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International Tourism

Carnival Reports | $2bn Loss As Return Gathers Pace

April 13, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

Carnival Corporation has reported a net loss of US$2 billion for the first quarter of 2021. The company was forced to halt all sailings in March last year as the Covid-19 pandemic spread around the world and has yet to return in many markets.

However, Carnival said the cash burn rate in the first quarter was better than expected as the company identified and implemented opportunities to optimize its monthly spending.

The group currently expects six of its nine brands to resume limited guest cruise operations by this summer.

Aida resumed operations in March sailing in the Canary Islands, while Costa began sailing to Italian ports in May.

P&O Cruises, Cunard, and Princess Cruises will each offer a series of UK cruises this summer, while Seabourn expects to offer trips sailing from Greece.

Carnival Corporation chief executive, Arnold Donald, noted: “We are focused on resuming operations as quickly as practical, while at the same time demonstrating prudent stewardship of capital and doing so in a way that serves the best interests of public health.

“Our highest responsibility and therefore our top priority is always compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety, and well-being of everyone.”

Donald added: “Our portfolio of brands has clearly been an asset as we resume operations this summer with nine ships across six of our brands.”

Carnival said booking volumes for all future cruises during the first quarter of 2021 were approximately 90 percent higher than volumes during the fourth quarter of last year.

Donald added: “Throughout the pause, we have been positioning Carnival Corporation to return to serving guests an operationally stronger company than we were before.

“With an exciting roster of six new, more efficient ships by December and with lower capacity from the exit of 19 less efficient ships, we expect to capitalize on pent-up demand and achieve significant cost improvement from the greater efficiency of our fleet, along with ongoing streamlining of shoreside operations.

Filed Under: Cruises, International Tourism, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 67-2021

Projecting Hospitality Growth | Saudi Arabia Leads The World

April 2, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is the fastest-growing among the 50 most populated countries in the world, reporting 73,057 rooms across the three phases of the hotel pipeline, and projecting a 67.1 percent increase in room supply over the next three years, according to STR’s AM: PM platform.

Of the total rooms in the pipeline as of March 11, 16,965 were scheduled to come online over the duration of 2021. The 67.1 percent increase assumes completion of all projects in construction, final planning, and planning.

“Saudi Arabia’s growth aspirations, along with the strength of other Middle East hospitality markets such as Qatar and the UAE, is further validation that the region continues to emerge as a global tourist destination,” said Philip Wooller, STR’s area director for the Middle East/Africa. “Such growth is a testament to the strength and prospectus of the nation’s strong cultural and economic resources.”

While a significant portion of Saudi Arabia’s pipeline activity is concentrated in Makkah (28,052 rooms under development), several other submarkets across the country are expected to increase hotel supply by 50 percent or more.

  1. Makkah: 28,052 rooms (+81 per cent)
  2. Saudi Arabia Regional: 13,996 (+80 per cent)
  3. Riyadh: 13,165 rooms (+75 per cent)
  4. Jeddah: 11,198 (+97 per cent)
  5. Al Khobar & Dammam: 5,418 (+47 per cent)
  6. Madinah: 1,228 (+7 per cent)

Filed Under: Hotel/Lodges, International Tourism, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 65-2021

UAE Continuing To Update | Residence And Tourist Visas

April 1, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

ABU DHABI: The UAE is continuing to update and enlarge the scope of available residence and tourist visas, by introducing a range of new and innovative types of visas, according to the needs of various segments of the community.

These updates are also in line with the progress achieved by the UAE in the area of global competitiveness and are expected to attract more investors, entrepreneurs, talents, and scientists, as well as boost the country’s status as an international tourism destination, reported state news agency WAM.

Since the start of 2021, the UAE introduced three new updates to residence and tourist visas, which are a Remote work Visa, multi-entry tourist visas for all nationalities, and a resolution enabling foreign students to bring their families to the country.

Moreover, the UAE recently introduced a medical treatment visa, a five-year residency visa for retirees according to specific conditions, and a 10-year golden residency system.

In detail, in January 2021, the UAE Cabinet approved an amendment to its residency laws allowing foreign university students to bring their families to the UAE, as long as they can afford suitable accommodation and have the financial means to support them.

During a meeting of the UAE Cabinet held recently, a virtual employment permit was approved, the first of its kind in the region, enabling foreigners to enter the country without sponsors, stay for one year, and work remotely according to specific conditions.

At the same meeting, a multi-entry tourist visa was approved for all nationalities, which boost the UAE’s tourism sector and its status as one of the best destinations for tourism in the world. This visa will allow tourists to enter the country multiple times within a period of five years for a duration of up to 90 days for each visit, renewable for a similar period.

Filed Under: International Tourism, Latest News, News, Travel Tagged With: volume 65-2021

UNWTO, WHO, US, The EU Failed | Tourism Will Not Bounce Back Taleb Rifai

April 1, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

MADRID: UNWTO and other international organizations failed us and tourism will not bounce back, said Dr. Taleb Rifai, former UNWTO Secretary-General.

What we need is a new multilateral system, a more harmonized, fair, and equitable system, because it’s not important how successful every country is on its own.

Dr. Rifai wears many hats, including as a board and co-founder of the World Tourism Network (WTN).

Rifai said: “Four years ago, I had an interview with a Victor Jorge Portuguese Work media network and was asked how I would define the current moment at that time, which included terrorism, Brexit, and the election of US President Donald Trump. At that time, no one expected the Covid crisis and the impact it would have on the travel and tourism industry.” As predicted by Rifai, a year later tourism bounced back.

Dr. Rifai explained today in another interview with the same Portuguese news channel: “I believe this is now a defining moment in the history of mankind altogether. Everything will change. Tourism will not bounce back.

“Today, we will not bounce back, but we will leap forward into a new world, a new norm. It may become a better and more sustainable world.

“I am, therefore, very optimistic we will not go back in time but move forward into a more sustainable growth – everywhere.

“The travel sector is, without a doubt, one of the most affected sectors as a result of COVID-19. Unfortunately, each government is working on its own doing what they think is best to protect its population. This is expected and understandable. Life is the most important thing to worry about. Governments are doing their best to protect their people.

“Every country must coordinate its actions and procedures with its neighbors first. The trick is not to do a perfect job on your own. It is indeed to agree on minimum procedures starting with surrounding destinations which will reach an international level.

“What we need is a new multilateral system, a more harmonized, fair, and equitable system, because it’s not important how successful every country is on its own. If one cannot travel from one place to another, what countries do independently is of no consequence. This is the nature of travel. It connects people and places.

“We have to function as one. We cannot have one country insisting on quarantine, while its neighbors are demanding a vaccination passport, and a third country is requiring simply 72-hour testing proof before arrival.

“The European Union is a good example of this failure of the multilateral system. Even the United States is not ‘united’ anymore. Each state is acting on its own, and so is the UN system altogether. They have all failed us.

“We need to rebuild a new multilateral system from the bottom up, brick by brick. We need to build a system that does not depend on the principles of the haves and the have nots.

“Vaccination is a good example. At the current rate we are going at, it will take us no less than 5 years to vaccinate 70% of the world population.

“The travel industry will only bounce forward to a new norm when the whole world is ready to travel under a unified system.

“The nature of travel is that you have to send people and receive people. It is, therefore, not wise maybe to depend solely on vaccinations.

“It is not fair nor is it equitable in today’s world for countries and people that do not have the ability to vaccinate the majority of their populations. We do not want to turn this into a political game, and most importantly, we will all lose if we pit those who have been vaccinated against those who have been unable to get vaccinated. In that scenario, nobody will travel to a non-vaccinated destination, and no vaccinated destination would accept receiving anyone from a non-vaccinated destination.

“Travel is about connecting everybody everywhere, so it will not work until everyone is vaccinated, and that is going to take a long time.

“Affordable testing in a harmonized way may just be more logical for a faster and more immediate recovery, or a combination of both vaccination and testing systems because if we want a quick recovery, we can start rather immediately by harmonizing a testing system and making it become more available and more affordable for all.

“Testing is easier and faster, but most important is to have one international agreement for that to work for all countries.

 

“There will be no coming back until people have peace of mind and have the confidence to trust a system – one universal system – that will be on an international level. People will not travel simply because their government says, ‘you can now travel.’

“There is an opportunity that comes out of every crisis. The prime winner of this crisis is domestic and regional tourism. While it is true that domestic travel does not bring in hard currency or contribute to the balance of trade, it does help keep businesses and jobs alive, which is a good thing especially for developing countries where a tourist is only a foreigner – a blonde, blue-eyed person.

“Any country that is not visited and enjoyed by its own people first, cannot be nor should it be enjoyed by an outside visitor. To me, this a matter of principle, not just a current or temporary need due to a crisis that will set the record clear once and for all.

“Many lessons can be learned from our current situation, such as the value and importance of travel all together and in particular, domestic and regional travel. Also to be learned is the importance and prominence of digital technology, health and sanitation safety rules of the new norm, and finally the need to retrain our workforce to adjust to all of the above and use this as an ideal time for positive change.”

“As for who may survive this crisis, only those that understand that we are moving towards a new norm, a new reality, will survive. A new world is in the making – one that is more fair and equitable and, therefore, more sustainable. Everyone has to adjust, and unfortunately, the travel industry does not have a history of being the best in adjusting and thinking on an innovative level.

“Let us remember that we were able to put a man on the moon before we were able to put two wheels on a suitcase. That shows how conservative and slow to move our sector has been.

“Airlines have to communicate more confidence and trust in cleanliness and hygiene, and they must have a more flexible booking and cancellation policy. Hotels have to recognize that domestic and regional clients are going to be the first to visit, so national holidays will see better traffic. After that, maybe digital nomads, which would require special long-term deals will fall in line, so special and different deals will have to be offered. Restaurants will also have to cater more to delivery and adjust seating for social distancing and outdoor seating. All this in addition to other changes will have to convey the feeling of cleanliness and proper hygiene.

“The world is also becoming more digital, and we simply have to adapt and make the best use of technology. We have to think outside the box. Tourism must recognize that everything can become digital and virtual, not just meetings and conferences, but also public events like concerts or big gatherings, even gym activities and personal events.

“I had my daughter married via zoom from Dubai for example. I was in Amman, Jordan, with the father of the groom, and she and her husband were in Dubai while the priest was on the other line. We just had to be imaginative and use available technology to think outside the box.

“We must first recognize the changes and admit them, and then we should think imaginatively of the needed changes through technology, sustainability, and honest and transparent promotion as explained in previous examples. This will suit the new digital, young, and well-informed consumer.

“In tourism, there can be no competition between neighbors. Usually, what is good for my neighbor is good for me. It is like the principle in a “souk” where all those that sell spices or sell gold are in the same street as one customer brings another.

“In summary, for domestic and regional travel to revive first, there are 3 stages for recovery:

Keep businesses alive, which requires direct support from governments or soft loans just to ensure businesses have enough time to adjust to the new reality and survive.

Require the private sector to adjust quickly to the new realities of domestic and regional travelers. Offer them new deals. Then and only then can governments stop having to provide direct support.

Start international travel with the young digital nomads and offer special travel insurance policies for foreigners, which require special arrangements and packages from the accommodation sector as well as governments in order to support and connect with local insurance providers not only in promotions but through visas and tax issues but for longer stays as well.

“My message at the end is – come together. We can only do this together. No government can do it alone no matter how good the plan may be. We must remember that there are opportunities that come out of every crisis – let us not miss this one. Let us remember that, in Chinese, the word ‘crisis and the word ‘opportunity are one and the same.”

Filed Under: International Tourism, Latest News, News, News Tagged With: volume 65-2021

Phuket to Welcome | Vaccinated Tourists From July 1

March 27, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

BANGKOK: Foreign travelers who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed entry into Phuket without quarantine from July 1.

Deputy Governor Pichet Panapong was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying that the infectious diseases committee approved the proposal on Wednesday, March 24.

Phuket’s tourism industry had been flourishing before Covid-19; Patong Beach in January 2021 pictured

Noting that Phuket has recorded zero new Covid-19 cases for 89 days, Panapong said that the holiday island is in “urgent need for foreign tourists… to stimulate the economy and tourism sector”.

Before reopening, Phuket health authorities plan to acquire 930,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to inoculate 70 percent of the local population in order to achieve herd immunity.

According to Thailand’s tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, a similar reopening scheme will also be rolled out in Pattaya, reported Nation Thailand. He added that the ministry plans to procure more vaccines with the aim of reopening more destinations across the country, including Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phang Nga, and Surat Thani, by October 1.

Filed Under: Destination, Destination, International Tourism, Latest News, News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

Tourism Beijing | Revenue Plunges 53% in 2020

March 26, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

BEIJING: Beijing’s total revenue from tourism decreased by over 53% in 2020 for a staggering loss of $50 billion, according to data presented by TradingPlatforms.com.

China has long moved on from its isolationist policies and has long encouraged the mainland as a travel destination for tourists. Revenue from China’s tourism sector grew at a strong 13.8% CAGR from 2010-2019 almost $880 billion. In 2019, China was the fourth most visited country by foreign tourists with 65.7 million arrivals for the year.

Beijing is one of the leading tourist destinations in China and the city has been enjoying the growth of the tourism sector until the pandemic of 2020 hit. From 2016-2019 Beijing’s tourism revenue experienced a 5.53% CAGR, rising to a value of ¥622.7 billion in 2019. However, COVID-19 shut borders around the world, crippling global mobility and disrupting the momentum built up by Beijing’s tourism industry. Beijing’s revenue from tourism dropped over 53% in 2020 to just over ¥291.

Beijing suffered a staggering loss in revenue specifically in inbound tourism where revenue dropped from $5.16 billion in 2019 to just $480 million in 2020.

China felt the effects of COVID-19 before much of the rest of the world did. A clear example of this is in the drop in weekly Airbnb bookings from the period between January 5 to March 7 when the Coronavirus was just news to the rest of the world of what was happening in various parts of China. Beijing experienced a 96% drop in weekly AirBnB bookings compared to just 46% in Seoul and 29% in Tokyo in this time period.

The number of domestic tourists is estimated to have dropped by as much as 62% in the first half of 2020 compared to the year prior with revenues dropping by as much as 77%. By the end of the year, China had experienced a 43% drop in domestic tourists and a 52% drop in revenue from domestic tourism.

In 2019, the absolute economic contribution of tourism in China was estimated at $1.67T. This fell sharply to just $745.5 billion in 2020, a decrease of more than 55% but still the largest in Asia and the second-largest overall after the US. However, projections have the figure bouncing back up by over 40.5% in 2021 to $1.04 trillion. The figure is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2023 when the absolute economic contribution of tourism is projected to be at $1.75 trillion.

Despite the turmoil of 2020, China’s absolute economic contribution from tourism is projected to have an impressive CAGR of 20.75% from 2021-2025, reaching more than $2.67 trillion by the end of the forecast period.

Filed Under: International Tourism, Latest News, News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

Unified ‘Vaccine passports’ | Essential for tourism recovery

March 26, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

LONDON: Trials for vaccine passports are rolling out to ensure the flow of safe travel between international destinations but there remains a lack of collaboration which will only further delay international travel’s recovery, said GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Forming an internationally recognized system as a global standard for all destinations would help ensure a traveller’s journey is as smooth and easy as possible – an essential factor to help heal international travel demand.

With various certificates and passes being trailed, if all are launched, this will only create further confusion among travellers – the last thing that is needed. A form of digital vaccine passport should be looked at as more of an opportunity rather than a competition.

Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, said: “Quarantine requirements and travel restrictions are the two main deterrents to international travel according to GlobalData’s survey. Travellers are likely to be just as confused about what is required of them to travel and the actual protocols of how they should act when they arrive at a destination.

“One simple app that can inform all travellers of the specific entry requirements for a destination, alongside if their current vaccination/test results match, will help diminish confusion and ensure a more seamless and worry-free travel experience.”

The CommonPass is currently being trailed, which is an initiative of the Commons Project in partnership with the World Economic Forum. IATA has also launched the Travel Pass which uses global passport standards and its in-house system to verify that air passengers meet visa and health requirements.

Bonhill-Smith added: “This is ultimately an opportunity for the sector to display a united front in its recovery. Covid-19 is the largest challenge ever faced by the global tourism sector and airlines have been particularly hard hit. International organizations and governments should work together to ensure a smooth relaunch of international tourism activity as soon as possible.

“Throughout 2020, leading tourism bodies worldwide were urging governments, organizations, airlines, hotels and travel agents all across the sector to unite, collaborate and remain resilient to ensure the safe recovery of international travel.”

Filed Under: Destination, International Tourism, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

E.U. Unveils | Vaccine Passport Plan

March 26, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

BERLIN: The European Union on Wednesday, March 18, launched a closely watched effort to create a joint vaccination passport for its more than 440 million citizens and residents, embarking on a tightrope walk between economic pressures, discrimination fears, and concerns over Europe’s slow vaccination progress.

Supporters hope the “digital green certificates” will be ready by June, which could help to salvage the European summer tourism season and even serve as a model that could be extended to the United States and other countries. But E.U. countries lag far behind the United States in vaccinations, which has raised concerns that the passport plan could be launched prematurely.

The passes are expected to be digital or paper documents for travelers to prove that they have been vaccinated, that they recovered from the virus, or recently tested negative for it. In many cases, this could free travelers from quarantine obligations.

Those privileges could eventually also apply to Americans or British citizens traveling to continental Europe, given that all vaccines approved in the two countries are also approved for use in the European Union. Greece, Cyprus, and several other E.U. countries have already announced or are working on plans to welcome British travelers back within months. But E.U. borders will remain closed to most Americans even those who are vaccinated until the bloc lifts its travel restrictions.

The World Health Organization on March 15 urged countries to be “careful” certifying vaccines while accessibility in different countries remains inequitable.

The European passport initiative appears in some ways modeled on passes already in use in Israel, where QR codes allow fully vaccinated people access to gyms or restaurants.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the aim in Europe is to have crucial information on travelers’ covid-19 status “mutually recognized in every member state.”

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz recently said that the “vaccinated should have full freedom,” indicating support for an approach similar to the one in place in Israel, some E.U. leaders still see the vaccine certificates mostly as a way to resume European travel.

With many Europeans unvaccinated and some receiving products that aren’t yet approved by the E.U. medical regulator, concerns over unequal treatment have mounted. E.U. member Hungary, for instance, has vaccinated some of its citizens with Russia’s Sputnik V and Chinese vaccines that are not currently recommended for use by the E.U. medical regulator. Under the E.U. proposal, it would be up to member states to decide if they accept those vaccines as sufficient proof of immunity.

But Europe’s two most populous countries  France and Germany have approached the plans with more caution, which could still derail them as they require the approval of the European Parliament and of member states.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently said that preferential treatment of vaccinated travelers “isn’t on the agenda, given the low vaccination coverage at this point.”

There is also still no scientific consensus on the extent to which vaccinations prevent the transmission of the virus.

The German and French stalling has frustrated officials in many southern European countries. Greece, Cyprus, and other nations recently announced plans to set up bilateral agreements unless an E.U.-wide solution can be found.

Filed Under: International Tourism, Latest News, News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

UAE Approves | Multiple-Entry Tourist Visas For All

March 25, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

DUBAI: The UAE Cabinet has approved a proposal for multiple tourist entry visas for all nationalities. This move comes in the wake of reviving tourism in the Emirates. Reportedly, the cabinet also approved ‘Virtual Visa’, which is a new visa category that will enable people to work online from Dubai irrespective of where their office is located.

As the multiple-entry tourist visa facility will be made available for all nationalities, this visa will come with a validity of 90 days, which will restrict re-entry after the expiry of approved three months validity. Reports have it that this new proposal will enable people to enter and exit the Emirates multiple times.

The new rule is in line with several initiatives that has recently been approved by the Cabinet during a meeting that was chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai. This move is also aimed at positioning the UAE as an ideal tourist and work destination.

Filed Under: HeadNews, International Tourism, Latest News, News, News Tagged With: volume 64-2021

UNWTO Emphasises | More Sustainable Future For Tourism

March 19, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

BERLIN: The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) stressed that sustainability was high on the agenda, leading efforts to ensure the sector lives up to its responsibilities for the planet as well as people, at ITB Berlin, a global tourism fair.

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.

“Eliminate. Innovate. Circulate: Strategies from the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative”, hosted jointly by UNWTO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, featured key insights from both public and private sectors. The event showcased how addressing plastic waste and pollution within tourism can support the sustainable recovery of the sector in the aftermath of the pandemic, noting both the progress that has been made and the challenges still to face.

Alongside UNWTO’s commitment to greater sustainability, a commitment to gender equality is a key priority. On the second day of ITB Berlin, and against the backdrop of Women’s History Month, UNWTO hosted a special panel on “Gamechangers” and female entrepreneurs within tourism. The event featured presentations by the five female winners of the UNWTO SDGs Startup Competition, outlining how their enterprises can contribute to addressing key issues such as gender equality, poverty alleviation, and providing decent work for all.

Also at ITB Berlin, UNWTO looked ahead to tourism’s restart, bringing together leading voices from across the media to explore the need for a new narrative to fit the rethink and restart of tourism with sustainability as the driving goal.

Alongside hosting events, UNWTO also contributed expert insights to a discussion on Tourism for Sustainable Development. The event was organized by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Corporation for International Development (GIZ).

Filed Under: International Tourism, Latest News, News, News, Organizations Tagged With: volume 63-2021

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