The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought almost all travel to a grinding halt. The only event in my life that comes close to this shock is the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. that grounded flights worldwide.

While the economic impact on the travel industry will be significant, there’s also a silver lining. Rarely in the history of business has an entire sector had the opportunity to press pause and strategize on what comes next. At trivago, my colleagues and I have been investing our time and resources into exploring what travel will look like beyond the pandemic and how we can serve the changing needs of travelers and empower people to get more out of life.

The travel industry will have to navigate many challenges, both logistical and psychological, to get people excited about traveling again. Travelers will have heightened anxiety around taking trips depending on infection rates and new outbreaks. They also will want more flexibility with options for refunds, cancellations, etc.

On the plus side, I’m sensing pent-up demand for travel. People want to leave their homes and expand their horizons. So how can technology help people get excited about the prospect of traveling again while also offering increased safety and flexibility? I see the following four dimensions as critical in the coming months.

1. Suggesting new regional destinations that spark interest

Technology that enables people to search and book local travel will fulfill two consumer needs coming out of the lockdown: the desire to travel closer to home to control risks and the need for less expensive travel while the economy recovers.

It may take a long time for travelers to gravitate back toward crowded airports and tourist sites. Forty percent of air passengers will wait at least six months before regularly flying again, according to an April survey by the IATA.

Instead, I foresee they will look to less-trafficked regional destinations they can reach by car, bus or train. This crisis offers an opportunity for metasearch platforms powered by artificial intelligence to curate these types of trips to unusual places. For example, a couple living in Sacramento might avoid San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf and opt for visiting small wineries in California’s Gold Country. They’ll need help creating a driving itinerary and finding the right accommodations in the vast Sierra Nevada Mountains.

2. Increasing flexibility and helping consumers understand all the options

It will be more important than ever for travel technology companies to consider how they’re offering consumers increased flexibility and peace of mind when booking. So many travelers have either lost money or have had difficulty obtaining refunds from canceled travel plans in 2020. Think about the thousands of travelers affected by the postponement of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, for instance.

This peace of mind will rise from increased transparency on booking platforms about cancellation policies, refund processes and trip insurance options. It will be critical to explain how their travel problems will be solved in the event of COVID-19 outbreaks and new restrictions on movement. Travelers also will want to quickly understand payment terms when comparing accommodations. For example, is a deposit or full prepayment required, or can the consumer simply pay at the hotel when they check out?

3. Helping consumers prioritize mental and psychological comfort

Comfort and safety will take on varying meanings coming out of the pandemic depending upon who you ask. While some travelers may crave open space after being stuck inside, while others may opt for quieter, more secluded destinations and accommodations.

Now that social distancing has become a second-nature behavior in many public places, what will the concept look like at big hotel chains? Recently, Hilton announced that it is partnering with Lysol and the Mayo Clinic to help with its hotel cleanliness plan for when its properties are fully back in business. Some travelers are likely to view large hotel chains as more hygienic and will rely on the professional cleaning and consistent policies for peace of mind. We will also see more hotel chains enter the hybrid accommodations space, offering homelike experiences within their hotels that help guarantee more privacy and consistent hygiene.

Other travelers may prefer to mitigate their risks by renting alternative accommodations. Although a consumer may not know who was in an apartment before them, at least they can control almost everything about the space and the environment — particularly hygiene — while staying there. Airbnb recently shared plans to roll out a cleaning protocol program, including a mandatory 72-hour buffer between guest stays.

Either way, booking technologies can support post-pandemic preferences by developing ways to lead customers to trips with their top priorities considered. Digital platforms can help users to understand the standards of cleanliness and privacy between different properties. This may come in the form of a search filter, targeted advertising or even a quiz to determine the right type of stay based on personal concerns.

4. New data and tools that support the traveler journey

Knowledge is power, and knowledge will be key for people looking to book trips once the lockdown is lifted. It will be important for consumers to know where to find not only reliable data regarding virus cases, but also answers to logistical questions: What places are open? Where is it safe? What is accessible? These questions are complex and fast-changing, presenting the need for simplification for consumers searching for safe adventures.

There is a significant opportunity for booking platforms to support consumers finding reliable, current information regarding which regions are open and offering attractions for travelers.

It may take the form of a heat map where consumers can see infection rate information, health policies for different areas, and how accessible certain cities are via plane, train and other forms of transport.

While these solutions will not come overnight, travel restrictions will eventually be lifted, and there will be a desire to travel again. Technology and technologists will not have all the answers, but they do have the ability to empower an industry getting back on its feet.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/06/10/four-ways-technology-can-empower-travel/#752224e4656d

 

 

A design that reconfigures airplane cabins with double-decker lie-flat seats in premium economy is being touted as a possible solution for fliers looking for more protection from the spread of Covid-19.

Zephyr Seat is the vision of designer Jeffrey O’Neill, who reckons the isolation from fellow passengers that his creation will offer could be a game changer in the wake of the pandemic.

“We believe that new types of travelers will require privacy or will want to pay extra for that as much as they would pay for the ability to sleep,” O’Neill, the founder and CEO of start-up Zephyr Aerospace, tells CNN Travel.

With Zephyr Seat, airlines could provide double-decker seating in a 2-4-2 configuration which, O’Neill says, would allow the majority of global airlines to maintain the same seating density as offered by their existing premium economy cabins.

O’Neill was inspired by a sleepless flight between New York to Singapore a few years ago, on board what was then the world’s longest commercial flight.

Seated in premium economy, O’Neill realized halfway through the super long-haul journey that he wasn’t going to get any shut eye.

“I’m on probably the best rated airline in the world, and I’m getting wonderful service and the food is edible, but I can’t sleep,” he recalls. “This is really uncomfortable. Why is it so difficult to find an affordable way to lie flat on a flight that’s 19 hours?”

Real estate on an airplane is expensive — and airlines usually don’t want to sacrifice space.
But O’Neill found himself remembering a long-distance bus journey he’d made on a trip through Argentina. The bus utilized bunk beds, and he’d slept far better than on his ostensibly more luxurious air journey to Singapore. It occurred to him that maybe that was the solution.

This was two years ago, and O’Neill says his idea’s since graduated from a back of a napkin drawing, he dreamed up with his design partner, to a life-size mockup, which he says proves its feasibility. Zephyr’s double-decker concept utilizes the space that exists between a standard seat and an overhead bin.

“We basically retrofitted a whole other seat on top of another,” explains O’Neill. “So it’s essentially two levels, it’s not as tall off the ground as people might imagine, it’s only four and a half feet off the ground from the entry point to the lower seat to the upper seat.”

The result, O’Neill says, is more passenger leg room without the airline being forced to sacrifice space or reduce passenger headcount.The idea’s still in its infancy, although O’Neill says he’s identified an engineering partner — and he’s been in conversation with four major airlines, including US carrier Delta, although there are no firm commitments right now.

He presented the idea to airline executives at the 2019 Airline Interiors Expo at Hamburg, Germany — and said got some valuable feedback on how to make the seat a feasible option for the mid-range aviation market.
The next stage would be passing the product through the required safety tests, which could be a three-year process.

New aviation opportunities
Of course, a question mark currently hangs over aviation’s future, with no one quite knowing what air travel is going to look like over the next few months, let alone years. There will likely be a greater demand for on board social distancing, from both passengers and airlines — recent flights have proven that current inflight set ups make this tricky.

O’Neill reckons that the new aviation landscape fits with his vision for Zephyr Seat.The increased privacy the seat would offer, he says, could reassure travelers demanding on board social distancing. That said, the concept, like other ideas in the pipeline, doesn’t totally solve the issue of being in close proximity on aircraft and the potential Covid risk.

O’Neill also points towards a future where there could likely be fewer scheduled flights and those that are operating could be busier and more expensive — something we’re already seeing happen.
“The price for a business class or first class seat is going to be out of range for probably about 85% of all travelers, which means a more affordable option might become a reality or a consideration for a lot of those people,” he says.

 

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/zephyr-seat-double-decker-airplane/index.html

As airlines, airports and their air transport sector partners continue to plot the industry’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, a focus on innovation, and investment in technologies such as touchless biometrics, self-service, automation, and mobile devices and apps, will have a crucial role to play. 

 

These are some of the key insights of a new report jointly released today by Fast Future, Future Travel Experience (FTE), and the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).

  

‘The Impacts of Covid-19 on Innovation and Digital Transformation in Air Transport’ report, which is the second instalment of the Air Transport 2035 series, explores how air transport industry stakeholders see the coronavirus pandemic affecting their current priorities and future strategies for innovation and digital transformation. The study draws on a combination of a global air transport industry survey, desk research, expert interviews, and the inputs of expert contributors and participants at industry webinars held on May 13 and May 20.

 

Investing in innovation and digital transformation

 

A global survey conducted as part of the report found that 63.7 per cent of respondents expect the Covid-19 crisis to accelerate innovation and digital transformation projects within their organisation, 19.2 per cent expect their organisation to continue with their pre-coronavirus plans, and only 17.1 per cent expect innovation and digital transformation projects to be delayed.

 

More than three-quarters of respondents (77.4 per cent) expect to see increased adoption of “touchless” biometrics to verify passenger identity, 74.8 per cent anticipate greater use of self-service and automation for passenger processing, and 69.2 per cent expect to see technology used to identify passengers displaying Covid-19 symptoms.

 

Increased use of mobile devices and apps to assist or control the passenger journey (67.1 per cent), and use of technology to identify staff displaying coronavirus symptoms (58.6 er cent), also feature highly on the priority list. At the other end of the scale, despite a number of trials being announced, globally only 27.4 per cent of respondents anticipate the use of robots for customer service tasks.

 

A new-look in-flight experience

 

Looking at the impact that Covid-19 will have in the aircraft cabin, cleanliness and sanitisation are highest on the list of priority actions, with 87.7 per cent of survey respondents undertaking, or expecting to see, increased efforts to clean and sanitise the cabin. A further 69 per cent expect to see increased availability of crew personal protective equipment (PPE), while 65.3 per cent anticipate increased passenger communication regarding cleaning/sanitisation measures. A further 59.4% expect enhanced crew training in handling passengers showing Covid-19 symptoms. The majority of respondents also expect to see increased availability of passenger PPE (56.2 per cent), and new forms of catering and service delivery to minimise passenger-crew engagement (53.9 per cent).

 

The importance of collaboration

 

The report also reveals that 84.6 per cent believe Covid-19 will lead to increased collaboration between industry stakeholders. The research highlights vital areas in which collaboration should be embraced to support the industry’s recovery. In addition to greater collaboration between internal departments to speed up issue response and routine processes, participants believe airlines, airports, and governments should work more closely together for the good of the sector. For instance, airlines and airports are encouraged to enhance real time data sharing and to create direct support links for each aircraft with destination medical teams to update in real time on possible on-board infections. Furthermore, the air transport industry is encouraged to work with governments to enable the exchange of passenger symptom and infection status information with their consent.

 

Daniel Coleman, Founder and CEO, Future Travel Experience, said: “This report makes it very clear that close collaboration, technology and digital transformation will play a crucial role in the air transport industry’s recovery from the Covid-19 shock. Investment in digital transformation and innovation is high on the list of priorities for the majority of airlines, airports and their partners, who now have an opportunity to embrace critical technologies to realise near-term efficiencies as well as future-proof their businesses for the long-term. The global survey conducted as part of this report found that almost 50% of organisations have increased their innovation and digital transformation budgets in light of Covid-19, and a further 25 per cent have left their budgets untouched. This adds further weight to the theory that the role of innovation and technology is more important now than ever before.”

 

Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future and lead author of the report, commented: “The air transport industry has experienced unprecedented turbulence in the last few months, with severe revenue impacts as 80 per cent or more of flights have been grounded around the world. The challenge now is to encourage passengers to return to the skies by demonstrating how clean, safe, and consistent the flight experience is across the globe. What’s really encouraging is that the study shows very clearly that the industry sees investment in innovation and digital transformation as a route out of turbulence. Such investments provide a means of tackling the social distancing and safety challenges, improving efficiency, and providing a platform for growth through enhanced services and offerings.”

 

“The findings show that the crisis has driven many to accelerate their innovation and digital transformation initiatives. Ideas that were once considered speculative, or ‘nice to have’, are moving to the top of the agenda. We are far too early in the transition from crisis to recovery to know exactly what will work. What is clear is that it will require a willingness to pursue rapid and focused innovation and technology experiments, to consider ideas that were previously deemed unthinkable, and a commitment to expand our horizons and learn fast,” he said. – TradeArabia News Service

Source: http://www.ttnworldwide.com/Article/306758/Investments-in-technology-to-propel-aviation-sectors-recovery

 

 

Consumer confidence in the air travel industry has taken a dramatic hit due to Covid-19. For international travel to resume, the need for internationally recognized standards that are safe for both passengers and staff is crucial.

Heathrow Airport is the first airport in the UK to begin the trial of health screening initiatives such as facial recognition thermal screening technology (to track body temperature), UV sanitation (to sanitize security trays) and contact-free security screening equipment (to reduce close contact). If testing at Heathrow Airport proves successful, similar procedures will be rolled out across the remaining UK airports, offering a glimpse in to what travel may look like in the future.

For the prospect of international travel to be deliberated, there is a crucial need for common international screening standards to be recognized worldwide.

For air travel to resume, reassurance must be guaranteed

Over 50% of global international travel trips have been cancelled or changed due to travel restrictions, according to GlobalData’s latest Covid-19 consumer survey. As the impact on travel plans is stark, this highlights that pent-up demand is likely to have occurred during lockdown periods, creating a surge in international travel when restrictions are lifted.

Although, the same survey also found that 49% of the population are still extremely concerned about the global outbreak of Covid-19. It is unknown how much the ‘fear factor’ will impact the confidence of travelers to venture to outbound destinations.

Consumer confidence will return but it is clear that there is still a long, winding road ahead. For travel to resume, health standards of airlines must be standardized across the board.

Common international standards need to be set

Most countries around the world were testing inbound travelers once arriving in their destination before the pandemic reached its peak. However, these measures have not been standardized and the need for collaboration between countries is vital for future travel.

CEO of Heathrow Airport, John Holland Kaye, announced that governments should be taking the lead in agreeing a common international standard in the approach to health and safety in airports. The priority should be to minimize the transmission of Covid-19 across borders. The technological developments currently being trialed at Heathrow could soon offer a global solution.

The airline industry has suffered greatly due to Covid-19 related impacts and has encountered dramatic losses. Q1 financial results for airlines have illustrated a substantial hit due to tumultuous decline in demand. The sooner health standards are reestablished; the sooner confidence in travelers can be restored, meaning that airlines and airports can begin to recover.

Source: https://www.airport-technology.com/comment/air-travel-standards-future-covid-19/

 

Coronavirus is the biggest disrupter since World War Two, upending the local hospitality industry to an extent that the sector might take 12 to 18 months to recover. 

Mwingirwa Kithure

The tourism industry has been the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg to Kenya’s economy, with the country relying heavily on the sector as a source of foreign exchange and employment.

The sector directly employs more than a million people, with an estimated two million depending on it indirectly.

Last year, the industry earned Sh163 billion and welcomed 2.05 million tourists.

Until the monster called coronavirus reared its ugly head, 2020 was expected to be the industry’s best. 

Arrivals were projected to surpass 2.5 million due to tourism marketing efforts  and countless international conferences lined  up to take place in the country throughout the year. 

When Meetings Events Conferences and Incentives (MICE) are the kingpin of a country’s tourism industry strategy, then it’s a boom business for all.

  Airlines, airports, taxi operators, hotels, restaurants, curio shops, museums, casinos, national parks, bars and even brothels reap.

But like a ghost from nowhere, Covid-19 struck hard starting February, stopping all  lofty dreams, with those big sum revenue projections now a pipe dream.

You can no longer sit down at your favourite restaurant and enjoy an exquisite gourmet because social distancing rules stipulates that you can only enjoy the delicacy as a take-away.  Your aerobics and Spa moments  must wait too.

Skeleton staff

In a few days, the usual busy and charming porter was all forlorn in lonely lobbies. Likewise, the receptionist became idle, sheepishly smiling at the empty lobby, punctuating her wry smile with an occasional yawn. 

Hotels are empty save for a skeleton staff working on rotational shifts. “The outbreak presents the tourism sector in Kenya and beyond with a major headache and a challenge that must be surmounted somehow,”  says Barnabas Wamoto, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport Hotel.

“The nosedive in tourism earnings this year means that there will be serious struggle in the hospitality industry for entities to stay afloat. Presently, institutions are implementing various fire-fighting strategies to mitigate the impact of Covid-19,”  he adds. 

Wamoto says some decisions being taken are painful, but necessary to guarantee organisational survival during this crisis, but what matters are concrete actions that hotels and the hospitality industry in general are taking to ensure they are ready when leisure and business travellers resumes.

Calls for resilience

He warns that even then, things will take long to return post 2020. “It will not be a nightfall fix. Tourists and international conferences will not return en-mass soon, since travel will not be a priority for most,” he adds. 

Roberto Simone, the Cluster General Manager of Villa Rosa Kempinski and Olare Mara Kempinski Camp, says Covid-19  is the biggest disrupter since World War Two and the Kenyan hospitality industry, just like in the rest of the world, has been hit hard and the effects will be felt for years to come.

“There is common industrial consensus  that the 2019 output level will not be reached any time soon.

Most likely, it will take 12 to 18 months,” Roberto observes, adding that the peripheral economies of many countries will take two to three years to recover. 

“Whilst  among economists,  there is consensus in predicting — for developed economies — a V or U shape demand recovery, driven by the household consumption, the effects on emerging, middle and poor countries will take additional time,” says Roberto.

The GM who is in his current position for almost a year now argues that the Kenyan hospitality industry has to be resilient, keep alive and protect the business ventures and prepare the new normal to come.

“Post-Covid-19, most likely, will present challenges as new consumers patterns emerge, with changes in priorities during the selection decision-making process,” says Roberto.

 He says we are witnessing the death of “proximity business” propelled by 20 years of globalisation for “distance matter”.

Hospitality units need to be prepared to a more accustomed home space potential consumer than pre-Covid-19 era.

This will change the approach in terms of service  delivery and put great pressure digital marketing teams.

The GM notes that globally, the pandemic will accelerate de-globalisation.  Most likely, the virus will also shape the world towards regional trade blocs, which will share same standards and policies.

Permanent behaviour change

“Should the above happen, then this will be the first catalysis that will affect in first instance, the aviation industry and consequently, the entire hospitality industry.

The concerning scenario is a serious call for Kenya hospitality industry to re-strategise its offers, look into more regional domestic feeder markets and as well, target new consumer patterns,” says Roberto. 

David Gachuru, General Manager at Sarova Panafric says the crisis is of unprecedented magnitude, but preaches hope and a rise from the doom. “Post-Covid-19 can better be looked at using a triangular approach: First, what will change permanently? Secondly what has changed, but will not be sustained and third, what further change can one influence?” says Gichuru. 

The career hotelier with over 20-year experience says people’s behaviour will change permanently.

“People will be afraid of hygiene and their health. So, hoteliers must learn how to stay hygienic no matter what,” he says.

The GM says going forward, social distance will be critical for a long time to come. Air travel will change drastically, with flying becoming expensive due to less seat capacity as social distance becomes the norm.

Regrettably as the cost of running business rises due to dwindling fortunes, Gachuru predicts that hotel staff numbers will fall.

Sales and marketing personnel will be forced to change strategy and be more digital savvy, otherwise they will be rendered irrelevant.

Gachuru expects that what will not change much is socialisation. With time, locals will resume their normal lives amid heightened caution and hotel occupancies will recover.

He foresees a bad patch for hotels before things brighten up. “Still, hotels will remain.

You don’t sell a cow because you have no skills to milk it. Simply, you hand over to the milkman and retain the cow! he advises. 

Source: https://www.pd.co.ke/news/time-to-plan-for-kenyas-tourism-industry-post-covid-19-pandemic-33934/

The Covid-19 outbreak has disrupted lives of citizens and businesses with activities moving online in adherence to stringement measures imposes by the State to curb spread of the virus.

For many Kenyans, a typical day now revolves around reading news on Twitter, buying groceries from Jumia, setting up education portal for children out of schools and linking up with workmates on Zoom video chat.

As the physical world is being decimated, the digital world is thriving, breathing life to technologies initially regarded casually.

A look at the Kenyan trend on the Google app store shows the latest top downloads include a mix of productivity, e-commerce and entertainment with apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Zoom, Jumia, Viusasa, TikTok, houseparty, Instagram and Snapchat.

“Working from home has meant that my Skype account is no longer for catching up with friends, but a tool to get office work done,” said Ms Damaris Kimani who works as an administrative secretary for a Kenyan start-up.

She said meetings occasionally move to Zoom, Google Hangout or WebEx depending who is on the other end and for convenience purposes.

Google Hangout is a preferred video conferencing tool because it is free and its quality is reliable, she said.

Data from Google shows the daily usage of its enterprise video conferencing tool Hangouts Meet has soared following the coronavirus pandemic as workers look for ways of staying productive from home.

“Despite this growth the demand has been well within the bounds of our network’s ability,” said Google Cloud chief Thomas Kurian in a blog post after daily usage went up 25 times higher than it was in January.

In weeks after the coronavirus outbreak, Zoom has seen its stock skyrocket as investors bet that more people would use video conferencing tools.

Last week, the start-up said the number of customers paying $100,000 went up 86 percent to 641 for the quarter.

Socialising

As millions throng social media to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues, the platforms are reporting a strain on their systems.

Data from internet and entertainment services gives clear indication of a country pushed online in the recent past.

Churches are turning to social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to bring services to members from the comfort of their homes.

Calls and messaging services on Instagram and Facebook have spiked by over 50 percent in Kenya and many countries across the globe.

In the days of dial up modems, when smartphones didn’t exist, or if they did, were owned by just a few individuals, often one device in the home could be on the internet at a time.

Modems come in varied speed connectivity ranging from 2G to 4G and help create a Wi-Fi hotspot for users of personal computers.

While there are universal modems in stores that are compatible to any line, the most common ones in the local market are from Safaricom, Airtel and Orange.

Their usage and demand has gone up in the recent weeks as more Kenyans opt to work from home and access education material online for their children.

Internet

“I had to remind myself how to use the modem after months of neglecting it now that my employer directed that I work from home,” said Mr Greg Ochieng, a Nairobi resident.

A portable 4G MiFi from Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom retails at around Sh8,000 on Jumia while a modem goes for about Sh2,000.

As working from home becomes the new normal, smartphones are becoming the window to the world.

For those without modems, mobile hotspots and tethering are becoming the in-thing in order to stay online.

Mobile hotspots and tethering are ways one can use their data as wireless internet service. Basically one connects their computer, tablet or any other device to the phone’s internet.

As online activities increase there is a surge in internet usage. This is giving Internet Service Providers (ISP) the headache keeping users happy with fast speeds.

ISPs are throttling bandwidths and certain services to accommodate the demand.

But as the digital world thrives and getting the work done tops users priority list, cybercriminals are working overtime to make a kill.

Microsoft Chief Security adviser for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Cyril Voisin noted that cybercriminals are opportunistic and will use topical issues as click baits to steal money or information from users.

“We have been tracking the number of domains that have been created around the Covid-19 and half of them are malicious. So far 103,000 domains have been created by fraudsters out of the theme of the pandemic,” he said.

Aside from ransomware, other threats that cybercriminals are using include phishing through emails and messaging applications.

The CEO fraud has also been on the rise. It basically entails someone pretending to be the boss of an organisation. The cybercriminals send email through a personal account directing the finance manager to wire some cash and that they will explain later because it is urgently needed.

To be safe, Mr Voisin advises small and medium enterprises to protect data with cloud backups, using antimalware, firewalls and secure networks like https, VPN, Wi-Fi.

They can also use anti-phishing technologies such as file/attachment and link inspection as well as protecting their identity with multifactorial authentication.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/datahub/Viral-pandemic-ushers–rebirth–of-tech-tools/3815418-5525112-yt2silz/index.html

Our country is facing the biggest fight in post-independence existence: the lives of its citizens are on the line, its economy is threatened, its culture and way of life is imperiled.

The novel coronavirus threatens to kill us, damage our health, destroy our economy and the very fabric of our families. It will rain pain and suffering upon our unprotected heads in the coming days, weeks and months.

However, nothing shapes and brings out character than adversity and suffering. Great generals do not distinguish themselves in peacetime. The iron in their backbone shines through the smoke, mud and cacophony of the battlefield.

 

The battle for our lives today will not be won by a powerful, privileged few. Every man, woman and child in this country must become that great general. And our weapons are not necessarily guns and bullets; our weapons are social discipline, sacrifice and caring for the welfare and safety of those around you.

Because we are relatively poor, our governments wasteful and our systems weak, “experts” have been predicting deaths on this continent in the millions. However, there must be reasons why we have survived on this continent for tens of thousands of years and outlived many other species.

To survive we must adapt as we have over the years.

The coronavirus pandemic that has so far infected 179 people in Kenya is changing the way we live, love, and express that love. Our expressions of greetings and farewell no longer make sense in this new world order. The handshake, that universal symbol of camaraderie and mutual understanding, has suddenly become absurd; the hug ludicrous; and walking around without a mask unreasonable. We have to adapt or perish.

However, the changes that Covid-19 is imposing on us at the physical level pale in comparison to the challenges that this disease continues to present to us as a people, and to our government, every day. In his speech to the nation on Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta noted that “never has our national interest been threatened to this extent before”.

Preparing Kenyans for a worst that is yet to come, the President looked back to how the events of the last one month have changed our routines. “Our families, our schools, our way of life, the way we worship, our economy, our businesses, our workers, every single Kenyan stands threatened by this invisible, relentless enemy that is Covid-19,” he said.

And that is the reason we all must stand up and be counted now. In this disease is an opportunity for us to change the outcomes for ourselves, our families, our communities and the nation at large. They say the greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove oneself a fool, that the truest heroism is to resist that doubt, and the profoundest wisdom to know when it ought to be resisted and when it is to be obeyed.

Yet, in the last few days we have seen varying degrees of obedience to guidelines on how to stop the spread of Covid-19; from instructions by the Ministry of Health to self-quarantine if one has a history of travel, to the announcement of a nightly curfew and incessant calls to wash our hands, keep social distance and wear masks. These simple guidelines are markers as to whether we are willing to gang up against this monster, or want to continue life as usual and allow it to decimate us.

Our greatest calling now is to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Unlike other countries in the world facing the same challenges, we have the advantage of time to learn from the experiences of those who have walked this journey ahead of us. The safety guidelines issued by the government and the World Health Organisation are the products of expert research and observations on how the virus is spread, and, most importantly, how it is contained.

Just as we have triumphed over many other disasters, our spirit of togetherness, innovation and resilience is once again on display. In Mombasa, people are lining up to donate food to an emergency fund, in Kibera a young man named David Avido is making and distributing face masks free of charge, while in Kisumu a community organisation in Obunga slum is leading a massive sanitisation and sensitisation campaign. These, like many other people around the country who have hearkened to the call to fight Covid-19, are a breath of fresh air to what would otherwise be a very dreary existence. They have shown us that we all have a corner in this boxing ring, a chapter in this story of heroism and sacrifice.

As we strap our boots and fight this monster, we must be reminded of the shape and taste of this beloved country once we emerge on the other side. Like soldiers coming home from war, we are likely to be physically battered and emotionally drained. Our healthcare system, our economy, our education, our agriculture, our businesses and our human resource are already starting to feel the pinch, and, if projections are anything to go by, the worst is yet to come.

Poor and developing countries with fragile economies stand to face the biggest shock from this pandemic, and leaving anyone unprotected will only prolong the health crisis and harm economies more. And so, to paraphrase the WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ recent speech to the international community recently, all countries, companies and research institutions ought to find ways to support open data, open science and open collaboration so that all people can enjoy the benefits of science and research, now and in the future.

While business executives and political leaders will offer policy direction in the new Kenya, the millions of hardworking citizens out there in the streets, slums and villages, who are the untiring foot soldiers in this battle, will determine what trajectory we take. But history is on our side, and we believe that the same stoicism we have displayed before will be our saving grace.

In the middle of this sea of fortitude, however, are lessons that we must carry with a mixture of glee and shame. While it is heartening to see this reawakening of our national values and ethos, as pointed to us regularly by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, this pandemic has given us a peep into the yawning gaps in our health care system.

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For instance, it is shocking that a country of about 50 million people has about 500 critical care beds, and even more shocking that, eight years since devolution, there are counties with multimillion-shilling governors’ mansions and not a single intensive care unit bed. This, we hope, will force a reorganization of our expenditure priorities in the short term and give our dream of universal health coverage the impetus it needs to take off. Our leaders, we hope, have realised that the world is such a small place, and that a sneeze in faraway Wuhan, China, can make their favourite hospital bed in London unavailable.

As the global economy teeters on the verge of a massive recession, governments around the world are announcing billion-dollar bailout programmes for the most hard-hit sectors. Locally, Kenya Airways, whose planes now sit on the tarmac at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, grounded by the pandemic, has already asked the government to save it from imminent death.

The International Monetary Fund warned on Monday that the global economic impacts of this pandemic will be worse than the global financial crisis of 2008-09, and that the economic damage is mounting across all countries, hot on the heels of the sharp rise in new infections and containment measures put in place by governments. In the last two weeks of March, for instance, almost 10 million people in the US applied for unemployment benefits. Such a sharp and staggering increase has never been seen before, “not even at the peak of the global financial crisis in 2009”, warned the IMF.

It appears, then, that Kenya needs to start having a conversation around bailouts. While President Kenyatta has given tax breaks to individual and corporate citizens, these might not be enough in the long term. Economists are projecting massive job losses as businesses scale down or completely shut down in the year, which, in the middle of a virulent pandemic, sounds like adding insult to injury.

This, once again, is the time for us to be truly Kenyan, to live the spirit of our founding fathers by uniting against this pandemic, and to breathe hope where there appears none. Together we can do it.

Source: https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2020/04/we-stand-with-kenyans/

 

For years, Malindi has had a throbbing nightlife, attracting tourists in droves. I had planned a trip months ago and amid the travel restrictions, my dilemma was whether to cancel it or dare and enjoy the beaches and restaurants alone. After careful consideration and planning, I decided to go.

Sunday, 2.50 pm

I arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and quickly proceed to check-in before the gate closes. You’d have expected me to be on time. Well, who hurries on a Sunday?
The airport staff are wearing masks and gloves. At the check-in counter, I sanitise my hands as I chit-chat with the ticketing staff. At the departure lounge, travellers are seated one metre apart; some with masks and gloves. It’s deadly quiet.

3.43 pm

We have a slight delay as the aircraft is sanitised. Finally, we board but not before we sanitise our hands at the entrance. The plane is hardly full so we’re able to maintain a respectable social distance.

5.05pm

We land at Malindi International Airport. At the arrival bay, we write down our names, contact details and destination. There’s one pen which we all have to use. I’m glad to have my own. I’m cleared after my temperature is checked. I sanitise my hands and head out to a tuktuk taking me to an Airbnb house I’d booked.
The driver is amused at my stories about Covid-19 in Nairobi. “Here there’s no Corona. You’ll probably be the one to bring it,” he tells me. We both laugh.

6.30pm

After settling in, I chat with my host, Bonita. The pandemic has affected her Airbnb business. Since January, she hasn’t got any bookings. Her long-term guest is the reason she has money for food and rent, she says.

7.45pm

I step out to buy water from a supermarket nearby. I wash my hands at the entrance and exit. In the queue, I stand at a designated point. It is hot and the supermarket cashiers are sweating behind their masks and gloves. Cash transactions are accepted.

Monday, 10.13 am

Time for the beach! On my way there, a police officer stops me enquiring where I’m going. I tell him. He’s slightly angry wondering if I’ve heard about the ban on public gatherings. I keep quiet.
After a stern warning, he lets me go. For the next three hours, the ocean is like a private swimming pool. With no one in sight, I enjoy the sand, sun and the sound of the crashing waves and the whooshing wind.

7.30pm

I’m craving Italian food. I go to a restaurant called Bar Bar Malindi. Unfortunately, only a takeaway is allowed. I head to another restaurant called The House. It’s closed, and so are many others. Covid-19 is beginning to me piss me off. I go back to the Airbnb and cook pasta.

Tuesday, 7. 51am

I wake up. After a hearty breakfast, I catch up on my reading. The quarantine will enable me to achieve my ‘20 books in 2020’ goal.

1.54 pm

I plan to go to Malindi Marine Park then to the luxurious Billionaire Resort, owned by Italian billionaire and ex-Formula One boss Flavio Briatore, for a late lunch. This time, the tuktuk driver has a mask and gloves on. Both are closed. However, I find a way to the beach and swim my frustration away. This time we’re five. The water is sparkling clean. Conversations with three beach boys and artisans bring to light the devastating effects of the travel ban.

4.44pm

I get to drink a decent cappuccino at Rosada Beach Bar as I watch a few of their guests basking in the sun.

6.30pm

In Malindi town, the streets are teeming with people. Outside every establishment is a handwashing station. Most restaurants are closed but street food vendors continue to thrive. I eat chips and ‘mkate wa mayai’. Unfortunately, the guy serving the food was also handling money. I quickly mumble a prayer over the food I’ve just consumed. To console myself, I count the number of times I’d washed my hands that day; 11.

Wednesday, 9.15 am

I intend on staying indoors so I start on a new Korean series.

5.15 pm

I leave the house to go eat ice-cream. At Nash Ice-cream Land, the attendant asks us to maintain social distance as health officials are monitoring food cafes. I now hate Covid-19 more!

Thursday, 11:44am

The plane touches down at JKIA. We’re led to the arrivals lounge where we fill a form indicating our contact details, flight number, and our destination if staying in Kenya for more than one hour. My temperature is checked by a health worker and for the fourth time today, I sanitise my hands.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/lifestyle/travel/Glimpse-of-Malindi-without-tourists/3815716-5512438-15307cl/index.html

 

 

Vital Vio CEO Colleen Costello discusses what more aviation stakeholders could do to guarantee the safety of their passengers and help flatten the curve of the ongoing Covid-19’s spread.

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, claiming thousands of lives worldwide, the aviation industry is having to deal with increasingly restricted services and plummeting revenues amid economic uncertainty and travel bans. 

In these challenging times, industry bodies like the Airport Council International (ACI) and its regional divisions, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and more are working around the clock to support small and large aviation enterprises in their struggles. 

However, while most operations have been brought to a halt due to the closure of borders in several countries, many governments are still cooperating with national carriers to repatriate those who are stranded abroad, to allow essential travel to take place. 

With some flights still happening (albeit largely reduced) and airports still open, the health and safety of passengers and crew have never been more important. 

Colleen Costello, the CEO of Vital Vio – a US-based company that embeds LED technology into common household lights to continuously kill bacteria and other germs – shares her views on what aviation companies should and can do to guarantee the wellbeing of their customers and employees. 

Adele Berti: What are the main health and safety issues facing airline carriers and airports right now?

Colleen Costello: The current Covid-19 crisis has put everybody in difficult and uncertain times. In the airport space, the biggest challenges with germs across the board are that they’re invisible. That’s a really difficult challenge when you’re managing large spaces like in airports or tight spaces within an aircraft. Germs are invisible and they can live on surfaces for an extended period of time, as well as potentially replicate while they’re on the surfaces. 

I’m talking about germs broadly, but Covid-19 is a virus and you can’t see whether it’s on the surface or whether someone has it. From a health perspective, a big part of the challenge is how aggressive do airlines and airports need to be in either disinfecting, sanitising surfaces or testing people as they come throughout their facilities. 

So, it’s a challenging time for those airport stakeholders who work with a number of partners in the travel industry. There are also challenges associated with how you identify where the germs are living and how they’re being transmitted across people when you have crowded spaces. 

AB: How are aviation players working to protect their passengers and employees?

CC: Unfortunately, the reality of the war we have on germs is that there are no guarantees and that’s what makes a lot of these environments very challenging, but there are really basic things that do curb and break the transmission curve between people. From an airline and airport’s perspective, it’s really about clarity of communication to passengers and staff of the seriousness of the individual paths and behaviours which, if everybody is very vigilant, can be effective at keeping everybody safe for passengers, as well as the staff. 

A number of the airlines we work with are taking rather aggressive measures before and after the flight – whether it be through our technology or different chemical bombing solutions – in order to make sure that anything that could have landed in that environment is killed before people come on-board. I’ve seen a lot of airlines move very quickly overnight to try to get whatever technology was available.

AB: What can global airports do on their end?

CC: Airports tend to have large facilities and attract big groups of people from all over the world in one space. So, overall they’re not a great spot for health and wellness and there’s definitely more they can do to ensure that they are utilising new technologies and tools to provide more of the so-called ‘inhospitable environment’ for germs. 

There are many tools available that can enhance an airport’s cleanliness because there are a lot of challenges around keeping surfaces clean especially when you have many people walking throughout your facility. So there is definitely room for improvement in what relates to keeping those spaces clean and keeping the staff and guests throughout those places safe. 

AB: Should stakeholders start promoting the use of masks and gloves for personnel and travellers?

CC: Face masks are important for really medical personnel. We need to reserve them for medical personnel in the US as there is a shortage there. If you’re healthy and well, you know, a mask is not really the solution. In the event that you have symptoms whatsoever, the recommendation is to not be travelling. Unfortunately, in our recent “The Dirty Truth” survey – which we carried out before the Covid-19 issue spread out – one in five Americans admitted to still travelling when they’re sick, which is an absolute no-no. There’s no harm necessarily in gloves. 

I think it should be mostly about education and awareness of how these germs actually transmit. So, that’s where the airline carriers can play a strong role, by providing clarity of communication to their passengers and staff of exactly what’s going on and how they can all help in the fight against Covid-19.

AB: Can you expand on the findings of your survey?

CC: Unfortunately, the results were not great across the board. Two in five Americans admit to still travelling when they’re sick, putting themselves and those around them in danger. Covid-19 has made that a lot more in-focus with the severity of the virus. [In addition] 60% of respondents never wipe down surfaces that they touch while travelling, so they’re leaving germs on those surfaces, and one in four Americans don’t sanitise their phones while travelling, which is another opportunity to both spread and pick up germs. 

Source: https://www.airport-technology.com/features/coronavirus-aviation-industry/

 

Whether it is to revel in the Caribbean’s charming weather, to hike in Macau, shopping expeditions in France or to party in Ibiza, for young Kenyans with money, the world is their oyster.

With few or no family responsibilities, their money is largely spent on adventure. They travel the world solo or in groups, and some have even started travel groups, with target destinations every year.

So, what is it like to travel as a millennial? How do they balance their careers with their propensity for travel?

Mina Reeve, 28

Mina has been to the UK, Netherlands, Thailand, France, Spain and to the United Arab Emirates. She has also been to Zimbabwe and Zambia. Thailand, where she stayed for two weeks, stood out for her, especially the food.

 “Street food is cheap. Getting around with canoes and scooters was fun. The architecture is delightful,” she says.

Mina plans her travels in advance, sometimes six or seven months before.

“Flight tickets are affordable if you book in advance. This allows me to pay for the ticket in instalments. I also pick connecting flights because they are cheaper,” she says.

For accommodation, she relies on various websites including Booking.com and Airbnb.

“I normally pack one bag because I’ll return with more luggage after shopping,” says Mina, who’s also a member of a local millennials tour group.

“Water sports, skydiving, sightseeing and shopping make up my schedule. I’m very adventurous, so anything sporty or adrenalin-inducing excites me,” she adds.

Travelling doesn’t get in the way of her young career. As a teacher (she teaches sports and health science at Braeburn School), I capitalise on school holidays. I must do one international tour every year,” she says. “I like to stay in nice places. My type of activities cost a lot of money. Dining, partying and shopping are particularly very costly,” she says.

On a tour, Mina normally spends between Sh150,000 and Sh200,000.

‘‘It sounds like a lot of money, but these are months-long savings,” she says.

Mina travels to learn about different cultures, to meet new people and for new ideas. “I am an opportunist, so I like to engage people and to grow my networks. Travelling is also liberating,” she says. Any trouble while travelling so far? None that she can think of, she says.

“I’ve been called Latina, Arab, Indian, African, Caucasian and even Asian.I don’t take racist comments seriously.”

When she is not flying half the world for adventure, Mina likes to lose herself in Lamu, Malindi, Diani, Mombasa, Samburu, Amboseli or Ngare Ndare.

Dismissing the notion that travelling is an expensive affair, she argues that it boils down to early planning.

“When the trip costs a lot of money, compensate by making the most of your stay in that country,” she says.

Emmanuel Kinara, 29

Emmanuel has been to hiking expeditions in Oman and Georgia and has been to the last three editions of the World Cup in South Africa, Brazil and Russia.

The list of countries he has visited is nearly inexhaustible. He has visited Qatar, UAE, Iran and Lebanon. He has also been to Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Romania, Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and the UK.

Visits to Brazil to watch the World Cup in 2014 and to Napoli in Italy that same year to attend a friend’s wedding are the most memorable tours for Emmanuel who work in Australia.

“I liked the relaxed atmosphere and weather. They have large open farmlands and vineyards. The food is also mind-blowing,” he says, adding that Brazil is pretty affordable.

Travelling to a country during a major sporting event is as convenient as it’s cheap. “Blending in is also easier because there are usually many travellers,’’ he says, adding that travelling to Norway to watch the Northern Lights is his ultimate travel goal.

So, how does he plan for his travels?

“I make sure I have my travel documents, credit cards and US dollars just in case some places don’t accept credit cards. Phone chargers and international SIM card with a portable Internet device are important. I’ll also pack a cap and a pair of sketchers that I can wear with anything,” he says.

For ease of check-in and checkout procedures and at airports, Emmanuel carries only one backpack.

Emmanuel travels in groups of mostly two to three people because some of the trips are work-related. Each trip lasts between three days and slightly over a week.

Now with a young family, Emmanuel says his travel frequency has reduced, with a cumulative two months of travel in a year. He has four trips lined up in 2020.

To Emmanuel, travelling affordably means taking advantage of travel miles and staff privileges for air tickets.

“I mostly book into backpacker hostels or share spaces through Airbnb or CouchSurfing. The advantage of these is that you get to enjoy local hospitality, food and the culture,” he says.

Instead of taking an insurance cover every time he has to travel, he gets an annual cover, which is cheaper.

“A yearly cover costs about Sh28,000 while an individual one goes for roughly Sh7,000. Air tickets sell for between Sh30,000 and Sh130,000. With the rebates though, I mostly pay an average of Sh15,000,” he says.

“I use TripAdvisor to filter out activities. This way, I’m able to join free guided tour groups,” he says, adding that he either walks or uses public means to move around.

On average, Emmanuel spends between Sh5,000) and Sh7,500) every day to cover food, bus fare and accommodation. “Europe is even cheaper because there are many options for backpackers,” he says.

Is travelling cheap? No, he disagrees, but argues that routine activities are even more expensive.

“People host parties nearly every weekend and spend a lot of money on drinks. These amounts would comfortably fit within a dream trip if saved for a few months in a year,” he says.

Lisette Gachanja, 29

Off the top of her head, Lisette says she has been to 15 countries. These include Mexico, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Ghana, South Korea, US and Australia.

By averaging five countries every year since 2017, she believes she’s inching closer to becoming a global citizen.

Before she embarks on a trip, Lisette researches about key attractions and fun activities before drafting her itinerary around them.

“I check for visa processes, flights and in-country travel. Checking weather patterns and currency rates is also critical for planning. Often I download apps to help with language, navigation, currency conversion and popular attractions,” she explains.

She considers herself a big planner, by drawing several mini-budgets to avoid incurring miscellaneous expenses.

“I have invested in a lot of gear to cushion me from having to buy new clothes, shoes and travel bags for every trip,” says Lisette, who travels alone and, whenever possible, with either her partner or family.

Whenever she’s out on a trip that will usually last between a week and one month, Lisette prefers to go off the beaten path by keeping off “predominantly tourist adventures” and instead finding culturally immersive activities, discovering hike paths and camping.

“I love indigenous things. Trying out local cuisine is a definite must. My priority is always to maximise on attractions that aren’t available back at home.”

Has globetrotting affected her career? It’s only fortified it, she says.

“I’m an adventure consultant, so merging work and play is, thankfully, my biggest privilege.”

To answer the question on how she raises money for her tours, Lisette employs a philosophy:

“Money spent on something always comes back to you. You, however, can’t reverse the clock. Time and memories made can’t be replaced.”

‘‘I‘m not a spendthrift, but as soon as I’ve ticked an item off my travel list, I start to plan my next adventure, within my budget and with a goal,’’ she says.

Destinations in her travel bucket list are Latin America and New Zealand. The lure? Indigenous tribes and breathtaking landscapes.

“I can’t wait to kayak in the Amazon River and to go caving in the remotest parts. Swimming with bioluminescent plankton is definitely something to look forward to,” she says.

Other than the thrill of visiting a foreign country, Lisette’s experiences have been largely uneventful.

Equally big on local tourism, she has arced the country from Lodwar to Namanga and from Malaba to Lamu.

“Every weekend finds me out and about. Whenever I can, I travel on weekdays too.”

For young women hoping to tour the world, Lisette proposes audacity, but within a rational plan.

“You can have a great time doing solo or partner travels,” she advises. “Research on affordable travel deals.Arrange and oversee your own travel plans because it’s cheaper this way than having someone do it for you. Have adventure!”

 

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/lifestyle/travel/Young-globetrotters/3815716-5478060-nuxkqv/index.html