BEIJING: Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has introduced a contactless experience for its passengers, in what SITA has called its most extensive biometric deployment to date. BCIA joins the many airports around the world, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, which are undergoing digital makeovers to create touch-free experiences in a bid to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Biometrics and contactless technologies mean passengers can now glide through the Beijing Capital International airport in an entirely touch-free experience As the busiest airport in China and the second busiest in the world, BCIA has completely automated the entire passenger journey using SITA…
Author: holidayweekly
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has accorded approval to the launching of the historic Steam Safari Train service to boost tourism in the province. [huge_it_slider id=”568″] Secretary Sports, Tourism and Culture Department Abid Majeed while giving details said that under the project, the steam safari train would chug on two rail routes to take tourists and passengers to the two historical destinations. He said that on one route, the steam safari will take tourists and passengers from Peshawar to Attock Khurd while on the other route it will take tourists from the provincial capital to the historic archeological…
The cost of the restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is there for all to see. Between January and May, the sudden and rapid fall in tourist arrivals cost an estimated $320 billion. That’s three times greater than the impact of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 on our sector – and this is just for the first five months of the year. The re-opening of borders to tourism is a welcome relief to millions who depend on our sector. But this alone is not enough, especially in view of recent announcements and measures which seem further…
MANAMA: Bahrain has lifted the compulsory 10-day quarantine for all incoming passengers who report negative, following their test upon arrival in Bahrain and being informed of the result. This decision is one of the key steps announced by the Government Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, Health, a Bahrain news Agency report said. The decisions follow consideration of a Covid-19 periodic revision report submitted by the National Medical Task Force for Combatting the Coronavirus (Covid-19), headed by HE Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed…
LONDON: Heathrow Airport has installed a Covid-19 testing facility ahead of a potential change in government policy on quarantine. Developed by Collinson and Swissport, the service enables arriving passengers to be tested for Covid-19 upon landing and know the result hours later. More than 13,000 passenger tests can be carried out each day using the existing facility, which can be further scaled with demand. It is hoped that with approval from the government, people testing negative during the process will be allowed to exit quarantine early. The announcement that the testing facility is ready, comes as airport-based Covid-19 testing is…
DOHA: Qatar Airways has paid out over US$1.2 billion in refunds to almost 600,000 passengers since March, after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their travel plans. This comes amid widespread complaints over airlines refusing refunds to passengers and travel agents over cancelled flights, after the global crisis forced carriers worldwide to ground fleets and suspend operations. Qatar Airways has paid out over USD $1.2 billion in passenger refunds since March Having received “unprecedented numbers of refund requests”, Qatar Airways said that it has processed 96 per cent of all refund requests since March 2020. The airline is now processing all new…
BANGKOK: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will be announcing the PATA Gold Awards 2020 live during Virtual PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2020. Supported and sponsored since 1995 by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), this year’s awards will recognise the achievements of 21 Gold Awardees and three Grand Title Winners during the Online PATA Gold Awards Presentation on September 24. The Virtual PTM 2020 takes place from September 23 to 27. The PATA Gold Awards 2020 has attracted 121 entries from 62 organisations and individuals worldwide. The winners will be selected by an independent judging committee of 16 personalities…
ISLAMABAD: Last week Landmark Communications Pakistan and Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan jointly organized an international webinar on the theme of “Harnessing Potential of Tourism in the New Normal”. STFP and Landmark Pakistan are organizing a series of six webinars each one focusing on one region of Pakistan. Today’s webinar was mainly focus on the development and promotion of tourism in the province of Punjab. Syed Zulfiqar Abbass Bukhari, Special Advisor to Prime Minister and Chairman of National Tourism Coordination Board, Mr. Asif Mehmood, Advisor to CM Punjab on Tourism, Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Secretary Tourism, Government of Punjab, Air Marshal Arshad…
AMMAN: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released new data showing the impact on the Middle East aviation industry and on economies caused by the shutdown of air traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened over recent weeks. Job losses in aviation and related industries could grow to 1.5 million. That is more than half of the region’s 2.4 million aviation-related employment and 300,000 more than the previous estimate. Full-year 2020 traffic is expected to plummet by 56% compared to 2019. Previous estimate was a fall of 51%. GDP supported by aviation in the region could fall by up…
ISLAMABAD: As the novel coronavirus curve in the country almost flattening and the virus situation is under control, Pakistan’s government is taking a number of steps to resume normal businesses. One such step is the launch of a colourful, double decker tourist bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad from August 20. The red-coloured, brand new buses with ‘Sightseeing: Twin Cities’ written in bold letters are plying Islamabad’s roads. The Punjab Tourism Development Corporation, with cooperation of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), is behind the initiative. A test run was held recently for officials of the transport and the district…