MADRID: The global vaccination rollout and increased adoption of digital solutions for safe travel should lead to a rise in international mobility over the weeks and months ahead, the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicates. According to the newest edition of the Travel Restrictions Report from the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, as of 1 June, 29% of all destinations worldwide have their borders completely closed to international tourism. Of these, more than half have been completely closed to tourists since May 2020 or longer, with the majority of these belonging to the Small Island Development…
Author: holidayweekly
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said it has reached an agreement with International Air Transport Association (IATA) to set up the aviation body’s headquarters for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in the kingdom. Following the deal, GACA said the signing of this agreement not only aligns with Saudi Arabia’s interest in supporting and promoting the role of regional and international civil aviation organizations but also contributes to the kingdom’s distinguished efforts to empower Saudi organizations through providing various forms of support to assist in their role of contributing to the development of the field…
MUSCAT: Oman has announced a complete lockdown on commercial activities and ban on movement of individuals and vehicles as well as prayers, pre-Eid souqs (habta) and gatherings throughout the three days of Eid Al Adha. The evening closure of commercial activities and the ban on movement of individuals and vehicles will continue to take effect from 5 pm everyday till 4 am the next day, starting from July 16 to 31, except on the three days of Eid Al Adha during which the lockdown will be throughout the day, reported Oman News Agency (ONA). The Governorate of Musandam is exempted…
KARACHI: Director General of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Khaqan Murtaza has said that ease of doing business and reduced cost of doing business has been ensured in the National Aviation Policy which was likely to open up a lot of business opportunities, promote tourism through improved regional connectivity and prove favorable for the economy. “We are open to all types of suggestions and criticisms so that we could further improve the services being offered by Civil Aviation Authority”, he said, adding that CAA was working really hard to improve and further develop the infrastructure at airports including new helipads,…
LONDON: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) welcomed the latest announcement from the UK government about ending most Covid-19 restrictions on 19 July. It will give a much-needed boost to travel businesses across the country but it called for a clear pathway to allow as-yet unvaccinated people to travel safely and affordably. “After more than a year of lockdowns and severe restrictions, this is great news, and we welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to allow those who are double-jabbed to avoid quarantine after returning from an amber list country,” Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President said. “However, we hope…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has suspended entry from Ethiopia, the UAE, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, except for non-citizens who stayed 14 days outside those four countries, as well as all the previously announced countries, a report said. An official source of the kingdom’s Interior Ministry announced the following decisions in light of the ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) and the spread of a new mutated strain of the virus, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA), citing a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report. • Banning citizens from traveling directly or indirectly, without obtaining prior permission from the concerned authorities to Ethiopia, the UAE,…
MANSEHRA: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said tourism offers excellent potential for boosting the country’s revenue and employment opportunities and it is his vision to keep Pakistan clean and green to attract tourists from across the world to this heavenly land. “Switzerland is half the size of our northern areas and has no match with the natural beauty of our landscape, yet it earns $80 billion from tourism whereas our total export is of $25 billion,” the prime minister said while addressing a gathering of Tiger Force volunteers in Naran, the commercial hub of Kaghan valley. During the trip to…
GENEVA: The crash in international tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021, according to a UNCTAD report published on June 30. The estimated loss has been caused by the pandemic’s direct impact on tourism and its ripple effect on other sectors closely linked to it. The report, jointly presented with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), says international tourism and its closely linked sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020 due to direct and indirect impacts of a steep…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is planning to target international transit passenger traffic with its new national airline, going head-to-head with other regional carriers Dubai’s Emirates and Qatar Airways and revving up the regional competition, said a report. The new airline would boost international routes and echo existing Gulf carriers by carrying people from one country to another via connections in the kingdom, known in the industry as sixth-freedom traffic. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had on Tuesday announced plans to launch a second national airline as part of a broader strategy to turn the kingdom into a global logistics hub…
P&O Cruises Australia has extended its pause in cruise operations by a further three months until December 17th. The Carnival-owned line said the decision followed ongoing uncertainty around a pathway to resume Australia-only cruising. The cruise industry has been discussing a framework for the re-start of domestic-only cruising with government and public health authorities since last October. “These discussions have been underway for some time, and we look forward to the opportunity to agree to a pathway for starting cruises that carry Australian residents on Australian itineraries,” P&O Cruises Australia President, Sture Myrmell, said. “This is about the livelihoods of…