The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has begun to advise British citizens against all non-essential international travel, initially for a period of 30 days. Officials said the updated advice reflects the pace at which other countries are either closing their borders or implementing restrictive measures in response to the global coronavirus …
Read More »WTTC warns 50 million tourism jobs could go in coronavirus outbreak
The World Travel & Tourism Council has argued up to 50 million jobs in the tourism sector are at risk due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. WTTC president, Gloria Guevara, said: “WTTC figures show the stark impact on the tourism sector of the present Covid-19 outbreak with analysis now suggesting …
Read More »United States closes borders to travellers from Schengen area
The United States will introduce wide-ranging new restrictions on travellers from Europe as the country battles the coronavirus outbreak. In a televised address earlier, president Donald Trump said the move was “strong but necessary”. Travellers from the 26 countries in the Schengen border-free travel zone will be barred from entering …
Read More »Gathy to lead development of Amaala Island
Internationally renowned French-Belgian architect Jean-Michel Gathy has been appointed as master planner for Amaala Island, part of an ultra-luxury destination taking shape on the north western coastline of Saudi Arabia. Principal designer of Denniston, Gathy said: “The Island development will be an immersive and interactive art-inspired jewel. “Its lifestyle components, …
Read More »WTTC Global Summit delayed until autumn
The World Travel & Tourism Council has been forced to delay its annual Global Summit for a second time. Originally scheduled to take place on Puerto Rico, officials announced earlier in the year that the twentieth annual staging of the event would be moved to Cancun in late April. Now, …
Read More »India imposes visa restrictions to slow coronavirus outbreak
India has curtailed the number of visas on offer to foreign travellers as it seeks to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus. The country has so far confirmed 73 cases of the virus, the health ministry said in a statement. This number is expected to grow in coming days, however, …
Read More »Wizz Air pulls out of Italy as lockdown expands
Wizz Air has suspended flights from all destinations to Italy with immediate effect. The whole of the country is now in lockdown as the destination battles to contain the coronavirus. The latest figures show 9,172 cases of the virus in the country to date, and 463 deaths. Wizz Air flights …
Read More »Northern Italy off limits to British travellers
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has begun to advise against “all but essential” travel to a number of regions in northern Italy. The move comes in response to various control and isolation measures imposed by the Italian authorities over the weekend. The Lombardy region – which includes the cities of …
Read More »Etihad suspends flights as Saudi Arabia partially closes borders
Etihad Airways has temporarily suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The decision comes in response to a directive from the general authority for civil aviation in Saudi Arabia to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Saudi government has temporarily banned citizens and foreigners …
Read More »ABTA calls on UK government for coronavirus support
ABTA is calling on the government to consider extraordinary support measures for businesses operating in the tourism sector in the budget next week. The request comes in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak. Following a meeting with the tourism minister last week, ABTA conducted a survey among its members …
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