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Emirates signs MoU with Turespaña

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI 7 February 2022: Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turespaña, Spanish Tourism Institute, to help boost trade and tourism to Spain.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, welcomed Her Excellency María Reyes Maroto Illera, Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, at the Emirates Group Headquarters.

The MoU was signed by Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president, International Affairs at Emirates and Miguel Ángel Sanz Castedo, Director General of Turespana. The ceremony was also attended by Juan Ignacio Diaz Bidart, Cabinet Chief to the Minister, Ministry of Industry; Iñigo de Palacio, Spanish Ambassador to the UAE; Andres Salinero, Trade and Economic Counsellor, Embassy of Spain; and  Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director, Spain Tourism Office, Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Spain.

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates, said: “Emirates launched operations to Spain more than 12 years ago, and the country remains an important market in our global network. We’re very happy to be exploring mutually beneficial initiatives that will drive tourism to Spain and also offer Emirates more opportunities to serve the market. Thank you to our partners for their ongoing support, and we look forward to continuing growing our long-standing partnership.”

Miguel Angel Sanz, Director General Tourspain Madrid, said: “Spain and Emirates are strategic partners of the recovery of travel. Spain, as one of the most visited countries in the world, and Emirates, one of the world’s leading airlines, will work together to improve the connectivity and generate confidence, which are key factors for recovery.”

Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director of Spain Tourism GCC & Iran, added: “We are happy to sign this MoU between Emirates and Tourspain to further collaborate on improving the connectivity with Spain. We are starting to see a recovery of the routes to Spain, and we have agreed to work closer to promote our outstanding destination.”

Under the agreement, Emirates and Turespaña will explore joint activities to drive tourism to Spain, including trade familiarisation trips, workshops and marketing campaigns.

Emirates launched operations to Madrid in 2010, to Barcelona in 2012 and Dubai to Mexico City via Barcelona in 2019. The airline currently offers customers 10 weekly flights to Barcelona, including five weekly flights from Dubai to Mexico City via Barcelona and nine weekly flights to Madrid utilising the iconic Emirates A380 aircraft. Customers can also access popular regional destinations via the airline’s interline agreement with Vueling, Iberia Airlines and Air Europa. Emirates passengers travelling to Madrid and Barcelona can also connect onwards to more than 13 cities through the airline’s partnership with the national train operator, Renfe.

Emirates has safely restarted operations to more than 120 destinations within its global network via Dubai. The airline has led the industry with its innovative products and services, including a comprehensive set of health and safety measures at every step of the journey, contactless technology at Dubai Airport, generous and flexible booking policies, and COVID-19 medical insurance.

Bali reopens to international flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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JAKARTA, 7 February 2022: Bali’s tourism leaders are optimistic the holiday island’s economy is about to turn the corner after international flights restarted on 4 February.

Commenting to the local press Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said he was hopeful the step would trigger a recovery in Bali’s tourism economy.

However, he told Antara news that international tourists arriving in Bali would still be required to undergo quarantine, following the latest rules issued by the Covid-19 Handling Task Force.

“I also request all parties to strictly comply with the health protocols enforced by the COVID-19 Task Force. Because this is all meaningless if we are not disciplined,” he said.

All international travellers arriving in Bali must show proof they have been vaccinated a minimum of 14 days before arrival in Indonesia and that they provide a negative RT-PCR test result taken not more than 48 hours before departure.

Fully vaccinated travellers need to quarantine for five days in a hotel or on liveaboard ships certified by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. Travellers who have only received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine must quarantine for seven days.

Bali is providing two additional quarantine sites that have been CHSE-certified by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy – a “bubble quarantine” at five hotels with 447 rooms in Nusa Dua, Ubud, Sanur, and Jimbaran and “live onboard” quarantine on ships anchored offshore.

According to the Bali Government Tourism Office, the first flight Garuda Indonesia GA 881 arrived from Narita, Japan, on 3 February with 12 foreigners and six Indonesians onboard.

Singapore Airlines said last week it would resume flights to Bali from Singapore starting on 16 February.

(Source: Antara news)

Thai Vietjet resumes Vietnam air links

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 7 February 2022: Following the easing of travel restrictions in Thailand and Vietnam, Thai Vietjet confirms flights will increase between the two countries, starting from mid-February 2022.

Services on the Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh City route will increase from two to three to flights weekly, 17 February and shortly afterwards to five flights based on travel demand.

The airline will also resume its Bangkok to Danang direct service starting 27 March 2022 (summer schedule) to boost leisure travel between the two countries.

Thai Vietjet chief executive officer Woranate Laprabang said: “We strongly believe that the increase of the flight services between the two countries will contribute to the recovery of aviation and tourism, as well as economic recovery while meeting the increasing travel demand of people in the region, after a long suspension due to the pandemic.”

Recently, the airline announced it would introduce a new international service connecting Bangkok and the Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh, starting 16 March.

(Source: Thai Vietjet)

Singapore cruise season starts early

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 February 2022: International guests can sail on Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas starting 11 April 2022 when the ship arrives in Singapore six months earlier than previously scheduled.

Sailings are now open for bookings starting just a week before the Easter holiday, 15 to 18 April. Cruise fans can book an Ocean Getaway three or four-night cruise on Spectrum of the Seas.

“We have seen incredible demand for Royal Caribbean cruise holidays in Singapore. Having hosted more than 178,000 Singapore residents since we restarted cruising, bringing Spectrum six months early is truly exciting, said Royal Caribbean International vice president and managing director Asia-Pacific Angie Stephen.

Guests who book their vacation on Spectrum on or before 31 March 2022 can benefit from the Royal Caribbean’s Cruise with Confidence programme, allowing changes and cancellations up to 48 hours before their cruise sets sail. As long as holidaymakers cancel at least 48 hours before their sail date, they will receive a Future Cruise Credit. The credit is valid for future bookings on or before 30 September 2022, for sailings departing before 31 December 2022, or one year from the original sailing date, whichever is later.

(Source: Royal Caribbean International)

New airport opens in the Maldives

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 February 2022: Accessibility to resorts in the Maldives’ Lhaviyani Atoll will dramatically improve with the opening of Madivaru Airport later this month.

Domestic flights to and from Male’s Velana International Airport to Madivaru Airport will take just 25 minutes. Up until now, Lhaviyani has been served only by seaplanes, with operations limited to daylight flights. Travellers also departed from a different terminal at the country’s gateway airport Velana.

The flight schedule will commence with three flights daily scheduled that connect with international flights to ensure minimal wait times for travellers. 

Kuredu Holdings Pvt Ltd is developing Madivaru Airport. It will be managed by the national airline Maldivian, following a management agreement signed by Mohamed Moosa, chairman of Champa Brothers Maldives Pvt Ltd & co-owner of Crown & Champa Resorts, one of the owners of luxury resorts Kudadoo Maldives Private Island and Hurawalhi Island Resort, as well as Kuredu, Komandoo and Innahura (Crown & Champa Resorts). The airport project included land reclamation from Madivaru’s lagoon, construction of a 1200 metre-long runway and a passenger terminal.

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is a private island comprising 15 overwater ocean residences, while Hurawalhi Island Resort Maldives is an adults-only resort known for its 5.8 Underwater Restaurant.

Tickets for Maldivian flights from Velena International Airport to Madivaru Airport can be purchased directly from Kudadoo Maldives Private Island and Hurawalhi Island Resort, as well as Kuredu, Komandoo and Innahura (Crown & Champa Resorts).

Domestic flights between Velana and Madivaru airports are scheduled to connect travellers arriving in the Maldives on the following international flights:

  • SriLankan Airline (UL)
  • Condor Airline (DE)
  • Lufthansa (LH)
  • Aeroflot (SU)
  • British Airways (BA)
  • Qatar Airways (QR)
  • Emirates (QR)
  • Austrian Airlines (OS)
  • Singapore Airlines (SQ)
  • Turkish Airlines (TK)

Tourism revenue will rebound in 2022

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TTR WEEKLY
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LONDON, 4 February 2022: Major new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) indicates that as the global travel & tourism sector begins to recover, its contribution to the global economy could reach USD8.6 trillion this year.

In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the travel & tourism sector generated nearly USD9.2 trillion to the global economy.

However, in 2020, the pandemic brought the sector to an almost complete halt, causing a massive 49.1% drop, representing a severe loss of nearly USD4.5 trillion.

The latest research from WTTC shows that as the world finally begins to recover from the pandemic, the sector’s contribution to the global economy and jobs could reach almost pre-pandemic levels this year if the recovery of the sector continues to pick up the pace.

Research by the global tourism body shows that if the vaccine and booster rollout continue at pace this year, and restrictions to international travel are eased around the world throughout the year – increasing the number of people who can travel ‘quarantine free’, the sector’s contribution to the global economy could reach USD8.6 trillion, just 6.4% down on pre-pandemic levels.

WTTC’s research also shows that the sector’s contribution to global employment could reach more than 330 million, just 1% below pre-pandemic levels and up 21.5% up on 2020, representing a massive 58 million more jobs.

WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said: “Over the past two years, due to severe travel restrictions around the world, the global travel & tourism sector has suffered tremendous losses.

“Our latest research clearly shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and 2022 is certainly looking more positive in terms of both jobs and the economy. However, there is much more work to be done if we are to bring back all the jobs lost and achieve a full economic recovery. With so much is at stake, it’s vital we continue driving the recovery of our sector.

“Governments must shift their risk assessment from entire countries to the individual traveller and allow the fully vaccinated to travel freely.”

To reach close to pre-pandemic GDP and employment levels this year, WTTC says governments worldwide must continue focussing on the vaccine and booster rollout, allowing fully vaccinated travellers to move freely without the need for additional testing.

Digital solutions that enable travellers to easily prove their status in a simplified and secure way are a priority.

(Source: WTTC)

Vietnam speeds up reopening phase

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TTR WEEKLY
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HANOI, 4 February 2022: Vietnam is preparing for a broader reopening of its borders and will reinstate more international commercial flights once the Lunar New Year Tet celebrations are over, the Vietnam Government Portal news channel reports.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, some international flights resumed at the end of January, and the government confirmed that 14 of 63 cities and provinces allowed students to return to school starting 28 January. The total number of students back to schools reached nearly 15.7 million, accounting for 69%, the ministry added.

It is expected that 75.71% of students nationwide will return to schools after the Lunar New Year. Around 91% of higher education at universities and colleges will resume after the week-long holiday.

Since early January, the government allowed the partial resumption of international commercial flights to nine countries after a close to two-year hiatus.

International flights were authorised to Beijing/Guangxi (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), Taiwan, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Vientiane (Laos), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and San Francisco/Los Angeles (the US). Only flights to China remain pending.

At the end of January, airlines gained the green light to fly to Europe and Australia. They started just before the Tet holiday commenced.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines launched scheduled services to Australia, the UK, France, and Germany. Once the  Tet holiday is over, Bamboo Airways will operate flights to Germany, the UK, and Australia.

Under the current protocols, international passengers entering Vietnam must present a negative PCR test certificate. Travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from the virus are allowed to enter, but they must self-isolate for three days at places of residence. Those who have not been vaccinated or partially vaccinated shall be required to self-isolate for seven days.

The government has abolished the rapid Covid-19 test requirement for international airline passengers before boarding and after landing in Vietnam.

To date, Vietnam has temporarily recognised Covid-19 vaccination certificates and passports issued by 79 countries and territories.

Negotiations are now underway to accept other vaccine passports, especially those in a digital format.

Meanwhile, 10 countries have endorsed Vietnam’s vaccine passport to facilitate travel between their countries and Vietnam.

On 29 January, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with the Ministry of Health to devise a phased plan to complete the tourism reopening no later than 30 April.

A pilot scheme that allows international tourists to travel to Phu Quoc Island, Quang Nam, Danang, and Khanh Hoa in the central region, and Quang Ninh in the northern region extends to include Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Dinh.

Incoming tourists are required to present a Covid-19 vaccination certificate issued at least 14 days before entry or have proof of recovery from Covid-19 within six months before entering the country.

They must also show a negative PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours before entry and purchase health insurance with Covid-19 treatment cover with a minimum value of USD50,000.

Since last November, Vietnam has welcomed about 8,500 international tourists from Russia, South Korea, Singapore, the UK, and the US under the scheme.

According to data provided by the country’s General Statistics Office, the country recorded 111,057 international visitor arrivals by air in 2021, down 96.4%. Arrivals by land declined 92.5% to 45,598, and just 614 visitors by sea down 99.6%. In 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, the country welcomed 18 million international visitor arrivals.

(Source: VGP)

IATA backs Health Master List

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TTR WEEKLY
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GENEVA, 4 February 2022: The International Air Transport Association welcomes the creation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of a global directory of public keys required to authentic health credentials.

The directory – called the Health Master List (HML) – will significantly contribute to the global recognition and verification (interoperability) of government-issued health credentials.

Benoit Poletti, Chief Executive Officer, INCERT Public Agency, of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (left), and ICAO Deputy Director of Aviation Security and Facilitation, Sylvain Lefoyer, on the occasion of the signing of the INCERT-ICAO Health Master List agreement.

A public key enables third parties to verify that a QR code displayed on a health credential is authentic and valid. The HLM is a compilation of public-key certificates signed by ICAO and regularly updated as more health proofs are issued, and new public keys are required. Its implementation will ease the global recognition of health credentials outside of the jurisdiction in which they were issued.

“For international travel today, it is critical that COVID-19 health passes can be efficiently verified outside of their country of issuance. While the keys for verification are available individually, the creation of a directory will significantly cut complexity, simplify operations and improve trust in the verification process. We encourage all states to submit their public health keys to the HLM,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.

The sharing of public keys used to perform this verification does not involve any exchange of or access to personal information.

The HML is available on the ICAO website. All states can upload their public keys and download those of other governments.

Through a pilot project associated with the HML, private sector providers of solutions for governments to verify health credentials will also be able to access these keys. It will help facilitate the broadest coverage of health certificates in their offerings as international travel continues to ramp up. IATA will participate in this pilot program to support the deployment of the IATA Travel Pass.

A Step Forward for One ID

The air transport industry’s interest in this type of directory goes beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

“COVID-19 Health Certificates must be removed as we progress towards overall travel normalization and industry recovery. But we must retain and build on the operational experience of verifying certificates globally. That includes securely sharing access to public keys with private sector solution providers. This will help to drive progress for contactless verification of traveller identities for which similar keys are needed. We cannot underestimate how important this will be for the implementation of One ID, which has the potential to simplify travel dramatically,” said Walsh.

One ID uses digital identity management and biometric technologies to streamline travel by eliminating repetitive checks of paper documents. The contactless checking of travel health credentials is advancing the experience needed to operationalize One ID. The challenge is the same: universal recognition of verified digital credentials irrespective of the jurisdiction in which they were issued or the standard used. The successful sharing of public keys to verify Covid-19 health certificates will demonstrate that similar keys for digital identity documents can also be securely and efficiently be collected and shared, including with private sector solution providers.

(Source: IATA)

BW introduces Test & Go packages

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 4 February 2022: Best Western Hotels & Resorts welcomes international travellers back to Thailand with a special package to support Thailand’s “Test & Go” programme that opened for bookings through the Thailand Pass app earlier this week.

Under the rebooted programme, fully vaccinated visitors from any country or territory worldwide can apply for a “Thailand Pass”. They will need to book a night’s stay at a certified hotel on day one and again on day five to undergo two PCR tests. The mandatory hotel stays for testing can be in different destinations.

To celebrate this milestone, Best Western is offering packages starting from only THB4,480 per person per night at hotels in Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket. The deal includes transfer from the airport to the hotel and RT-PCR tests provided by a hospital.

Ethiopian’s 737 MAX resumes flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 February 2022: Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX returned to the skies earlier this week after being grounded for almost three years

In March 2019, an Ethiopian Boeing 737 MAX (Flight 302) crashed just six minutes after it took off from Addis Ababa, killing 149 passengers and eight crew. It was the second deadly crash for the brand new plane model in just six months after a Lion Air B737 MAX crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia in October 2018 killing 189 passengers and crew.

Commenting on the return of the B737 MAX, Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said: “Safety is the topmost priority and it is in line with that guiding principle we are now returning the B737 MAX to service not only after the recertification by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), EASA of Europe, Transport Canada, CAAC, ECAA and other regulatory bodies but also after the fleet type’s return to service by 36 airlines around the world.

The airline’s board members, management executives, Boeing representatives joined the first flight from Addis Ababa on 1 February.

The airlines’ B737 MAX has undergone more than 20 months of rigorous recertification process that extended to pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians and cabin crew.

Ethiopian Airlines has four B737 MAX in its fleet and 25 on order, some of which it will take delivery of in 2022.

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