Search alerts

The government of the UAE announced yesterday that airports in Dubai will welcome tourists from 7 July. Arrivals will be required to present a negative COVID-19 certificate or undergo testing at the airport. Meanwhile, citizens and residents of the UAE will also be permitted to travel overseas from tomorrow, 23 July.

The cross-channel rail operator is preparing to introduce facial recognition technology by March 2021 that will allow passengers to board international services without their passport. The scheme is similar to facial recognition technology in place at major airports including London's Heathrow and Shanghai's Hongqiao, and will be a world-first for rail travel.

The health guidelines provide clear and consistent advice regarding risk-minimisation principles and processes, in domestic airports and on aircraft, for domestic passenger travel. The protocol is informed by health advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, as well as guidance from international aviation authorities.

The country's government has advised Filipinos who are overseas and returning to the country via Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to register online before their flights home. Registration is to be completed on the Philippine Red Cross website at ecif.redcross.com.ph prior to their scheduled arrival.

Avani have published updated information on the measures they're taking to prepare for post-COVID-19 travel, as more of their hotels globally begin to re-open. Their protocols, introduced under the name 'AvaniSHIELD', include initiatives such as digital check-in/out, a digital concierge app and a trusted partner program for local transport.

The country's prime minister told Fiji's parliament yesterday that he plans to create a travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand, as part of of a plan for the slow resumption of tourism in post-COVID-19 society. No confirmed plans or dates are yet in place, though, for the so-called 'Bula Bubble'.

Spain's government announced yesterday, 21 June, that British tourists are now permitted to arrive in the country without having to self-quarantine. Spain’s borders are now open to arrivals from EU countries (except Portugal), the UK and some other Schengen area countries from 21 June.

The airline has today announced that they are set to resume flights to an additional 17 destinations across their global network from August; this follows the previous news of passenger flights being set to resume from 20 July. Flights to the additional destinations will resume from 1 August through to early October, and include cities across the Unites States, India, South Africa and the Caribbean.

The hotel is the first property within the Accor Group to achieve this ALLSAFE label globally, and has been independently audited by The Environmental Health Consultancy

The South African National Parks (SANParks) are preparing to resume operations in the week commencing 22 June, and have recalled their hospitality staff ready for a staggered opening of accommodation facilities. This follows an announcement on 17 June by the country's president in which he said that accommodation agencies and lodges can now open their doors again.

The airline resumed flights to the U.S. on the evening of 19 June, after a suspension of more than two months; two planes bound for Washington D.C. and Chicago took off from Istanbul at around 18.00 GMT. Back in the airline's hub, Turkey has this month reopened restaurants and cafes, allowed intercity flights and car travel, and lifted weekend stay-home orders.

The state of South Australia is re-opening its borders to people coming from Queensland; Premier Steven Marshall says the change will take effect from 00.01 (local time) on 20 June, meaning anyone coming from that state will no longer be required to spend 14 days in quarantine on arrival in South Australia.

Intrepid have today launched a range of tours designed to navigate the difficulties currently faced by travellers, by providing them with a way to explore and support communities that are a little closer to home. Intrepid Retreats are typically shorter getaways and range from escapes to the Scottish Highlands to short breaks in Morocco's High Atlas foothills.

The airline has yesterday become the first domestic airline in India to launch a safe door to door baggage service for its passengers, branded AirAsia FlyPorter. In a continuation of the changes that COVID-19 is having upon processes within the airport experience, such as contactless check-in, the service goes a step further by introducing a safe and hassle-free way to transport luggage from the journey's start to finish.

Singapore moved into phase two of its Circuit Breaker plan to ease measures related to COVID-19 today, allowing bars, restaurants and retail businesses to re-open; a number of services including sports facilities and parks were also permitted to resume activities. The country's plan aims to facilitate the resumption of a new normal once phase three is reached.

The global hotel chain is gradually resuming operations in many destinations worldwide - it will shortly re-open all hotels in Spain by the first week of July. All re-openings will follow the 17 safety protocols set out in the chain's manual, written in partnership with the consultant Preverisk and offering what it calls the highest possible level of guarantee for the health and safety of customers and staff.

The global hotel group has introduced a program of rigorous standards for cleaning and safety, working with their housekeeping and cleaning partners to deliver hygiene protocols over and above the World Health Organisation’s best practice recommendations.

The Indian state's first minister has announced that pre-flight COVID-19 tests will be mandatory for all those returning to the state from overseas, irrespective of whether they are taking flights under the the government's Vande Bharat repatriation mission, or other chartered flights arranged by different organisations.

The state of California yesterday announced a requirement for residents to wear face masks in 'most settings outside the home', in response to what it calls a neglect by citizens to cover their faces and limit the spread of COVID-19. Masks must be worn outdoors and 'in any indoor space', with exceptions made for diners while they are eating or drinking and people engaging in outdoor recreation, as long as they maintain 6 feet of physical distance.

Playa Hotels & Resorts have announced that they are set to re-open hotels across Mexico and the Caribbean from 1 July; the owner and operator oversees a portfolio of all-inclusive properties including flagship properties from the Hyatt, Hilton, Jewel and Panama Jack collections. The company has also created the Playa Safe Stay™ initiative in response to COVID-19 to create a safe environment for their guests.