27.07 – Spanish quarantine nightmares
- Bavaria is busy rolling out mass coronavirus testing facilities to target returning holidaymakers.
- In its latest review, the UK has kept Portugal off its “safe list”, meaning travellers still have to quarantine for 14 days on their return.
- Rwanda has announced that commercial flights will resume on 1 August.
Dismay over Spanish quarantine
Over the weekend, the UK introduced a controversial 14-day quarantine on all visitors arriving or returning from Spain. Travellers expressed their anger at having been given no warning of the move, while Spain has responded with dismay, noting that several of its regions are in fact less risky than the UK.
Read the full story.
Virus resurgence in Asia
China and Hong Kong have witnessed a surge in coronavirus case numbers, as Vietnam recorded its first locally transmitted cases since April. Hong Kong has reintroduced local restrictions, including banning eating out and capping group meetings; in Vietnam, meanwhile, 80,000 people are being evacuated from the city of Danang and disease-prevention measures are being reinstated.
Read the full story.
A sleeper-train renaissance?
Sleeper trains – once a fixture of European inter-rail travel – have faded into obscurity in recent years, with several long-distance routes being cancelled. However, in the past few weeks, a flurry of new routes have been emerging across Europe. Could this be the face of post-Covid travel?
Read the full story.
Sao Paulo carnival delayed
Over in Brazil, Sao Paulo has announced it will postpone its 2021 carnival, which usual takes place in February, to late May or July.
24.07 – Emirates offers free Covid cover
- The decision to allow non-essential travel to the Philippines – that came into effect on 8 July – has reportedly been reversed.
- New coronavirus restrictions have been introduced around Spain amid rising case numbers – with more than 280 new clusters detected.
- As of today, face masks are mandatory in all shops and supermarkets in the UK.
- Daily passenger flights in China have rebounded to reach 80% of pre-Covid levels.
- Brazil’s controversial president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been pictured in conversation with cleaners outside his house, not wearing a mask – despite testing positive for Covid-19.
- In an interview with Bloomberg, Amsterdam’s mayor has asked visitors to “think twice” before visiting the Netherlands’ capital.
- Baghdad airport in Iraq has reopened for commercial flights for the first time since March.
- Southwest Airlines is scrapping all exemptions from its face-mask requirement, with the only exception being for children under two.
- A collection of major airline groups is calling for a US–EU Covid-testing programme to help restart transatlantic travel.
Ireland’s staycation vouchers
Ireland will be issuing “staycation vouchers” that will allow Irish citizens to claim tax back – worth up to €125 – on food, drink and accommodation costs when they spend about €600 between the months of October 2020 and April 2021.
Read the full story.
Belgium pauses lockdown easing amid surge in cases
After experiencing a huge rise in Covid infections, Belgium has rolled back its lockdown easing and brought in new restrictive measures. As of tomorrow, face masks will be a legal requirement in a raft of public places, including in restaurant bathrooms. All returning travellers will be required to complete a form within 48 hours of arrival.
Read the full story.
Two Costa Rican airports to reopen for international arrivals
On 1 August, Costa Rica will reopen two of its airports to international visitors from the EU, the UK and Canada. Juan Santamaria – in the capital, San Jose – and Daniel Oduber airport are the pair to resume operations.
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Emirates lures customers back with free Covid cover
Emirates is the first airline to offer customers free global Covid cover when they book a flight. The company will cover health and quarantine costs if a passenger is diagnosed with Covid-19 on their travels – valid for 31 days from the moment you take your first flight.
Read the details.
22.07 – Singapore launches SingapoRediscovers campaign
- Marriott International expects hotel occupancy rates in Greater China to reach pre-coronavirus levels by the start of 2021.
SingapoRediscovers campaign to drive domestic travel
Rather than providing subsidies to its citizens, Singapore has launched a $45m campaign to develop exciting local products and deals to encourage domestic tourism. The idea is that these same products and offers will appeal to international visitors when they return, too, creating a longer-term solution to boost the economy.
Read the full story.
Dubai launches “Dubai Assured” stamp
Dubai is the latest destination to launch an accreditation stamp for hotels, restaurants and attractions that comply with outlined public-health measures for tackling coronavirus. Similar schemes have been implemented in countries from Portugal to Egypt.
Read the full story.
US Olympic & Paralympic Museum set to open in Colorado
With one year to go until the scheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Colorado has announced the official opening date for its new Olympic Games Museum as 30 July 2020. It’s heralded as one of the most accessible and interactive museums in the world – and is planning to open with timed ticketing and wellness procedures to ensure safety during Covid-19. Visit the
museum website.