Destinations
U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Calls For Preflight Testing
The governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan Jr. believes that pre-departure testing at mainland U.S. airports as well as increased adherence to public health protocols would bolster the efficacy of efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) both locally and throughout the Caribbean. During a Caribbean Tourism Fireworks session held recently, Governor Bryan said that mandatory preflight testing would make travel to the Caribbean healthier and easier. Reporting on meetings held recently with St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, the Governor...
Canada Extends International Travel Ban To Sept. 30
The Canadian government is extending the ban on international travel to Canada by another month. The announcement came this afternoon from Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and MP for Scarborough Southwest. Blair made the announcement of the extension on Twitter, stating: “Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month - until September 30, 2020 - to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities.” And in a second tweet, Blair said that “Canadian citizens and permanent...
Dominican Republic Unveils Tourism Recovery Plan
The Dominican Republic’s president, Luis Abinader Corona unveiled details of a set of initiatives to address the tourism industry’s challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure that the country is a safe travel destination. The Plan for the Responsible Recovery of Tourism in response to COVID-19, led by President Abinader, will protect the health, welfare and safety of tourists as well as promote a sustainable recovery of the tourism sector. Said Abinader: “Our goal is to minimize the effects of the pandemic and facilitate a responsible recovery that prioritizes...
Hawaii Delays Start Of Pre-Testing Program
Hawai‘i governor David Ige has issued a new statewide order delaying the start of the pre travel testing program to October 1st due to the spike in cases. Beginning October 1, individuals looking to avoid the 14-day quarantine are required to get a valid COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their trip and provide proof of a negative result as part of Hawai’i’s Pre-Travel Testing Program. If visitors fail to meet the requirements of the Pre-Travel Testing Program, they will be placed in a mandatory 14- day quarantine until a negative test is received. The FDA-approved...
Proceed With Caution
COVID-19 continues to challenge the travel industry, as countries seek to find the balance between welcoming visitors back in a safe way and keeping instances of the virus low in their respective destinations. While economies rely heavily on tourism, many countries have shown that reopening too quickly can be detrimental to the health of a nation. In a follow-up to last week’s cover story, Travel Courier addresses the issue of responsible travel and tourism from the perspective of destinations. Hear from tourism representatives for Jordan, The Bahamas, Belize, Saint Lucia,...
Full Recovery For Domestic Air Travel In China
ForwardKeys is predicting that domestic air travel in China, which has been recovering progressively in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, will reach a full recovery by the start of September. In the second week of August, domestic arrivals at Chinese airports reached 86% of 2019 levels and bookings (issued air tickets) hit 98%, with most being for travel in mid to late August. The travel data analytics company’s forecast of a full recovery is based on four factors. First, the pandemic is now under control. Second, domestic aviation seat capacity is set to grow by 5.7% in...
Monograms Expands Its Vacation Offerings
Monograms has unveiled plans to expand its all-in-one vacations packages to new seasons and cities in 2021. For the first time, travellers can enjoy the seamless vacation planning only Monograms provides – including the on-site services of a Local Host, hand-selected accommodations in the heart of destinations and customizable sightseeing – in the “off season” with savings of up to 40 percent. Further, the company has added New Orleans, Nashville, San Francisco and San Diego to its global vacation portfolio. Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of...
Virtual Wining & Dining With Hong Kong
The annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival is going virtual for the first time due to the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Explaining this strategic move, Hong Kong Tourist Board Chairman Dr YK Pang said: “The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival has been one of the most popular events among locals and tourists alike since its inception over a decade ago. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak this year, we hope people can continue to enjoy Hong Kong’s unique dining culture while providing business opportunities for the local F&B sector amidst this challenging economic...