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Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Visa News Update



27/07 - 02/08/2020

iVisa Global News

 

The dominant topic is Covid: travel restrictions (both within the USA and internationally), reopenings, new requirements or travel documents, protocols on airlines, cruises, hotels, etc.

 

Trailers are still a trend, as road trips are considered a "safer" travel option (domestic tourism, short trips, small groups, etc.).

 

Opinion studies are numerous, especially those related to short and long-term "post-covid" perspectives (economic impact, industry recovery, changes in travel behavior).


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Rising Queries

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Articles

 

Covid - Travel Restrictions - Re-openings

 

State Travel Restrictions During COVID-19: A Complete Guide

From Alaska and Hawaii, to Florida and Maine, these are the COVID state travel restrictions currently in place.

 

What to know about Covid policies in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda

The three African destinations have opened their borders to international travelers. Listed here are the protocols for visiting those countries.

 

Jordan is reopening to visitors from 22 countries

Jordan is reopening its borders to visitors from selected countries on 5 August, emerging from one of the strictest lockdowns in the Middle East. Passengers are required to take a PCR swab test 72 hours before their flight to Jordan and another test on arrival.

 

Global borders slowly reopening UNWTO research reveals

According to the latest analysis from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, some 40 per cent of all destinations worldwide have now eased the restrictions they placed on international tourism in response to the outbreak.

 

UK visitors welcome in Costa Rica from August 1

The UK, along with countries in the EU and Schengen area, as well as Canada have been included on the ‘safe list’ of the Central American country, which has kept its borders closed for nearly four months. Visitors must complete a digital epidemiological form on arrival and provide a negative PCR Covid-19 test 48 hours before their trip.

Remote workers visas

Add Estonia to the List of Countries That Accept Americans As Digital Nomads

Starting August 1, the Eastern European country will roll out a "digital nomad visa" that allows for stays of up to a year. Applicants must already be employed and will have to prove that they're earning a minimum of €3,000 per month.

 

Brexit

 

Brexit is bringing major changes for British travelers to Europe

The new rules apply to British visitors to the EU as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, but not all requirements are necessary for travel to Ireland. The UK government has said that there could be additional changes announced between now and January, but here are the main points of its guidance as it currently stands.

 

 

Travel Bloggers

 

Travel influencers are being encouraged to pay for their own holidays amid pandemic

Travel blogger Ana Silva O’Reilly, known as Mrs O to her followers, has launched a new campaign encouraging those who make their money from partnerships with travel brands to cough up their own money in the short-term. Dubbed #PayingOurWay, the initiative suggests influencers support the industry by paying for trips and producing content free of charge, and emphasizes that they should be “patient” while awaiting the return of freebies and press trips.

 


Travel industry

 

UNWTO reveals huge cost of Covid-19 on global tourism

The cost up to May was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis. As the situation continues to evolve, UNWTO has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues, ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide.

 

Covid-19 Will Bring a Shift Toward Personalized Loyalty Programs

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that travel brands need to rethink consumer trust and loyalty to adapt to the new normal and truly deliver the personalized experiences that today’s customers expect.

 

Travel CEOs Urge Federal Action on COVID-19 Testing

Fourteen CEOs of America’s most recognizable travel-related companies sent a letter to the president and congressional leaders stating that more and better COVID-19 testing is an indispensable component of jumpstarting travel.

 

The state of Australia's tourism sector

Tourism sector has predominantly high contribution of more than 10% to the Australian economy making the country as the fourth largest contributor in the sector of Asia-Pacific region. International travel restrictions along with imposition of complete lockdown and quarantine measures helped to contain the spread in Australia, but had led to severe disruption to the tourism industry.

 

WTTC Launches Insurance Guidelines for the Travel & Tourism Sector

The guidelines are designed to drive the return of safe, healthy and responsible travel and ensure the insurance sector is fit for purpose to operate for travellers in the ‘new normal’ of the COVID-19 world.

 

US Travel Urges Passage of STEP Act to Support Tourism Industry

The bipartisan legislation would provide economic support for travel-related businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.

 

New Association Aims to Support Small Destination Experience Operators

A new global association has been founded to unite and support small, independent Destination Experience Operators (DEOs) from around the world, including providers of local tours (such as food, wine and city tours), venues, activities, and other experiences in a destination. Group Tour Professionals (GTP) will provide education, professional development and networking opportunities, resources and exposure for these operators.

 

Post-COVID-19 Travel Advisors Initiate New Business Protocols

Travel advisors have learned a lot from the experiences surrounding the COVID-19 crisis and the impact on their business and, in many cases, have now instituted new business and financial protocols including annual subscriptions and cancellation fees to ensure and protect their income in the future.

 

IATA: Lack of Confidence in Business Travel Will Stymie Total Travel Recovery Until 2024

Global air travel will not return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association, a year later than it had previously projected. IATA expects a recovery in short-haul travel to happen faster than it will for long-haul travel.

 

South American Tourism Impacted by Loss of US Spending, Yet Growth is Identifiable

US spending into South America is forecast to drop by 44.4% between 2020 and 2021 as travel restrictions due to COVID-19 have stymied visitor flows. Having featured in the top ten international arrivals in all the five major economies across South America in 2019, the reduction of this source of market will be detrimental for the travel sector. A proactive approach in engaging US tourists should be considered vital to stimulate recovery for when it is possible, says GlobalData.

 

Tech - Startups

 

ShareRing Uses Blockchain to Solve Self Sovereign Identity and Proof of Health Simultaneously

As the lockdown wears on and travel and tourism continue to be restricted, ShareRing is one company that has been innovating to use blockchain technology to solve the issue.  ShareRing is a platform that wants to take the hassle out of travel, with its all-inclusive travel app for both businesses and consumers

 

Traveloka Raises $250 Million for Online Travel: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Jakarta-based agency Traveloka, South Korea-based agency MyRealTrip, and Colombia-based agency Awake Travel are among the travel startups that together announced more than $297 million in funding this week.

 

Start-up operator Arcadia vows to be ‘antithesis of mass tourism’

New small-group expedition tour operator promises guests their trip will “feel like they’re joining the making of a documentary”. Arcadia Expeditions has been founded by David Mannix, Intrepid Travel’s former regional general manager, with documentary maker David Adams. The Australian operator will take guests to lesser-visited destinations.

 

Accelya completes acquisition of Farelogix | TravelDailyNews International

Accelya, a leading provider of technology solutions to the global airline and travel industry, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Farelogix, a leading provider of SaaS solutions for airline retailing and New Distribution Capability-enabled commerce. With Farelogix, Accelya will accelerate customers’ digital transformations, and will provide a next-generation, end-to-end, Offer-to-Settlement airline commerce platform, including a full suite of innovative retailing, distribution, and fulfillment solutions.

 Surveys and Trends

Longer, Slower, Farther: Savoring the Prospects of Future Travels

In the travel lull induced by the pandemic, many people are planning ambitious, once-in-a-lifetime trips. Optimists are targeting 2021. For others, their next big trip will be in 2022.

 

Post-covid buying behaviour changes to trigger travel retail rethink

Travel retail will not be the same as it was prior to the pandemic and travel retail stakeholders will need to rethink their strategies in order to remain relevant to consumers. The report, published by industry research agency m1nd-set is the latest in a series of studies focusing on how travellers from all world regions will change their shopping behaviour in post-pandemic travel retail environment.

 

Affluent travelers eagerly try to make their vacations happen

Affluent travelers appear to be more resilient than most, making plans and holding onto reservations made pre-pandemic. Industry experts see this resilience among luxury travelers as an encouraging sign that a rebound might be just around the corner.

 

ITB Berlin and IPK International: Germans want to travel abroad despite the coronavirus pandemic

Germans’ interest in travel abroad remains high despite no vaccine being available. Car journeys and holidays close to nature are regarded as very safe. Great importance is attached to measures minimising the risk of coronavirus infection.

 

Many Americans continue to be wary and hesitant to leave their homes

New  survey  of 3,500 people by Azurite Consulting: 44% of international air travelers won't fly again until there's a vaccine, 38% won’t fly domestic, and 33% won't stay in a hotel until there’s a vaccine.

 

Only 23% of Americans canceled all 2020 travel plans

The Manifest found that only 23% of Americans canceled all 2020 travel plans, even though 68% admitted to being uncomfortable with flying in the next month.

 

Concur Study: Travelers, Managers Expect Major Post-Pandemic Changes

Conducted between May 20 and June 9, 2020, in partnership with Wakefield Research, Concur's survey canvassed 4,850 business travelers and 800 travel managers in a total of 23 markets across the globe, seeking insight into respondents' attitudes, concerns and priorities regarding the resumption of business travel.

 

The RV market is booming as vacationers take to the roads

Travel restrictions and social distancing issues have affected most forms of travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This could be why the recreational vehicle (RV) market in the US has seen record sales in recent months.

 

Pandemic pushes travelers to take to the road in RVs

The recreational vehicle industry saw years of growth during the recovery following the financial crisis. Then sales started to flag. Now the coronavirus is positioning it for a new boom.


Miscellaneous

 

Fly Emirates and It Will Pay Funeral Expenses If You Die From COVID-19

Less than a week after saying it would cover passengers’ medical expenses and quarantine costs if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 in the course of their travels, Emirates now says it will cover all funeral costs if passengers are diagnosed with the virus and then pass away after flying Emirates.

 

Hotels using robots for delivery, cleaning amid COVID-19 pandemic

One way to ensure you can socially distance during your next hotel stay is to have a robot deliver items to your room.

 

25 Travel Companies Doing Good Things For The World

From fighting social issues to saving the environment

 

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