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Good News! Italy Recognise Covishield, Vaccinated Indians Now Eligible For Green Pass

Italy has recognized the Serum Institute of India’s COVID-19 vaccine Covishield. Now, fully vaccinated Indian tourists can travel to the European nation and are also eligible for a green pass, said the Embassy of India in Italy.Also Read - Travelling to Andaman & Nicobar? Fully Vaccinated Tourists Can Visit Without Carrying Negative RT-PCR Report This comes after a meeting between Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and his Italian counterpart Roberto Speranza. Also Read - Covaxin Faces Further Delay For WHO Clearance Over Technical Queries to Bharat Biotech: Report Taking to Twitter, the Embassy of India in Italy said, “As an outcome of G20Health Ministers’ meeting btw Hon’ble @mansukhmandviya & Italian Health Minister @robersperanza coupled with @MEAIndia persistent efforts @MinisteroSalute recognises India’s Covishield. Indian vaccine Card Holders are now eligible for GreenPass @SerumInstIndia. (sic)” Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while interacting with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, discussed challenges related to vaccine accessibility and smooth travel. Foreign Minister of Italy Luigi Di Maio is the current G20 chair. “Discussed challenges related to vaccine accessibility and smooth travel. Look forward to joining him at a discussion on Afghanistan tomorrow,” Mr Jaishankar tweeted.

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Assam govt to lift Covid-19 restrictions from November 1 to help tourism sector, says CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that his government is making efforts to revive the Covid-hit tourism industry by lifting restrictions from November 1 as the pandemic situation in the state has considerably improved. Addressing a state government programme on the occasion of World Tourism Day, he announced a relief package which will provide INR two lakh each to 142 tour operators and INR 25,000 each to 605 guides to overcome losses due to the pandemic. "The Assam government is working towards lifting all Covid restrictions from November 1 in the state and also making all-out efforts to ensure that the maximum number of people get vaccine doses," he said. The Chief Minister hoped that Covid would no longer be able to threaten the lives and livelihood of people around the world from 2022, and the tourism industry is expected to witness a major boost. Sarma also stressed on the need to promote less-explored destinations of Assam for outside visitors and asked the industry stakeholders not to keep the tourism circuit limited to only Kaziranga National Park and other known places. The state's food, handloom, handicraft, tribal culture and natural beauty must be explored by travellers, he said. Sarma asserted that militancy has been controlled to a large extent in the state as several extremist groups are in talks with the government. He urged tour operators to aggressively promote places in Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Bodoland Totrerritorial Region (BTR) and other parts of the state by taking advantage of the prevailing peaceful situation. He appreciated the Indian Railways' initiative to start the Vistadome service from Guwahati to New Haflong in Dima Hasao, which would go a long way in popularising the hill station.

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Breaking Travel News investigates: Raffles the Palm Dubai prepares for opening

Raffles the Palm Dubai, the palatial luxury beachfront resort on the West Crescent of the iconic, man-made island will officially open its doors this week. In time for the Dubai winter vacation season, the landmark property – Raffles’ second in the city, and its first resort in the Middle East – is an opulent and eagerly awaited addition to the local lifestyle, dining and hotel scene. Representing the very best of the iconic Raffles brand, the destination resort will offer sophisticated accommodation, spectacular dining experiences and lavish amenities, including a stunning 500-metre private beach and the award-winning Parisian Cinq Mondes Spa, which features 23 treatment rooms, two private spa suites and an indoor swimming pool. A sanctuary of well-being and bliss, the spa offers complete rejuvenation for body and mind thanks to an immersive and world-class selection of beauty treatments, massages and more with guests also invited to explore a yoga studio, two traditional hammams and fully equipped gym during their stay. Raffles the Palm Dubai - which was formerly the Emerald Palace by Kempinski - presents to guests elegantly styled rooms and spacious suites with stunning antique furnishings, each featuring a balcony or terrace with uninterrupted views, along with a collection of private villas. Ayman Gharib, managing director of Raffles the Palm Dubai, said: “It’s with pride that we announce the official opening of Raffles the Palm Dubai, Raffles’ newest luxury resort in the UAE. “The five-star property invites guests to discover one of the world’s most exciting destinations through the gracious lens of a Raffles resort. “Raffles the Palm Dubai will ensure that every stay is exceptional with everyone arriving as a guest, leaving as a friend and returning as family.” The resort’s 389 rooms, which include deluxe and premier ocean rooms, premium club palm and premium club terrace rooms, range in size from 61 square metres to 203 square metres. Guests and families in need of more space have a choice of suites, including duplex suites, signature ocean suites, premier one bedroom palm suites, the Raffles presidential suites and Raffles royal suite, ranging in size from 100 square metres 750 square metres. All the rooms and suites offer panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf or the Dubai Skyline. Raffles the Palm Dubai is also home to a collection of villas, each encapsulating the grandeur of the resort. The Raffles royal villas and Raffles imperial villas offer an exceptional accommodation experience, with sizes ranging from 950 square metres to 1,050 square metres.Discreet indulgence is provided within each of the four-bedroom villas, which are all located by the shoreline and offer easy access to a pristine private beach and lush gardens. Their interiors feature high ceilings, a built-in spa and private swimming pool.The resort’s status as a majestic retreat, crafted by masters, is showcased in its classic furnishings. Guests will appreciate the 70,000 pieces of furniture from the traditional Italian ateliers of Francesco Molon along with more than 6,000 Swarovski Crystal chandeliers. Highly skilled artisans applied the finishing touches to each guest room using real gold and silver leaf while specialist stonemasons shaped the imported Portuguese marble. The resort’s collection of fine furnishings is tended to by the highly trained in-house ‘furniture master’ who works around the clock to ensure every detail is perfect, polished and shining at all times. Every guest checking into Raffles the Palm Dubai will be welcomed as a VIP and will enjoy Raffles’ famed 24-hour personalised butler service. Always on hand when required, butlers are attentive to each guest’s every need. Experts in what the city has to offer, Raffles butlers also act as concierges to unlock unique experiences and destination surprises. As Dubai’s newest must-visit dining destination, Raffles the Palm Dubai’s selection of restaurants and eateries will elevate the city’s culinary scene thanks to unique dining concepts serving a mix of international and regional favourites. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Le Jardin offers sensational dishes served in a regal setting with an outdoor terrace overlooking the property’s lush gardens and the Palm Jumeirah. At Matagi, a team of expertly trained chefs will prepare an exquisite fusion menu of contemporary Japanese and Italian food, a cuisine known as Itameshi. Music lovers can unwind with a wonderful selection of food and drinks at Sola, Raffles the Palm Dubai’s Jazz Lounge, while watching acclaimed artists perform live jazz throughout the week. The renowned Raffles Patisserie will serve high-end and classic French and Italian pastries, and more, complete with freshly baked breads. Headed by Gianluca Guinzoni, who trained at Cova, one of the oldest Italian culinary institutions, the Patisserie is a must visit for all guests and visitors. Raffles Club Lounge, accessible by guests staying in club rooms and suites, will thrill diners with 360 views of the Dubai skyline, perfect for enjoying a wonderful Aperitivo menu of food and drinks served at sunset each day. The Raffles Club Lounge also offers a private check-in service and live entertainment. Piatti, a vibrant and elegant beach restaurant run by charismatic Turkish and Italian Culinary Director, Batuhan Piatti, will delight the senses with a sophisticated menu of seafood dishes. Guests can also enjoy a legendary afternoon tea experience fit for royalty at Blüthner Hall, with the majestic atmosphere complemented by a bespoke Blüthner Louis XIV Grand Piano.

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Japan to shorten quarantine period for fully vaccinated travellers

The Japanese government said that it would ease quarantine rules for travellers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 starting from Friday, shortening the required period for self-isolating at home from 14 days to 10 days. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference that people who have been fully vaccinated would be allowed to go outside after a 10-day quarantine period as long as their Covid-19 tests were negative, reports Xinhua news agency. For people travelling from any of 45 countries and regions including the UK, India, and the Philippines, the existing rules of Japan required them to spend three of the 14 days in a government-designated facility due to a heightened risk of introducing Covid-19 variants. However, fully vaccinated people would no longer be required to do so under the new rules. Japan currently does not allow the entry of foreign nationals in principle. Most of the arrivals were Japanese citizens or foreign nationals who had been living in Japan. Kato said the relaxed quarantine rules were the first in a series of steps in a review of Japan's border measures, adding that the country in the future would consider allowing entry depending on the Covid-19 situation abroad while taking steps including restrictions on movement and testing.

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Indians eager to restart business travel

MUMBAI: Over 78% Indians are eager to recommence business trips, which is higher than the global average, according to the findings of a study commissioned by SAP Concur, which offers integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions to businesses. The study collected responses from 3850 business people in 25 markets, globally. It found that like their global counterparts, over 84% Indian business persons worry that not travelling for work will make it difficult to develop and maintain business connections (59% in India compared to 45% globally), it won't advance their careers (43% compared to 33% globally) and they would make less money (40% compared to 38% globally). "Respondents to the survey carried out in India, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand believe that the current travel hiatus is hurting their careers − by impeding their business goals and personal lives," it said. While professionals are eager to restart in-person meetings soon − they also want greater control over how they will travel, so that their safety and health can be better safeguarded amidst the pandemic," it added. On the business front, Indian respondents worry that if their organization does not increase business travel, it will be difficult to sign new deals (47%), build new relationships (41%) and renew contracts with existing clients (43%). Overall, in the APAC region, 9% are afraid their business will shut down, and 14% worry that they will lose their jobs, it said.

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IndiGo, American Airlines announce codeshare agreement to enhance connectivity across India

American Airlines has entered into a code-sharing agreement with IndiGo Airlines, which will help place the former’s code on 29 of IndiGo’s domestic routes in India. This will provide a convenient option for American Airlines customers arriving on the carrier's new Bengaluru (BLR) and Delhi (DEL) flights. This means, American’s customers will soon have access to 29 new routes from Bengaluru and Delhi while AAdvantage members will be earning ‘miles’ every time they take American codeshare flights operated by IndiGo. The codeshare, which is currently awaiting approvals of both the United States and Indian governments, is expected to begin in October, as American Airlines launches new services between New York (JFK) and DEL on October 31 and between Seattle (SEA) and BLR on January 4, 2022. Speaking about the agreement, Vasu Raja, Chief Revenue Officer, American Airlines, said: “We are eager to add IndiGo as our trusted partner in India. Whether our customers are traveling for business or pleasure, this new partnership makes it easy to reach all four corners of India. Today we are adding 29 new routes to our map as a result of this agreement, providing customers with even more options around the globe.” Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said: “We are delighted to sign this codeshare agreement with one of the world’s largest and most reputed airlines…. We look forward to having American’s customers on our lean clean flying machine, as we extend to them our on-time, affordable, courteous, and hassle-free travel experience.”

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