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    Jubilee celebrations draw international visitors to the UK

    With exciting events planned across the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June, award-winning travel trade association UKinbound, whose 300 plus UK members service international visitors holidaying in the UK, shares its views on the upcoming festivities.
    Joss Croft, CEO, UKinbound said “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This joyous event will provide a vital and welcoming boost to the UK’s tourism industry and businesses up and down the country. Many of my members are preparing to welcome international visitors from across the world, who are making a special visit to the UK during the Jubilee period.
    “We need to ensure that we take the successes of the Jubilee into the summer and autumn seasons, however the industry is facing a number of challenges to its recovery. We expect domestic tourism to reduce this year, with UK residents opting to take holidays abroad, however international visitors to the UK are only expected to return to 52% of 2019 numbers. 
    “Promoting Britain abroad and emphasising the amazing heritage, culture and experiences available across all four nations, and ensuring we provide visitors with a warm welcome, has never been more important. International tourism is a competitive business, and we need to work hard to convince the international community that the UK is a fantastic place to visit in 2022 and beyond.”
    Lana Bennett, CEO of Tours International, an inbound tour operator that specialises in bringing international visitors to the UK, added “The Platinum Jubilee has come at exactly the right time for UK tourism. It’s rejuvenated the industry – everyone can get involved and pull together to make it a truly outstanding celebration. The official events encompass all that is unique and welcoming about the UK and it’s fantastic to have good news back in the headlines. Tours International is running a luxury Platinum Jubilee tour for individuals which we’re very excited about and it’s sold out, which is wonderful.”ADVERTISEMENT

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    Signature Aviation opens private aviation terminal at Birmingham Airport

    Signature Aviation, the world’s largest private aviation terminal operator, has announced the opening of its newly constructed private aviation facility at Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the United Kingdom. The opening marks the full revival of Signature Birmingham following a flood affecting its previous 1930’s era terminal building.
    The greenfield construction represents Birmingham’s newest and best-appointed Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility, featuring a 222 sq. m. building replete with traveler lounge space, refreshment area, and a passenger security screening checkpoint. The terminal also includes a dedicated pilots lounge, and an electric vehicle charging station. Furthermore, Signature Birmingham will continue to offer the consistent, expert line service for which it is renowned for visiting aircraft.
    “Signature rapidly mobilized to operate from a temporary facility immediately following the damage to our previous FBO; however, this opening solidifies our ongoing commitment to our customers and the Birmingham Airport as we look to the future,” said John-Angus Smith, Managing Director for Signature EMEA. “We’re thankful for the support of Birmingham Airport Ltd in helping to reestablish Signature’s presence at the airport.”
    “The newly built FBO in Birmingham reflects the resilience of our team and the importance of this location within our EMEA network” shared Daniel Myles, Area Director UK. “General aviation continues to be a commercial driver to both the airport and Birmingham city, and we look forward to greeting attendees of the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Women’s UEFA Football Championship this summer.”
    Construction of the new facility lasted 12 weeks, with interior fit and finishing taking an additional four weeks.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Malaysian Tourism Roadshow heads to Saudi Arabia

    Tourism Malaysia is organising a series of roadshows in the Middle East to woo international tourists to Malaysia in conjunction with the country’s border reopening on 1 April 2022. This time around, the roadshow will kick off from 21 to 29 May 2022 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the cities of Damman, Riyadh, and Jeddah.
    Headed by Dato’ Seri Ramlan Ibrahim, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, the delegation consists of travel agents, hoteliers, product owners, state tourism bodies, and medical tourism industry players. The mission is to attract more international tourists, newcomers and regulars alike, to further boost the economy for a strong rebound in the tourism industry.
    Saudi Arabia’s market contributes the highest per capita expenditure in terms of tourist spending reaching RM11,660 (USD 2,673) and the average length of stay (10.8 nights) before the COVID-19 pandemic.
    This roadshow provides the platform for networking with travel trade partners and the opportunity to develop new sales partnerships besides providing product updates on Malaysia, including the brand new Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, the world’s second tallest skyscraper Merdeka 118, and the Sunway Resort in Kuala Lumpur that just reopened after a once-in-a-generation transformation.
    Dato’ Seri Ramlan said: “We are thrilled to welcome more Arab tourists to Malaysia. Malaysia’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has long been amicable. Hence, this roadshow aims to promote Malaysia as a top-of-mind tourist destination for the West Asian market.ADVERTISEMENT“Not only Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are well connected with direct flights via Saudia and Malaysia Airlines, but Malaysia is also a safe and family-friendly holiday destination plus a shopping heaven and halal food paradise.”
    Starting 1 May 2022, fully-vaccinated inbound travellers are no longer required to undergo pre-departure and on-arrival COVID-19 tests, including children aged 12 and below as well as for those who have been infected with COVID-19 within six to 60 days before departure to Malaysia. Travel insurance is also not a prerequisite for foreigners entering the country.
    The wearing of masks outdoors is optional but still mandatory indoors, including in shopping malls, offices, public transportation and e-hailing rides.

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    IATA: Canadian government must act to reduce delays

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has written to the Canadian Government urging the ministers in charge to take immediate action to reduce the massive delays at immigration and security which are presently occurring at the country’s main international airports.
    Over the past weeks, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport alone reported that passenger wait times at security screening doubled and, in some instances, even quadrupled. Meanwhile, passengers on nearly every second international arriving flight were subjected to immigration delays, which in some cases included waiting on the airplane for up to three hours before they were allowed to disembark. Over the past four weeks, the travel plans of around 100,000 passengers per week have been disrupted.
    Barring the option of the Government removing the current vaccination mandate for air travel, the use of ArriveCAN for capturing and submitting vaccination and health information, and the random on arrival testing, IATA is asking the relevant authorities to:
    Introduce dedicated immigration lanes for arriving international passengers who did not provide their required health and vaccination details in advance through ArriveCAN. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) data shows that the immigration process for passengers where the ArriveCAN details need to be collected on arrival takes 3-5 minutes as compared to 15-30 seconds in cases where the data has been supplied in advance. This would speed up the immigration for all passengers who completed their ArriveCAN before landing in Canada.
    Upgrade the mobile app version of ArriveCAN to include the immigration and customs related questions so arriving international passengers can submit their relevant information in advance of arrival (currently only available on the web based ArriveCAN in Toronto and Vancouver).
    Relocate on-arrival random testing facilities from the terminal / airport and/or offer a home testing option.
    Ensure that both CBSA and Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) have the staffing required to offer an efficient immigration and passenger screening process.
    “Aviation, along with travel and tourism, were hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and even more so in Canada, due to the very strict border control measures implemented by the government. Following the easing of many of these restrictions, demand is coming back and it is clear that people want to travel. We can therefore ill afford to have passengers subjected to unacceptable wait times both on arrival in the country or on departure. The relevant authorities must urgently consider removing the last remaining travel related COVID-19 restrictions and work with the industry on policies and processes which will allow passengers to pass through airports with no undue delay,” said Peter Cerda, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas.

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    UNWTO International Code informs efforts to boost tourist confidence in Americas

    Tourism leaders from the Americas have met to address the current challenges and opportunities around restoring confidence in travel across the region.
    A special seminar on the UNWTO International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT) featured interventions from the experts involved in drafting the landmark legal framework. The Code was approved by consensus by the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, and is aimed at providing tourists with greater legal protection as the world opens up again following the pandemic.
    To date, Ecuador, Guinea Bissau, Moldova and Paraguay have formally adhered to the ICPT, with the aim of integrating all of the Code in their national policies and legislation, and Uruguay has also announced it intends to do so. In particular, Ecuador is currently developing its national Organic Tourism Law (Proyecto de Ley Organica de Turismo) aimed at developing the necessary measures for the implementation of the ICPT within the country.
    The technical seminar was held against the backdrop of the 67th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Americas and the 1st International Congress on Tourism and Law, organised by Uruguay in collaboration with UNWTO.. In addition to expert insights on the application of the Code, participants were also presented with the results of a recent survey assessing the potential impacts of the ICPT on ‘visitor protection legislation and policies’ conducted by the Association of the Caribbean States in collaboration with UNWTO.
    Alongside this, a Panel of Ministries of Tourism addressed the specific challenges and opportunities for the recovery of the tourism sector in the Americas in the environment arising as a result of COVID-19. The panel discussion focused on emergency situations and consumer protection rights of tourists and explored opportunities for rebuilding confidence among tourism consumers in a post-COVID-19 world.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Aurora Expeditions announces Sylvia Earle maiden voyage

    Aurora Expeditions has announced its new, purpose-built expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle, will be making her debut voyage on the Subantarctic Safari from November 4-20 2022. The ship will be christened by its namesake, the renowned marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle, prior to making its way to the wildlife havens of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
    The 17-day maiden voyage to the Subantarctic Islands will appeal to wildlife lovers and history buffs alike. Beginning in Santiago, Chile and ending in Ushuaia, Argentina, passengers will explore the history-steeped Falkands~Malvinas, a bird lovers’ paradise home to an incredible diversity of charismatic penguin species and the largest colony of black-browed albatross in the world, followed by South Georgia – known for its enormous King penguin colonies and beaches lined with Elephant and Antarctic fur seals. Plus, passengers will have the opportunity to trace the history of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s infamous journeys here.
    “We are thrilled to confirm the inaugural season of the Sylvia Earle, and to be debuting her on such a magnificent voyage whose destinations are so representative of Aurora’s spirit of exploration, discovery and education,” commented Hayley Peacock-Gower, CMO at Aurora Expeditions.
    “This highly anticipated vessel is intended to be a floating ambassador for the conservation of the planet, with a large focus on marine education and conservation in line with Dr Earle’s own longstanding efforts. We are so looking forward to having our adventurous expeditioners join us in exploring some of the world’s wildest, most awe-inspiring and important regions whilst paying tribute to such an incredible hero of our planet.”
    Certified 100% Carbon Neutral, outfitted with a dedicated, fully equipped Citizen Science Centre, the ship also pays tribute to six pioneering female conservationists from around the world alongside Dr Earle, who are honoured on each of the ship’s public decks: Jo Ruxton, Dr. Asha de Vos, Hanli Prinsloo, Dr. Carden Wallace AM, Bernadette Demientieff and Sharon Kwok.ADVERTISEMENT“Travelling with Aurora Expeditions on the Sylvia Earle will be an incredible opportunity for people to learn about the planet’s extraordinary marine habitats and the importance of protecting them,” Dr. Earle commented.
    “I see great synergy in working closely with a company that shares my vision for the future and which is, from the top down, passionate about the marine environment. I am very much looking forward to christening the ship, connecting with Aurora Expeditions’ passengers, and following its journey in providing countless life changing and eye-opening experiences to many of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.”
    Dr. Earle will herself be joining a special Antarctic Climate Expedition during the ship’s maiden season, taking place in February 2023. This voyage will see a collection of thought leaders in the fields of conservation, science, art, education and economics come together to bring about public and government awareness of the importance and the splendour of the Antarctic, and to address the warming climate and loss of sea ice in the southern polar region as a direct threat to the future of human life on this planet.
    Expedition members will be expected to help formulate 23 resolutions to inspire transformative changes for global net-zero emissions by 2050.
    Like sister ship the Greg Mortimer, the Sylvia Earle features the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW®. Accommodating an average of 130-140 expeditioners per voyage, every cabin on board has an ocean view and nearly all have balconies. The ship features a unique two-level glass atrium lounge in the bow, a modern lecture lounge, multiple observation areas, Zodiac launching platforms, two restaurants serving excellent meals, a gym and wellness centre, a swimming pool, Jacuzzis, a mudroom and many other amenities.
    Following her maiden voyage, the Sylvia Earle will continue her inaugural season on several voyages to Antarctica, followed by Costa Rica, the Canadian Arctic, Norway, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland and Scotland. Aurora’s unique activity program and focus on active adventure will continue to play a major part in the expedition experience on the new ship, offering the likes of sea kayaking, scuba diving, polar snorkelling, alpine trekking and much more.
    Aurora Expeditions was nominated as World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator 2021 World Travel Awards.

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    Changi Airport Terminal 2 to resume operations

    Changi Airport Group has announced that operations in Terminal 2 (T2) will resume on 29 May 2022, the first phase of the terminal’s reopening as Changi Airport prepares to meet the expected increase in passenger traffic in the months ahead.
    Closed for upgrading works since May 2020, T2’s phased reopening will augment Changi’s capacity. When completed by 2024, the expansion works will raise the terminal’s capacity by five million to 28 million passenger movements per year.
    In this first phase of T2’s progressive reopening, key touchpoints such as arrival immigration, baggage claim belts and contact gates at the southern wing of the terminal will be ready for flight operations. T2 will host mainly peak-hour arrival flights of airlines operating in Terminal 3 (T3). A small number of T3 departure flights may use boarding gates at T2 although passengers on these flights will continue to check in and clear departure immigration at T3.
    Those coming to Changi to receive passengers are advised to check which terminal an arriving flight has been assigned to. The information will be available on the Changi Airport website (www.changiairport.com) and the iChangi app at least two hours before the flight’s arrival time.ADVERTISEMENTMore automated lanes at immigration
    The expanded T2 will see a larger Arrival Immigration Hall with more automated immigration lanes and special assistance lanes. The automated immigration lanes will serve Singaporeans and residents who have enrolled their iris and facial biometrics with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, as well as eligible foreign visitors who have done the same upon their arrival in Singapore.
    As more passengers are enrolled, the number of automated immigration lanes will be increased. As for the special assistance lanes, these feature a wider width than conventional lanes, allowing passengers with mobility aids, as well as big family groups, to clear immigration more easily.
    In the Baggage Claim Hall, there will be three collection belts, with one that has been lengthened to handle more bags.
    Adding capacity to support travel recovery
    Mr Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s Executive Vice President of Airport Management, said, “CAG is encouraged to see the strong pickup in travel demand and has worked closely with our partners to bring forward the progressive reopening of T2 ahead of the June travel peak to meet this demand. The start of flight operations at T2 will provide more capacity to support our airline partners, who are also gearing up to serve more passengers in the months ahead. T2 will reopen in phases over the next two years to support Changi’s recovery as a regional air hub.”
    Changi was voted Asia’s Leading Airport 2019 by voters of World Travel Awards.

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