across the country. Tourism Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Avanti Srinivas accompanied Reddy during the visit. Officials from the state government and India tourism also joined. “Held a review meeting of Vishakapatnam Port Trust, Cruise Terminal & Cruise Tourism, today along with Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister, Sri Avanthi Srinivas. Due to various factors such as Covid-19 and the cyclones in the past, the development of Vizag as a tourist destination could not take place. We will work in mission mode to realise Vizag’s potential as a tourist destination and develop the beautiful coastal city not just as a world-class tourist spot but also as a centre of trade and commerce,” said the Minister. Reddy inspected the Bavikonda Buddhist Complex on Rushikonda- Bheemli Beach Road in the city which is being developed as a part of the ShalihundamThotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu Buddhist circuit and an amount of INR 26.17 crore has been released as a part of Swadesh 2.0 tourism project. Whereas, the construction of cruise cum coastal cargo terminal at Channel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam is being implemented at a cost of INR 77 crore with 50 per cent of the funding being provided by the Ministry of Tourism through the Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development scheme.

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Myanmar rolls out plans to resume international tourism early next year

According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar, the country is rolling out plans to resume international tourism and welcome foreign tourists from early 2022. The government has confirmed that the reopened will be phased and in the first phase, Myanmar expects to receive visitors from regional countries first followed by visitors from other countries through air bubble, travel agreements and other similar plans. In that direction, land border crossings with Thailand and China will reopen in December ahead of a resumption of international air travel by the end of first quarter of 2022. Last year in March, the country has suspended international flight and all kinds of visas for foreign travellers due to the fear of rising Covid-19 cases, however evacuation, repatriation, medical and special flights were allowed. According to a statement, The Myanmar Minister of Information, Maung Maung Ohn, said, “Once our vaccination programme reaches targets and if global infection rates drop, we intend to resume international air travel in the first quarter of 2022.” He further said that travel guidelines and visa rules will be announced in January for reopening for international flights and arrival requirements, including quarantine and testing norms. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism had launched a Covid-19 Tourism Relief Plan in 2020 to put revival of tourism in motion with the introduction of health and safety protocols for tourism-related businesses. A total of 1,228 out of total 2,259 licensed hotels and guesthouses are currently operational. Before the pandemic, in 2019, the largest inflows of tourists to the country came from China and Thailand. China accounted for 39 per cent and Thailand 14 per cent of the total number of international tourists to Myanmar, according to data provided by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

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Tourism Fiji positive as high bookings recorded

Tourism Fiji Chief Executive, Brent Hill says while there have been several bookings from Australia and the United States, they are also expecting visitors from Europe and Asia to grace our shores. “Most of the tourists are at this stage coming in from Australia, which is fantastic and to be expected because we got four airlines coming in with Fiji Airways, Qantas, Jet, and Virgin, but also the numbers are really positive also coming out from US. We are really excited that the Los Angeles service is doing really well, and we are pleased to see that.” United States of America Chargé d’Affaires, Tony Greubel, also shared similar sentiments. “Americans are really excited to be returning here, so Fiji Airways has announced daily flights to the United States beginning on December 1st. I heard from Tourism Fiji and officials that the majority of the tourists here in December are actually originating from the USA.” Tourism Fiji is expecting over 35,000 visitors next month.

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