The Philippines will reopen its borders to tourists from some countries on a trial basis from Dec. 1, its government said on Friday, as part of efforts to rebuild an economy hit hard by the pandemic. Foreigners vaccinated against COVID-19 from countries designated low risk by the Philippines will be allowed entry over an initial 15-day period, Karlo Nograles, acting presidential spokesperson, told a regular news conference. FILE PHOTO: A view of an empty beach is seen a day before the temporary closure of the holiday island Boracay in the Philippines. REUTERS/Erik De Castro “This is something we are doing step by step,” Nograles said, adding that the two-week window could be extended. The Philippines, popular for its white sand beaches and rich marine life, shut its doors to f...
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The Philippines has approved a plan to allow entry soon to foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19, its tourism ministry said on Friday, following moves by other Southeast Asian countries to relax travel curbs. The coronavirus task force "approved in principle the entry of fully vaccinated tourists" from countries with low COVID-19 cases, the ministry said, adding that guidelines must be finalised. FILE PHOTO: A view of an empty beach is seen a day before the temporary closure of the holiday island Boracay in the Philippines. REUTERS/Erik De Castro The Philippines, known for its diving and thousands of tropical islands, saw an 83% drop in foreign arrivals last year, receiving nearly 1.4 million visitors, compared to nearly 8.2 million in 2019. Japan, South Korea and China ar...
Read MoreUNWTO and Instagram have joined forces to produce a ‘Tourism Recovery Playbook’, and so help destinations and business harness the power of digital and visual storytelling to reach new audiences and return to growth. This first ever partnership with Instagram forms part of UNWTO’s wider shift towards harnessing the power of digital innovation to drive the restart of tourism, especially local and sustainable tourism. It also represents Instagram’s recognition of tourism as a leading provider of livelihoods and global opportunity, welcoming UNWTO as partners in a first structured effort to use the platform as a tool to help kickstart the sector’s recovery. The partnership was announced against the backdrop of World Travel Market in London, the leading tourism trade fair where UNWTO b...
Read MoreThe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will hold the 24th General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, from 30 November to 3 December 2021. The General Assembly is UNWTO’s main gathering and the platform for Member States to approve UNWTO’s programme of work and budget for the coming biennium (2022-2023). The 2021 General Assembly will place a special emphasis on the importance of innovation, education and rural development, as well as tourism’s role in inclusive growth, the theme of World Tourism Day 2021. Additionally, delegates will be presented with the International Code for the Protection of Tourists, a landmark legal instrument designed to restore trust in international travel. Other key items on the agenda for the General Assembly include proposed reforms to the UNWTO Affiliate Me...
Read MoreAnantara ready to welcome international guests After border closures for almost 18 months, Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas is ready to welcome international guests back to Thailand following the announcement that fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries can travel quarantine-free to the Kingdom from November 1st. Set to grow over the coming days, the list of "low risk" countries, including Singapore, Germany, China, UK and the US. Tourists will be allowed to visit any part of the country after meeting health and safety requirements upon travel to the country, these include showing that they are Covid-free at the time of travel with an RT-PCR test undertaken prior to departure, followed by a test in Thailand. From the mountains in the north, to the bustling ca...
Read MoreAbidjan, Cote d’Ivoire hosts the official celebrations for the World Tourism Day Global tourism has reaffirmed its commitment to making the sector a pillar of inclusive growth. At the official World Tourism Day 2021 celebrations in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, political and business leaders united behind a common message of solidarity and determination to ‘leave nobody behind’ as tourism restarts and grows back. Prime Minister Patrick Achi and Minister of Tourism Siandou Fofana welcomed international delegates, signalling Cote d’Ivoire’s firm support of tourism and Tourism Ministers from 12 countries, the biggest Ministerial participation for an official World Tourism Day celebration. The day featured 1,500 participants, including representatives of international organizations and th...
Read MoreThe first plane carrying tourists in more than four months touched down on the Malaysian island of Langkawi on Thursday and was greeted by a twin water cannon "salute", in the launch of a programme to revive a travel sector frozen by the pandemic. The first batch of 159 travellers from the capital, Kuala Lumpur, arrived eager for a vacation after a monthslong, nationwide lockdown imposed to address one of Asia's highest per-capital coronavirus infection rates. Tourists arrive at the airport as Langkawi reopens to domestic tourists, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Malaysia September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng Known for its beaches, geoparks, bird life and impressive rock formations, Langkawi, a group of 99 islands, is the test case in a drive to allow vac...
Read MoreTourism leaders from across Asia and the Pacific have met to plan the sector’s restart and recovery even as borders remain closed throughout the region. The 33rd Joint meeting of the World Tourism Organization’s Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and its Commission for South Asia (14 September 2021) came on the back of a challenging year for the region. The first to feel the impacts of the pandemic, the tourism sector of Asia and the Pacific has also been the hardest hit, recording a 95% fall in international arrivals in the first five months of 2021. Coordinated restart and recovery With UNWTO data also showing that this region continues to have the largest proportion of destinations closed to tourists, the Member States taking part in the virtual meetings focused on t...
Read MoreThe Sikkim government on Wednesday threw open Yumthang Valley in Lachung village for tourists, a week after it allowed similar relaxations in other famous destinations such as Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula, a notification said. Lachung Dzumsa, a local body that controls tourism activities in the North Sikkim village, welcomed the decision and said that strict adherence to COVID guidelines will be ensured. Lachung is often known as one of the most beautiful villages in the region. Tourists were seen thronging the East Sikkim destinations of Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir after those were opened for visitors last week. The state government will decide on opening up another much-visited destination of Gurudongmar Lake in Lachen village in North Sikkim for tourists after hold...
Read MoreStrict COVID protocols to be ensured for everyone Ahead of opening the 12th century Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri in Odisha for public darshan from August 16 in a phased manner, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday issued the standard operating procedure (SOP) for different categories of people. In a notification, the SJTA rolled out the SOP for the servitors' families, local residents of Puri and devotees from within the state and outside. FILE PHOTO: Jagannath Temple, Puri The temple which remained closed since April 24 this year in view of threat of spread of COVID-19, will reopen as per the state government's order. The SJTA has been directed to decide on the reopening of Jagannatha Temple for public darshan in consultation with the concerned stake...
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