Iceland will this week open its borders to all visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 without mandatory testing or quarantine, as it seeks to attract more tourists to help revive its coronavirus-hit economy. The North Atlantic country, which will become one of the first to open its borders since the beginning of the pandemic, saw tourist numbers plummet by 75% last year to just under half a million, causing its economy to contract by 6.6%. FILE PHOTO: People walk past artwork on the side of a shop as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Reykjavik, Iceland. REUTERS/John Sibley “The world has been through a lot in the past twelve months, and we are all hoping for a slow and safe return to normalcy,” Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said in a...
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The European Union is going to unveil the plans to reopen summer travel with a new coronavirus pass intended to help revive the bloc’s multi-billion tourism and leisure industries that have been pulverised by the pandemic. The proposed, EU-wide “green digital certificate” would collate information on vaccinations, tests and COVID recovery to let travellers cross borders freely again after a year of curbs that have left beaches and famous landmarks deserted. FILE PHOTO: Two empty beach chairs are photographed at San Agustin Beach amid the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Gran Canaria, Spain. REUTERS/Borja Suarez The 27-member EU’s executive will also put forward an option to allow in outsiders with proof of vaccination, including those inoculated with Russian, Chinese o...
Read MoreBritain is reviewing the idea of vaccine certificates to allow access to travel, hospitality and entertainment and discussing the best way to proceed in terms of fairness, said business minister Kwarsi Kwarteng. P&O Cruises said on Tuesday that it would only accept as passengers those who have had both doses of the vaccine for its trips around the UK this summer, sparking a fresh debate on the issue. FILE PHOTO: People on the beach as the P&O "Spirit of France" ferry is seen docked in the port of Dover, Britain. REUTERS/Paul Childs When asked about the fairness of companies requiring proof of vaccination to grant entry and what the government’s stance was on the matter, Kwarteng said it was under review. “We are discussing what the best way to proceed is,” Kwarteng tol...
Read MoreGlobal airline industry body IATA called on governments to provide alternative forms of support and stimulus for the aviation sector as it warned that borders may not fully open until October. The deepening nature of the crisis for airlines was highlighted by IATA’s plans to delay its annual meeting from June to October because it does not expect borders to have properly re-opened to allow such a gathering by late June. Many European airlines have said they need a summer holiday season if they are to survive after almost a year of COVID-19 restrictions which have stopped travel. IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said that governments had already provided $225 billion to help airlines, through direct aid, wage subsidies, tax relief and loans, but warned more was needed...
Read MoreHelps users get the most out of photos and videos, captured from any phone or camera Quik Rescues Your Favorite Shots from the ‘Black Hole’ of Your Phone’s Camera Roll Quik’s ‘Mural’ Feature Serves as a Private Feed for Your Favorite ShotsAuto-Generated Videos + Powerful Editing Tools Empower Casual Users and Pros499 Annual Subscription to Include Unlimited Cloud Backup at Original Image Quality GoPro has launched a total refresh of its mobile app and gave it a new name to reflect its purpose. Aptly named Quik, the app makes it quick and easy to get the most out of your favorite photos and videos no matter what phone or camera you’re using. At its core, Quik solves the “black hole” problem of your...
Read MoreThe city of Amsterdam will allow residents of its historic centre to offer their homes to tourists again, after a court ordered it to scrap a ban on vacation rentals. Amsterdam’s left-wing city council last year issued an outright ban on rentals through Airbnb and other platforms in three areas that make up its central canal ring, in an effort to curb what it described as the nuisance caused by tourists in the old city centre. FILE PHOTO: People ice skate during a cold snap across the country at the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam, Netherlands February 14, 2021. REUTERS/Eva Plevier But in a case brought on by an association of property owners, a local court last Friday ordered it to lift this ban immediately as it had no legal basis. In a response, the city said that as of Tuesday ...
Read MoreDressed all in purple, bent-over women held long rakes aloft as they walked in a line to a lavender field to carry out some pruning on an island in southwest South Korea. Inspired by their native balloon flower, residents of the Banwol and Bakji Islands, known as the ‘Purple Islands’, have painted their houses, roads and bridges in shades of the hue, and planted purple flowers such as lavender and asters to transform their town into a tourist attraction. A general view of the Purple Island in Shinan, South Korea, March 9, 2021. Picture taken March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Daewoung Kim “Old people like us have a secluded life here, since all the young people left the town,” said villager Shin Deok-im, 79, who has lived on Bakji island for more than 60 years. “I’m glad to see young peo...
Read MoreThailand held a fruit banquet for dozens of elephants in the ancient capital Ayutthaya on Saturday, continuing an annual event which has been a big draw for foreign tourists in the hope they will return soon and revive the key tourism industry. The feast marks the country’s Elephant Day, celebrating elephants as a source of national pride and cultural identity for Thailand throughout its history, used for labour, transport and in battlefield triumphs by warriors and kings. A child feeds an elephant during Thailand's National Elephant Day celebration in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, Thailand, March 13, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa “We, the elephant people, are hoping that the government will open up the country (soon) to welcome foreign tourists in order for them to bring in ...
Read MoreThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council’s approval of the latest recommendations from its Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART). Key outputs include: Recommendations for: -Temporary liberalization of cargo flights-Considering priority vaccination of air crew-Increased cooperation among governments to implement CART recommendations and guidance Updated or new guidance for: -Testing certificates-COVID-19 risk management including vaccination and its interdependencies-Dangerous goods guidelines for the carriage of cargo on passenger aircraft used in freighter operations A new mechanism for reporting extended regulatory alleviations “This is a major piece of work by states and aviation...
Read MoreThe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has returned to ITB Berlin to lead the conversation on the current challenges facing the sector, and the opportunities to be seized in the future. As the United Nations specialized agency leads the restart of global tourism following the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, three virtual events brought together voices from across the sector at the leading trade fair. Against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty, UNWTO outlined a positive narrative for tourism, stressing its historic ability to lead from the front and adapt to new challenges. Less Waste, More Opportunity On the opening day of ITB Berlin Now, UNWTO ensured sustainability was high on the agenda, leading efforts to ensure the sector lives up to its responsibili...
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