LONDON: A government plan to end VAT-free shopping for international visitors at the end of the year could cost the UK billions of pounds in lost income, travel and retail bosses have warned. In a letter to the chancellor, the heads of firms such as Marks & Spencer, Heathrow and Selfridges said the move also put 70,000 jobs at risk. About £3.5bn in tax-free sales are made to non-EU tourists each year. The Treasury says the tax relief is costly and vulnerable to fraud. Under the VAT Retail Export Scheme (VAT RES), international visitors to the UK can reclaim the…
Author: holidayweekly
ISLAMABAD: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued new SOPs for international flights and charter flights. The new rules and regulations will be applicable from October 5 to December 31. According to details, there are 2 categories of countries around the world for COVID-19 risk assessment. PCR test will not be required for passengers coming from Category ‘A’ countries. Category A includes 38 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, Germany and Japan, while Category ‘B’ passengers will be required to show the COVID-19 PCR test. Passengers coming to Pakistan will be required to download the Pass Track mobile application. Passengers will…
RIYADH: The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) on Tuesday announced the return of the world’s richest horse race, the $20-million Saudi Cup, as well as a prize money increase and a new international race. The race will take place on February 19 and 20, 2021. At a series of press events held via video link from King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, was keen to build on the success of the inaugural Saudi Cup. “It’s hard to overstate the success of Saudi Cup 2020 when…
KARACHI: Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Siraj Kassam Teli along with newly elected President KCCI M. Shariq Vohra, Senior Vice President Saquib Goodluck and Vice President Shamsul Islam pose for a group photo after assuming their offices for the year 2020-21.
DOHA: Qatar Airways has received around US$2 billion in state aid as the flag-carrier battles the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. Branding 2019/20 one of its “most difficult years,” the Middle Eastern airline noted it had also been hit by the ongoing blockade of Qatari airspace and the collapse of Air Italy in recent months. Changes to accounting policy had also taken a toll, the airline said, releasing it financial results for the past year. This headwind saw net losses nearly double to seven billion riyals (US$1.92 billion) for the 12-months to March. The airline confirmed that Qatar had joined…
Tourism has been among the hardest hit of all sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. No country has been unaffected. Restrictions on travel and a sudden drop in consumer demand have led to an unprecedented fall in international tourism numbers, which in turn have led to economic loss and the loss of jobs. Women, youth, and workers in the informal economy are the most at risk from tourism sector job losses and business closures due to the pandemic. At the same time, the destinations most reliant on tourism for jobs and economic growth are likely to be the hardest hit. The tourism crisis is…
My fellow tourism workers and stakeholders in the industry, today we join the world in celebrating World Tourism Day. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the global community of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution the sector can make in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Faisal Khan General Manager Hotel Mehran said that The tourism industry has been changing globally, with technology being a driving force in knowledge and innovation. Technology is changing the way in which business models were being conducted and changing the way in which we understand things. Therefore, we have…
On behalf of Executive Committee and Members of Pakistan Hotels Association (PHA), I would like to congratulate Pakistan’s hospitality, tourism and travel trade for its revival specially on this year’s World Tourism Day, globally celebrated each year on 27th September by the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as World Tourism Day 2020 also highlights the important role tourism plays in preserving and promoting culture and heritage all around the world. PHA has proven its vital role and is further endeavoring to promote tourism and bring collaboration amongst its members all over Pakistan. NWTO has designated Year 2020 as the Year…
To create global awareness about the impact of tourism and its impact on society in various fields, The World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27th annually. This year, the Day’s theme is “Tourism and Rural Development”. Before coronavirus,Travel and tourism industry was a booming industry of annual business of 1.6 trillion dollar. The industry was evolving at a rapid rate creating more job opportunities for the youth. Research suggests that every one out of 10 jobs in the world was backed up by travel and tourism. There was a time in Pakistan when each sector of our tourist industry…
Tourism has been among the hardest hit of all major economic sectors due to Covid-19. The statistics are phenomenal. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council more than 197 million jobs could be lost globally if barriers to global travel, such as blanket anti-travel advisories and quarantine measures, remain in place. Meanwhile, IATA says that the ‘worst may be yet to come’, with between 6-7 million jobs supported by aviation are at risk. Celebrating of The World Tourism Day is a wise and brave decision by UNWTO in these circumstances. This year, the Day’s theme, “Tourism and Rural Development”…