Tag: Travel

Travel Guides: The cast of characters showing us the best and worst holiday spots

Travel Guides: The cast of characters showing us the best and worst holiday spots

Nine Matt and Brett Bona fide travel addicts Matt and Brett joined the show in season four, hailing from Newcastle in New South Wales. The married couple, who have been together for 19 years now, describe themselves as ‘high end travellers’ 

New Survey Shows Holiday Travel Gets a Big Boost

New Survey Shows Holiday Travel Gets a Big Boost

Americans are ready to travel. According to a new Allianz Partners USA Top 10 Holiday Destinations survey, holiday travel will increase by 34 percent in 2021 compared to 2020. The research also revealed the top destinations for travelers heading out during this festive season with 

Map: Tracking global Omicron travel restrictions | Infographic News

Map: Tracking global Omicron travel restrictions | Infographic News

More than 30 countries have closed their borders to some nations and others have imposed stricter measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

The newly detected coronavirus variant has prompted countries to tighten their borders just as many were beginning to reopen to foreign travel.

Nations are adopting differing levels of border control with countries such as Israel, Morocco and Japan closing their borders entirely, while others have only tightened COVID testing at the border.

The map below shows countries that have imposed travel bans. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

Made with Flourish

China – China already had stringent border controls in place, with only citizens and resident permit holders allowed into the country. Hong Kong banned non-Hong Kong residents arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. On Monday it expanded the list to include Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia, and then non-residents who had been to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Israel, and Italy in the past 21 days. On Wednesday it added Japan, Portugal and Sweden to its list.

Israel – Israel banned foreigners from entering the country for 14 days. Israeli citizens will be able to come back to the country but will need to quarantine, even if fully vaccinated.

Japan – Japan closed its borders to non-citizens for one month, this includes foreign exchange students and those travelling for business. Those with resident status from 10 African nations including South Africa are also banned from entering the country “for the time being.”

Morocco – Morocco suspended all incoming flights for two weeks.

Partial bans

Angola – Angola announced it will close its borders with countries in southern Africa including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe until January 5.

Australia – Australia halted all flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa and Zimbabwe for at least 14 days.

Brazil – Brazil closed its border to flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Cambodia – Cambodia banned travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, and Zambia.

Canada – Canada banned non-citizens who have travelled to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe since November 12.

Ecuador – Ecuador has restricted entry from Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Egypt – Egypt halted direct flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Fiji – Fiji already had strict border controls, and only citizens can enter the country.

France – France stopped flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Germany – Germany has suspended all flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Indonesia – Indonesia banned any foreigners who spent the last 14 days in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Italy – Italy suspended the arrival of anyone who has travelled to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe in the last 14 days.

Kuwait – Kuwait halted direct flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with non-citizens not permitted to enter if they have travelled to those countries.

Malaysia – Malaysia, which has kept its borders all but sealed for much of the pandemic, has also announced a travel ban covering South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Maldives – Foreigners who have travelled to or through Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe within the past 14 days will be denied entry.

Malta – Malta banned travel to and from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Netherlands – The Netherlands has suspended flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe carrying non-citizens.

New Zealand – New Zealand is only allowing citizens into the country. Any foreign travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be denied entry.

Oman – Oman has suspended flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe and anyone who travelled to these countries in the past 14 days will also be banned from entry.

Pakistan – Pakistan closed its borders to Botswana, Hong Kong, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa.

Paraguay – Paraguay has restricted entry from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Philippines – The Philippines halted inbound flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe until December 15.

Poland – Poland has restricted travel from seven southern African countries.

Russia – Russia suspended entry of non-Russians who travelled through Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Rwanda – Rwanda suspended all direct flights to and from southern Africa.

Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia halted flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe and non-citizens who have spent the past 14 days in the listed countries will be barred from entry

Singapore – Any non-citizens from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will be barred from entering Singapore.

Sri Lanka – Foreigners from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will be barred from entry.

Thailand – Thailand enforced a travel ban on those from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe from December.

Turkey – Turkey banned arrivals from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

United Arab Emirates – Travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are restricted from travelling to the UAE.

United Kingdom – The UK added Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to its red list.

United States – The US restricted non-citizens from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe from entering the country.

Phoenix travel agent gives tips on Christmas travel after busy week at airports | Arizona News

Phoenix travel agent gives tips on Christmas travel after busy week at airports | Arizona News

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — After many travelers took to the sky this Thanksgiving holiday week, a local travel agent said this weekend gave many travelers good insight on what to expect for Christmas. “It was packed. Planes were full,” Penelope Abad said. The busy Thanksgiving weekend 

Online Travel Update: Expedia Partner Solutions offers carbon neutral hotel stays; traditional offline travel management companies offer new technologies; Amazon ads target travel companies | Foster Garvey PC

Online Travel Update: Expedia Partner Solutions offers carbon neutral hotel stays; traditional offline travel management companies offer new technologies; Amazon ads target travel companies | Foster Garvey PC

Traditional Offline Travel Management Companies Offer New Technologies(“TMCs Unveil Tech Enhancements at GBTA,” November 17, 2021 via Business Travel News)(CWT Plans $100 Million Technology Investment,” November 16, 2021 via Phocus Wire)Last week, two stories detailed investments being made by some the largest traditional offline travel 

Travel bans upend holiday plans amid Omicron fears

Travel bans upend holiday plans amid Omicron fears

Just when it seemed safe to travel overseas again, along comes Omicron.

Why it matters: The emergence of the new coronavirus variant couldn’t come at a worse time, just weeks before millions of people are expected to travel for the holidays to reunite with loved ones they’ve missed during the pandemic.

  • Absent detailed information, many countries are responding by slamming shut their borders in the hopes of keeping out the virus’ latest strain.
  • Even if they’re not traveling to countries where Omicron has been detected so far, travelers have to worry whether their destination could be next — and whether they’ll be able to return home easily.

What’s happening: Many airlines, travel agencies and tour operators are being inundated with calls from worried travelers, according to Paul Charles, founder of a U.K.-based global travel consultancy, The PC Agency pokies Australia.

  • “They’re receiving a torrent of inquiries: Can I rebook? Can I get a refund? What do you think is going to happen?” he tells Axios.
  • “That’s what happens when you create uncertainty. You create a loss of confidence and consumers hunker down.”
  • “Christmas bookings will obviously be weaker than we had expected prior to the omicron variant,” Alex Irving, an analyst at Bernstein in London, told Time. “As you add barriers to travel such as the PCR tests and isolation requirements, all that does is changes the incentives.”

Even domestic travelers in the U.S. are on edge for the holiday season, as cities like New York reinstate mask advisories.

  • Many say they’ll pay extra for fully refundable tickets and trip insurance, just in case, or will drive to their destination instead.

Driving the news: At least 44 countries have imposed travel restrictions from several African countries following the discovery of the new variant.

  • Japan and Israel have gone even further, banning all foreign nationals from entering their countries.
  • President Biden told reporters Monday he doesn’t expect further travel restrictions “at this point” after announcing bans on visitors from South Africa and seven other countries last Friday.

It’s probably too late anyway. Confirmed cases have already appeared in a growing number of countries, including Canada.

Travel restrictions don’t work if case loads are already high, several studies have concluded.

  • They “are effective primarily in countries with low numbers of COVID-19 cases, or that have strong travel links with countries experiencing high rates of infection,” according to one study published in the Lancet medical journal.
  • The authors from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine also concluded that “strict untargeted travel restrictions are probably unjustified in many countries.”
  • Researchers at the Pandemic and Borders project reached a similar conclusion, according to a Washington Post piece authored by University of Honk Kong Professor Karen Grépin.

What they’re saying: President Biden told reporters the purpose of the travel restrictions is “to give us time to get people to get protection. To be vaccinated and get the booster. That’s the reason for it.”

What to watch: Don’t cancel your trips just yet, advises Charles of The PC Agency.

  • The newly enacted restrictions could be short-lived if scientists quickly determine that existing vaccines are also effective against Omicron.
  • “I’m confident governments will unravel the restrictions before Christmas,” he said.