Thai government plans to ease travel restrictions to welcome foreign tourists from low- risk countries in a bid to revive the local economy.

Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha said the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) would discuss which areas will be suitable to receive foreign tourists as well as related disease control measures.

It will begin with the limited number of arrivals. They will be screened from the origins to the destinations and will stay only in tourist zones, he said. To help the most economically affected tourist destinations, the government is looking at allowing foreign tourists to stay in those prepared areas as a ‘sand box’ model.

The return of tourists is necessary for revival of the economy. If the government does nothing, all premises will be shut down and employees will be laid off. The government needs to relax restrictions and implement suitable measures to handle it, he added.

Meanwhile, Public Health Ministry’s Division for Communicable Diseases, Sophon Iamsirithawon said Thai has had zero local transmissions for more than 90 days since May 25.

Easing restrictions to allow resumption of business activities went smoothly but strict disease control measures must remain in place, he said.

Tourism will be also resumed under restricted safety rules.

It is expected to start receive foreign tourists in October. Initially, it targets to allow tourists from low-risk countries who come to Thailand for medical purposes and tourism, he added. (TNA)

Source: https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-prepares-to-receive-foreign-tourists-in-october-312559

Namibia’s government said Tuesday the country would reopen to foreign visitors from September 1 to try and salvage thousands of jobs in tourism, badly hit by coronavirus travel bans.

The announcement came despite a recent spike in coronavirus cases, which have almost tripled to over 6,000 this month.

Recorded deaths have risen from 11 to 57 since August 1.

“As from 1 September 2020, Namibia re-opens the Hosea Kutako International Airport to international tourists,” Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta announced on Tuesday.

“This is a targeted initiative for leisure travellers that will be reviewed bi-weekly and amended as necessary.”

Shifeta said all incoming tourists would be required to test negative for coronavirus no more than 72 hours before travelling.

They will then have to spend a minimum of seven days at their first destination.

Namibia is a sparsely populated southwest African country known for its wildlife and spectacular coastal desert. Tourism contributes around 10 percent to the country’s GDP. 

Around 1.6 million foreigners holidayed in Namibia last year, according to government figures.

The environment ministry has said that resuming international tourism ahead of the usual peak season — from September to December — could save up to 120,000 jobs.  

Borders were sealed on March 28 as part of early efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Namibians are still banned from travelling between towns — a restriction that will be waived for tourists.

Source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2020/08/26/namibia-to-resume-international-tourism-from-sept1.html

 

 

Dubai’s Emirates will resume flights to Guinea’s capital Conakry and Dakar, Senegal from September 3, taking the total number of cities served by the airline in Africa to eight.

Flights from Dubai to Conakry and Dakar will be linked services, operating twice weekly, utilizing an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the company said. The addition of these services will boost the airline’s network to 77 cities.

Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

Dubai was one of the world’s first cities to obtain Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Last year, the city welcomed 16.7 million visitors and hosted over hundreds of global meetings and exhibitions, as well as sports and entertainment events.

Source: https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/emirates-to-resume-flights-to-guinea-senegal-from-september-3-2020-1.1598426971893

 

The resumption of local and international flights has registered mixed fortunes for airlines. Whereas Kenya Airways says the demand for passenger flights remain low on international front, the domestic numbers have picked up in the recent days.

Due to the encouraging performance of the local flights especially in the coastal route, the national carrier will deploy the large capacity Boeing 737-800 to meet the increased capacity to Mombasa for Friday and Sunday.

At the moment, the carrier is using Embraer 190, which has a capacity of about 120 passengers depending on the configuration.

The domestic travel average load factor in the first week of operation was 56 per cent, which dipped slightly to 49 per cent. This has gradually risen to 59 per cent in the last week. The international load factor is currently at about 37 per cent.

“Demand is picking up on our domestic flights and especially Mombasa. We have good load factors on the flights we are operating, and we will be upgrading flights on Friday and Sunday to operate the Boeing 737-800 which increases our capacity by about 50 per cent more seats,” said Allan Kilavuka, KQ chief executive officer.

Mr Kilavuka said overall demand remains very low globally and the recovery is quite slow.

“We are yet to see resumption of travel for the corporate segment and many of the countries especially in Africa are yet to open up their airspaces or are still maintaining very restrictive travel conditions,” he said.

Weekend fares to South Coast on budget carriers have also gone up since the resumption of flights last month in what signals high demand for passengers seeking to travel to one of favourite tourist destinations as other routes grapple with low numbers

Airlines have been charging between 8,900 and Sh5,900 for a one-way ticket to Ukunda, making it one of the most expensive routes locally.

The carrier had forecasted passenger numbers to remain at half of its capacity for the remainder of the year after the airline resumed international flights to 30 destinations out of its 56 at pre-Covid.

For KQ, they believe that 2020 for them is like a lost year because of anticipated low demand, which at some point is as low as 25 per cent.

He said the airline will continue operating at a reduced scale with an extremely lean network, and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

As such, the carrier has been downsizing it work force in order to maintain a lean team following the reduction of routes where it currently flies.

The CEO said “staff rationalization”, which has been going on for some time, is a consequence of the overall relook at the business in response to how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on KQ. He said the exercise is being carried out across the organization so that “a long-term sustainability” of the company and downsizing gives the carrier an opportunity to reset the cost base based on the level of projected demand.

and then strategize for gradual growth in the long-term.

The carrier said the target is to reduce the company’s overall total fixed costs and not just the personnel, by about 50 per cent, which is in response to the airline revenue projections. As such, the firm has already reduced its network and it will also be cutting on some of its assets.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a recently updated global passenger forecast that the airlines will take at least four years to recover from the effects of Covid-19 as they resume operations.

“Global passenger traffic will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024, a year later than previously projected,” said IATA.

Low passenger numbers is set to hurt the carrier’s earnings in the current financial year. The airline reported a Sh12.9 billion loss for the financial year ended December 2019 up from Sh7.7 billion in 2018 with losses attributed to increased cost of operations.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/shipping/Kenya-Airways-banks-on-rising-demand-for-domestic-flights/4003122-5614048-7ybat5/index.html

 

 

Kenya is the first country globally to be awarded the recommended status of the ‘Safer Tourism Seal’ by Rebuilding Travel, this is according to a statement from the Ministry of Tourism.

The statement said Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala was presented with the award in a virtual event attended by global tourism leaders under the Rebuilding Travel umbrella, a global pro-tourism industry group composed of members of tourism boards, ministers of tourism, professional associations, industry stakeholders, researchers and academics, as well as travellers.

CS Balala said the award is testimony to Kenya’s continued efforts to ensure travellers’ safety following the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a destination, we have put together health and safety measures that are aimed at ensuring the safe reopening of the tourism sector. This is to ensure that our citizens, travellers, and workers are well protected,” said the CS.

“On behalf of my country I am happy to receive this recognition that shows we are headed in the right direction in regard to the COVID-19 safety protocols.”

The ministry termed the Safer Travel Seal as a recognizable symbol world over that will be key in positioning Kenya as a safe and preferred destination, further that it will be crucial in building travellers’ confidence in the destination as international travel resumes and hospitality outlets reopen.

After the pandemic broke, Kenya joined the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) #TravelTomorrow campaign which was aimed at asking travellers to remain safe at home.

The Ministry of Tourism, through the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), also partnered with the private sector to keep the destination alive through a virtual live streaming and the #TheMagicAwaits Campaign.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has actively kept the Crisis Communication research center in collaboration with Kenyatta University (KU) active in establishing the challenges that affect the tourism sector at this period and mitigating on the same. The Destination Crisis and issues management Strategy has since been launched and a committee gazetted to oversee the crisis on a long-term basis,” read the statement.

“To receive this recognition, a destination must address key aspects known as “tourism surety” through ensuring, travellers’ safety, security, destination’s reputation, economic viability, and health.”

This recognition follows the Safe Travel Stamp award to Kenya by the World Travel and Tourism Council in June this year.

“I can say confidently that we have rolled out successfully the protocols we put in place together with the Ministry of Health,” added CS Balala.

“If you visit our hotels, eateries, and other tourism outlets in Kenya you will be ensured of safety if you adhere to the guidelines. I encourage all those who wish to visit our country to do so in confidence.”

The Rebuilding Travel members congratulated CS Balala for the award and recognized the initiatives taken by the government of Kenya through the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health in ensuring traveler safety.

The global tourism and travel sector like other sectors that drive economies has been badly hit following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Locally, the sector is gradually re-opening following the ease in lock down measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the virus and the resumption of air travel.

The Safer Tourism Seal recognition will be up for renewal in 2022 if the destination will have then met the “tourism surety” requirements.

Source: https://citizentv.co.ke/news/kenya-becomes-first-country-to-be-awarded-safer-tourism-seal-343252/

 

Kenya Airways will cut New York flights to one weekly when it resumes operations in that route on October 29.

KQ says the Covid-19 has affected demand for flying worldwide, hence the need to scale down on the number of flights operated on some routes.

Kenya Airways chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka said the flights will, however, be upgraded once the demand for flying picks up.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected travel demand worldwide. It will be a gradual resumption starting with one weekly service. As we are doing with all the other routes, we will monitor the trends and make the necessary adjustment to the frequency based on demand,” said Mr Kilavuka.

The airline was operating five flights to New York before the Covid-19 pandemic that saw the carrier ground all its aircraft in early April.

Kenya Airways had started direct flights to the US in October 2018, cutting the journey to 15 hours on the long-haul route tapped as part of an effort to revive the airline’s fortunes.

Kenya Airways had forecast its daily direct flights to the US, which it launched for the first time in October 2018, would boost annual revenues by more than 10 percent in 2019 and 2020.

The long-haul route aimed to encourage more business and tourist travel, with the US being one of Kenya’s biggest source of visitors.

The carrier had delayed the flights to New York and China when it resumed international flights on August 1.

However, the China flights have already resumed, earlier than it had been projected after the carrier received authorization from the Chinese authorities.

“We resumed our flights to China and this was earlier than we had expected. The reason for this was an approval that we had sought was received earlier than expected,” said Mr Kilavuka.

The carrier is currently operating one flight to Guangzhou, a city it has been flying previously.

“We will review the frequency based on passenger demand and adjust accordingly to cater for our customer requirements,” the CEO said.

Kenya Airways on January 31 suspended all flights to and from China amid a virus outbreak that had killed more than 200 people in Beijing and had spread to 18 countries at the time.

The virus had by yesterday infected more than 14.5 million people and killed more than 600,000 globally.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/companies/Kenya-Airways-cuts-New-York-fights-to-once-a-week/4003102-5614740-sbqk3az/index.html

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said earlier this month that the country’s tourism, the sector hit hardest by COVID-19, was now on a recovery path after months of downturn.

Kenyatta, who spoke during a virtual meeting with elite Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya’s new goodwill ambassador for tourism, expressed satisfaction with the measures being taken by stakeholders in the hospitality sector to protect tourists from the pandemic.

“Safety is not really just a government issue. It is an individual choice. To remain safe and by so doing, keep everybody else safe,” he said in a statement issued after the meeting.

Kenyatta urged Kenyans and visitors to continue observing outbreak-containment protocols.

Kipchoge was in the Masai Mara Game Reserve with his family to witness this year’s annual wildebeest migration.

The president says Kenya is ready to receive tourists and encouraged local and foreign travelers to take advantage of the prevailing low rates to visit the country’s famous sites.

“We have also opened up our skies, and flights are coming. We welcome all those who choose to come,” he says.

The East African nation’s tourism sector had slumped to its lowest level in decades following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, as restrictions put in place locally and internationally curtailed travel.

Since March, the sector has lost 81.8 billion shillings ($770 million), roughly half of its average annual revenue, Tourism Minister Najib Balala says.

The pandemic had literally grounded the industry to a halt, with over 2.3 million employees sent home, a majority on unpaid leave and the lucky ones receiving half pay.

All the top hotels, lodges and destinations were shut down over the past months as they grappled with the lack of visitors.

During the meeting, Kipchoge said he was grateful to represent his country as a tourism goodwill ambassador and assured the president that he will do his best to promote the country as a top travel destination.

Balala says hotels in the Maasai Mara were fully booked, mostly by local tourists, for the current high season and encourages Kenyans and inbound travelers to visit destinations across the country.

Source: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202008/18/WS5f3b1c8ea310834817260e0b.html

Qatar Airways has made refund payments totalling over $1 billion since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

The $1.2 billion figure covers over 600,000 passengers, with 96 per cent of refund requests since March now having been processed.

The carrier said that it is currently processing all new refunds back to the original form of payment in less than 30 days.

Qatar Airways also said that 36 per cent of passengers had chosen alternatives to refunds, including exchanging tickets for future travel vouchers, or swapping tickets for Q Miles.

At the height of the crisis the airline said it was getting over 10,000 refund requests per day, leading it to increase automation capabilities (allowing customers to request refunds and travel vouchers online), and redeploying staff from other areas of the business including cabin crew and ground services.

Consumers’ association Which? recently reported that several UK airlines are failing to refund passengers in the timesframes agreed with the Civil Aviation Authority, singling out Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and Tui and calling on the government “to give the CAA the clout to effectively hold airlines to account”.

Commenting on the news the group’s CEO Akbar Al Baker said:

“With the impact of Covid-19 on global travel, passengers have had to change their plans at short notice and it has been difficult for them to plan ahead with any certainty. What they want and deserve are flexibility and reliability, and in Qatar Airways we hope they find an airline they can trust.

“The amount we have paid out in refunds has undoubtedly had an impact on our bottom line, but it is our duty to do the right thing by our customers and trade partners and as an airline we are strong enough to mitigate the impact of this.”

Source: https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/08/20/qatar-airways-pays-out-1-2-billion-in-refunds/

 

Weekend air fares to Kenya’s South Coast region have gone up since the resumption of flights last month signalling high demand from passengers seeking to travel to one of favourite tourist destinations as other routes grapple with low numbers

Airlines are charging between Sh8,900 and Sh5,900 for a one way ticket to Ukunda, making it one of the most expensive routes locally.

For instance, Jambojet is charging Sh8,900 for a one way ticket this Friday for a morning flight to Ukunda with only eight seats left, while the midday flight is going at Sh6,900 and the evening one at Sh5,900.

Skyward Express is charging between Sh6,950 and Sh5,950 for a seat to the coastal city with Safarilink asking for Sh6,500 to the same destination.

At this price to Ukunda, the budget carrier is charging more than what Kenya Airways is levying for a one way ticket to Mombasa with a seat going at as low as Sh4,845.

The fares to other destinations such as Eldoret and Kisumu have remained low at Sh4,500 with the North Rift town seeing fares as low as Sh3,900.

Generally air ticket prices in most of the routes have been cheap because of low demand for flying as Kenyans still reel from the effects of the Covid-19.

When the airlines resumed local flights last month, Jambojet on average charged Sh4,800 for a one way ticket to Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu while Fly 540 was charging Sh4,540 on the same routes.

Jambojet said last week it is flying with half seats empty since the resumption of flights on July 15, keeping the prices of air tickets low.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/counties/Weekend-air-fares-rise-on-coast-tourism-demand/4003142-5610270-tiaaie/index.html

 

Kenya is looking beyond the challenges posed by Covid-19 as it seeks to position the country as a top cruise tourism destination globally.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said cruise ship sector will bounce back once Covid-19 pandemic is contained.

Like almost every sector of the economy, tourism has been adversely affected by the effects of the pandemic. Kenya’s Sh1.3 billion cruise ship terminal is lying idle at the Port of Mombasa with six cruise ships which were expected to call this year cancelled due to the disease.

KPA principal communication officer Hajji Masemo said the prospects of the country’s cruise tourism look bright, noting that the agency is collaborating with the Cruise Africa, an association that incorporates the Indian Ocean, to market cruise tourism.

He said for Kenya to tap the full potential of the sector, the Port of Mombasa needs a “home vessel”.

“This means the ship will be domiciled here, start her journeys from Mombasa to other destinations,” he said.

The cruise sector, Mr Masemo added is one of the fastest growing maritime segments in the world.

“It is growing at an average of 20 percent (save for coronavirus times). We are keen to grow this industry as part of exploiting sustainable blue economy,” said Mr Masemo.

Currently, Kenya has more than 400 crew members on aboard vessels globally.

“We are optimistic that despite the pandemic, we can still get cruises to Kenya. But after the pandemic we will have many ships calling at our terminal,” said Mr Masemo.

He spoke after Kenya made its first ship crew change when six Kenyan and a Zimbabwean aboard a Holland America cruise ship arrived in Mombasa after spending six months in the ship due to Covid-19.

The seven disembarked from Ms Westerdam, the Dutch flagged ship at six nautical miles off the Mombasa Port, just a month after Kenya agreed to the new international measures to open up borders to facilitate seafarers’ repatriation.

The seven had to undergo medical checks before they were allowed to disembark from the ship.

Ms Westerdam, one of the Holland America’s largest cruise ship which was sailing from Port Klang, Malaysia had on board about 300 crew from different countries among them Tanzania, Ghana and South Africa which were also in the process of repatriation.

On July Kenya accepted seafarers’ crew change through Port of Mombasa joining other 13 port states in the world.

Kenya Maritime Authority official Luke Samba said the more than 400 Kenyans were aboard different ships when countries locked their borders. Since July, plans to return them home after completing their contracts are underway.

Some 400,000 seafarers are affected on land or on ships with about 10,000 currently trapped onboard ships across the globe due to the continuing imposition of travel restrictions. This is according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It is said some 200,000 seafarers are urgently waiting to leave their ships since their contracts have expired.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/shipping/Kenya-sees-bright-cruise-tourism-prospects/4003122-5610728-po4lgyz/index.html