Tag: Quarantine

Tourists to Thailand can now spend their mandatory two-week coronavirus quarantine on a luxury yacht, as part of a bid by the government to revive the country’s tourism industry, which is the major source of income for the country. Thai government’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency, along with partners including top telecom group Advanced Info Service, jointly announced the yacht quarantine program earlier this week. This would serve as an addition to the existing quarantine option on a golf course, aiming to revive the tourism industry that accounts for about a fifth of the country’s GDP. Visitors coming with a negative ... Read more

Air travellers to Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel for three days at their own expense starting February 22. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the official date at a press conference on February 12, about two weeks after introducing the new coronavirus safety measure. Air travellers must also take a quarantine test once they arrive at the airport. The prime minister said that the three-day quarantine in a government facility is meant to allow enough time for the results of a PCR test to come through. These coronavirus tests are more accurate than rapid testing, Trudeau said. “The decision ... Read more

In an effort to exercise more control on the pandemic, Dubai on 27th Jan has announced updated travel protocols. The updated protocols make pre-travel PCR tests mandatory for UAE residents, GCC citizens, and travelers arriving in Dubai irrespective of the country they are coming from. The new regulations have come into effect from Sunday, January 31.  The committee has also made changes to the validity period of PCR tests reducing it from 96 hours to 72 hours. A statement was released in the Government of Dubai’s Media Office site informing the public about the revised travel protocols. The statement said ... Read more

“WTTC is implacably opposed to quarantines as while protecting the public is paramount, there needs to be a balance struck between health and economic priorities,” said, Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO “These latest government proposals, to impose a 10-day hotel quarantine on those UK inbound travellers originating from so-called ‘high-risk’ countries, will still cause enormous damage to the Travel & Tourism sector. “We firmly believe testing on departure and arrival for all travellers is the only way to halt the spread of the virus in its tracks, while still allowing negative testing passengers to travel in safety and restore ... Read more

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says the introduction of new hotel quarantines by the UK government would force the complete collapse of Travel & Tourism as we know it. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, fears the crippling impact of the new proposals being considered by the UK government would cause irreparable damage to a sector that contributes nearly £200 billion to the UK economy. The concern follows nine months of devastating travel restrictions, which has left scores of businesses crushed, millions of jobs lost or put at risk, and confidence to travel at ... Read more

If going into strict quarantine ahead of next month’s Australian Open was not difficult enough, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva has to contend with an unwanted roommate in the form of a mouse. Putintseva is among 47 players and their entourages who have been asked to isolate for two weeks in their hotel rooms after COVID-19 cases were reported on the two chartered flights that carried them to Melbourne. The world number 28 who arrived on the flight from Abu Dhabi was already upset after claiming she was not told that all the players aboard the plane would be quarantined in case ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has congratulated the first-round winners of the ‘Happy DIY Set Competition’ and ‘Blog it down’ weekly activities, organized under the Amazing Thailand Happy Quarantine project to help break the boredom of quarantine for tourists. Organized weekly for four consecutive weeks, both activities offer international travelers a chance to win luxurious accommodation packages in Thailand totaling 22 prizes. The ‘Happy DIY Set’ showcases Thai handicrafts, meant as a token of appreciation for international visitors to Thailand from TAT from local communities around the kingdom. It has been given since 21 December 2020, to stimulate creativity ... Read more

The Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Thailand has announced that foreign golfers with advance arrangements for golfing in Thailand will be allowed to undergo a golf quarantine as an alternative local state quarantine option. During the quarantine period, foreign golfers will be able to enjoy golfing and health-related activities at the golf course at their own expense, thus allowing the opportunity to undergo quarantine and enjoy golfing in Thailand at the same time. Foreign golfers wishing to visit Thailand during this time need to apply for a visa, which can include a Single-Entry Tourist Visa (TR) or ... Read more

Prominent Tourism Trade body of Kerala, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI) has requested the state government to allow free entry for domestic tourists to the state without mandatory quarantine rules upon arrival. CKTI  in a letter to the Chief Secretary of Kerala has complained that the current guidelines for visitors, which specifies mandatory quarantine for visitors, is not at all helping the revival process of tourism in the state, mainly the domestic market. CKTI  has recommended the government to review the current guidelines and have requested free entry for all tourists from other states. The Confederation has cited examples ... Read more

The UK government’s latest move that will slash the travel quarantine lockdown if passengers test negative on the fifth day will provide a much-needed economic boost and is a step towards reviving international travel, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). However, while many holidaymakers will embrace the reduced quarantine and will be able to afford the test, which will cost between £65 and £120, WTTC says it won’t be enough to resuscitate meaningful business travel. For that to take place and to significantly aid the Travel & Tourism sector, which has been battered by widespread and uncoordinated travel ... Read more