More than half of global tourists are now unconcerned about COVID-19, finds GlobalData More than two years on, widespread COVID-19 concern appears to be declining as international travel resumes, amid easing travel restrictions and rising vaccination rates. According to a live poll conducted by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, 57% of respondents are “not concerned” or are “not very concerned” about the spread of COVID-19, suggesting that tourists are more prepared to live with COVID-19. Hannah Free, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The outlook for tourism in many countries is brighter than at any time in the past two years. However, the turbulence and uncertainty of COVID-19 has created several challenges which are likely to further complicate re...
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All people aged 18 and above have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Khajuraho town of Madhya Pradesh, leading the tourism industry to be optimistic about the business gaining momentum at the world famous destination in the coming days. While making the announcement on Saturday, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed the success in vaccination to the awareness of people of Khajuraho, located in Chhatarpur district, about 375 km from the state capital Bhopal. The Khajuraho temples, which are a UNESCO world heritage site, are situated in the backward Bundelkhand region of the state. Tourism industry stakeholders feel the business will now pick up in the area. "During the pandemic, all big and small hotels in Khajuraho were completely shut as the local hospitalit...
Read MoreHundreds of vaccinated foreign tourists arrived on the Thai resort island of Phuket on Thursday, the first visitors to its beaches and golf courses under a pilot programme designed to revive a tourism industry devastated by the pandemic. Under the “Phuket sandbox” plan, foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19 will not have to spend any time in quarantine and can move around the island freely. After 14 days, provided three coronavirus tests they must take are negative, they can travel elsewhere in the country. A plane carrying the first foreign tourists to arrive at the airport as Phuket reopens to overseas tourists, allowing foreigners fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to visit the resort island without quarantine, receives a water cannon salute fro...
Read MoreOn a small island where the Senegal River meets the sea, hundreds of mask-wearing jazz enthusiasts listened to French-Senegalese vocalist Awa Ly sing the blues for uncertain times. "Once you touched the sky and you went down," she crooned. "Use your inner senses and you'll figure it out, like a dream you can't remember." Percussionist Malick Fall addresses the crowd at the Hotel De La Residence during the Saint Louis Jazz Festival in Saint Louis, Senegal, June 19, 2021. REUTERS/Cooper Inveen Last year COVID-19 halted Saint Louis' jazz festival for the first time in its 29-year history. This year it was back, bringing much needed life to the Island of Saint Louis, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its colonial architecture and pastel-coloured houses. African rhythms, funk,...
Read MoreSaudi Arabia has restricted the annual Haj pilgrimage to its own citizens and residents for the second year running in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the state Saudi Press Agency (SPA)reported on Saturday. Only people aged between 18 and 65 who have been vaccinated or immunised against the virus, and are free of chronic diseases, will be able to take part, the ministry that manages the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca said in a statement carried by SPA. FILE PHOTO: Muslim pilgrims wearing face masks and keeping social distance perform Tawaf around Kaaba during the annual Haj pilgrimage amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 31, 2020. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS It also set a maximum of 60,000 participants. "The decision ...
Read MoreWTTC makes a global call to governments, people and businesses around the world A new campaign has been launched by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) calling on governments around the world to restart international travel and enable the world to ‘Reunite’ once again. After more than a year of lockdowns around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new campaign will showcase the importance international travel has on individuals and businesses. It will also encourage travellers to share with the world, the positive impact travel makes to their lives and mental well-being. Through its social media channels, ‘Reunite’ will urge people from all corners of the globe to share their own stories of how tourism has made a difference and changed their lives. ...
Read MoreClimbers returning from Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks are struggling to find a return flight back home after Nepal banned most air travel to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases, mountaineering operators and hikers said on Wednesday. Most regular international flights are closed through June as a deadly second wave of the coronavirus hit the Himalayan nation tucked between China and India. Nepal issued 742 permits – 408 of those to climbers aspiring to make it to the top of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest – in the April-May climbing season. And hundreds of climbers are now returning from the mountains before the onset of annual monsoon rains. Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, a senior official at Kathmandu-based private firm Seven Summit Treks, said climbers were finding it ...
Read MoreThe head of global airline industry body IATA blames overly risk-averse governments for prolonging the COVID-19 crisis for the travel sector but expects the outlook to brighten in the second half of the year. IATA Director General Willie Walsh, the former boss of British Airways owner IAG, expects positive data on vaccine effectiveness to convince governments to start rolling back restrictions. "There is some good evidence there to be optimistic that, going into the second half of this year, we will see a better environment that will allow more people to travel," he told Reuters on Friday. FILE PHOTO: An airplane prepares to land at Cointrin airport in Geneva, Switzerland. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy Most international air travel remains depressed almost 18 months into the pandemic ...
Read MoreWith COVID-19 cases showing a decline in Kerala over the past few days, the state is charting measures to revive its vital tourism sector, hit hard by the pandemic, by rolling out packages that encourage domestic travellers to visit destinations in the state. A high-level meeting presided by Tourism Minister Mohamed Riyas on Saturday decided to finalise projects and implement them at the earliest so as to inspire confidence in travellers and woo them to a whole range of places across the state, a Kerala Tourism press release said here. The initiative, which is being carried out considering that the pandemic will take time for authorities to promote international tourists, seeks to complete select tourism projects in the districts on a time-bound basis. Kerala Tourism will wor...
Read MoreFines of 5,000 pounds ($6,900) will be introduced from next week for people from England who try to travel abroad without good reason under new COVID-19 laws which last until the end of June. In the UK, foreign holidays are currently banned under “Stay at Home” legislation which will be replaced by the new COVID-19 laws next week. The government has said holidays could be allowed again from May 17 at the earliest. FILE PHOTO: Passengers wearing protective masks are pictured after arriving at Birmingham Airport following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Birmingham, Britain. REUTERS/Phil Noble But new warnings from the Prime Minister about a third wave of COVID-19 infections in Europe on Monday has placed the peak holiday season in jeopardy. Sources told the...
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