Competition
Singaporeans stuck on island seek private jets, daycationsedit
Hindustan Times – Online
For many expats and locals alike the beauty of the citystate, outside of its yearround balmy weather and efficiency, has always been its hyper connectivity. But travel curbs aimed at shutting out the virus mean leaving Singapore is basically off the table, a challenge for those of the financial hubs 5.7 million residents used to popping to a Malaysian resort for the weekend, or scooting over to Bali.
IPL will help in showcasing how effectively we have implemented SOPsedit
Travel Trends Today – Online
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), shares Dubais plan of restarting tourism and the way forward The destination has recommenced international MICE from October with all SOPs and protocols in place Dubai has been one of the first destinations to contain spread of the virus and has successfully restarted tourism. The destination is once again witnessing demand from India market.
Dubai mandates both predeparture & on arrival Covid tests for flyers from India, other countriesedit
The Times of India – Online
Travellers from India and many other countries will need to undertake Covid test twice while going to Dubai While till now they required a negative report from a RTPCR test done within 96 hours before flying there, Dubai has added a test on arrival for them.
Private jets to luxury yacht Singaporeans going extraordinary lengths to cure cabin feveredit
The Print – Online
At just 50 kilometers (31 miles) from east to west and 27 kilometers from north to south, Singapore is tiny. Drive for 30 minutes either way, and you’re almost in neighboring Malaysia, or the South China Sea. News last week of an imminent travel bubble that wouldn’t require quarantine between Singapore and Hong Kong was met with instant excitement.
How to have a Covidsafe holiday seasonedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The bad news about the upcoming holiday season is that traditional meals and parties involving indoor settings, poor ventilation, and prolonged, close contact are the biggest risk factors for spreading Covid19. The good news is that there are still plenty of reducedrisk activities for family and friends, according to an informal survey of epidemiologists and other experts.
Dubai breaks world record for largest fountainedit
Telangana Today , Hindustan Times– Online
The glitzy emirate of Dubai broke the record for the worlds largest fountain on Thursday, as the Gulf city seeks to boost its hardhit tourism sector amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Palm Fountain, which covers an area of 14,366 square feet (1,335 square metres), is located at The Pointe shopping and dining district on Palm Jumeirah, a manmade palmshaped island. Maskclad people, in keeping with coronavirus safety measures, gathered on Thursday evening to watch a show of dancing jets of water, musci and lights.
Travel starved passengers dine on parked Singapore Airlines jetedit
Live Mint – Online
Hundreds of travel starved diners ate lunch and watched seatback films aboard two parked Singapore Airlines jets turned into popup restaurants on Saturday. With the aviation industry in deep crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, airlines have turned to alternative ways to raise cash, from offering flights to nowhere to tours of aircraft.
ITB Asia 2020 virtual records participation of almost 35,000 travel professionalsedit
Travel Biz Monitor – Online
Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), organiser of ITB Asia, said, We are proud to be the leading travel trade show in Asia, playing our part in creating a closeknit community who support one another through the good times and the more difficult ones. The past three days have been a testament to the resilience of our peers with industry leaders coming together, united by a common purpose of paving the way forward in the face of the new normal.
Flying abroad Know how you can get tested for Covid19 at Delhi airportedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Delhi airport has recently been certified as the second safest aerodrome in the world in postCovid19 safety survey. Singapores Changi Airport is the first.
Dubai plans $136 million in support for coronavirushit businessesedit
Live Mint – Online
Dubai plans to offer 500 million dirhams ($136 million) of aid for businesses hit by the coronavirus crisis , Crown Prince Hamdan Bin Mohammed said on Twitter on Saturday. The package, which will consist of rent breaks and the elimination of government fees and fines for some businesses, will bring total government support to 6.8 billion dirhams, according to the prince.
Dubai airport prepares for possible slow coronavirus recoveryedit
The Financial Express – Online Web
Griffiths said he believed air travel, with passengers properly masked, remained safe. Anecdotal evidence cited in a Journal of Travel Medicine article published in September showed no passengers contracted the coronavirus on five Emirates eight-hour flights to Hong Kong despite having 58 passengers spread among the flights who tested positive on arrival.
Industry
Airbnb predicts what travel in 2021 will look likeedit
Business Insider – Online Web
Commenting on these trends, General Manager Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, said, As we come closer to 2021, transparency, trust and safety will be more critical than ever before, and will continue to set the benchmark for traveler expectations.
Tour biz sees spike in salesedit
Live Mint – Online
A set of travellers are also looking at private vacation homes with luxury villa chain Saffron Stays receiving twice the number of bookings against last years festive season. Unlike hotels where one cant use the pool, travellers can freely do so at a rented villa. Weve seen a rise in demand for smaller homes anywhere between one to three bedrooms as well in driveto distances from Mumbai, said Devendra Parulekar, founder of SaffronStays.
Continued Financial Support and COVID19 Testing Key to Save Air Transport: IATAedit
Travel Trends Today – Online
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reiterated the urgent need to reopen borders with COVID19 testing and for further financial support for aviation as the COVID19 shutdown of air transport continues. Border restrictions, especially quarantine measures, have undermined one of the cornerstones of European development, the free movement of people.
Staycations and nearby stays continue to define travel trends in 2021: Airbnbedit
BW Hotelier Business World – Online
Commenting on these trends, Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, As we come closer to 2021, transparency, trust and safety will be more critical than ever before, and will continue to set the benchmark for traveller expectations.
Booking.com unveils WorkFriendly badge for accommodations for increased visibilityedit
Travel Biz Monitor – Online
As remote working becomes the new norm, Booking.com has introduced a new WorkFriendly badge on their website and mobile app. It highlights and increases visibility of workfriendly alternative accommodations like homes and apartments for both business travellers and leisure travellers looking to work remotely.
Airport will operate 112 flights daily from todayedit
The Times of India – Online
As a good number of tourists plan a visit to Jaisalmer during winters, three flights to Jaisalmer have been added in this schedule. This is a good addition as several tourist plan to have visit Jaisalmer after they land in Jaipur, said Amandeep Singh, a travel agent.
Airbnb reveals new travel trends for 2021 Travel Span Indiaedit
Travel Span – Online Web
Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan said, As we come closer to 2021, transparency, trust, and safety will be more critical than ever before and will continue to set the benchmark for traveler expectations.
Govt eases entry restrictions for overseas Indians, business visitorsedit
Hindi – Business Standard – Print – Mumbai
The government has eased visa restrictions to allow Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card-holders from all countries to enter India. The move, which comes ahead of the festive season, would enable persons of Indian origin to visit the country and meet their friends and relatives. But the decision will not have much impact on flight and hotel occupancies as restrictions continue on leisure travel.
Specific
Tour biz sees spike in salesedit
MINT – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore
From homestays to private villas to jungle resorts, bookings and inquiries for leisure travel during the festive season this year is seeing a surge in line with the easing of curbs on inter-state travel and lifting of mandatory testing rules for covid-19. Travel operators said demand this year has outstripped that of last year as people cooped indoors for months are finally starting to venture out for holidays.
Aviation: Encountering Turbulence!edit
Travel Trends Today – Online Web
However, airlines are optimistic with the hope that the coming months will bring some respite. As the world starts to adjust to the next phase of the pandemic and international borders gradually reopen, we are optimistic this will bring some stability for global travel demand to return. We look forward to resuming passenger services to India when it is commercially and operationally feasible to do so.
HKTB Welcomes Announcement of Inprinciple Agreement to Establish Bilateral Hong Kong Singapore Air Travel Bubbleedit
IT News Online – Online
Hong Kong and Singapore have reached an inprinciple agreement to establish a bilateral Air Travel Bubble (ATB). This milestone arrangement will help revive crossborder air travel between the two aviation hubs in a safe and progressive way.