Eliana Willis

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has called out against the introduction of blanket restrictions on travel, as witnessed in recent days.
This call echoes the concerns raised by UNWTO members during the UNWTO general assembly, held this week in Spain.
Countries from all global regions expressed their solidarity with southern African states, calling for the immediate lifting of travel bans imposed on specific countries and for freedom of international travel to be upheld.
In light of recent developments, UNWTO has once again reminded countries that the imposition of blanket restrictions on travel is discriminatory, ineffective and contrary to WHO recommendations.
Blanket restrictions may also stigmatise countries or whole regions.  ADVERTISEMENTDuring the UNWTO general assembly, members states and partners, including voices from international organisations and across the private sector, echoed WHO advice that travel restrictions should only be imposed as a very last resort in response to changing circumstances.
Furthermore, it was stressed that if restrictions are introduced, they must be proportionate, transparent and scientifically based.
They must also only be introduced with a full appreciation of what halting international travel would mean for the most vulnerable, including those developing countries and individuals who depend on tourism for their economies and livelihoods. 
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, UNWTO has called for coordinated and evidence-based approaches to balancing public health concerns with keeping the lifeline of tourism intact.
Over recent months, such an approach has been shown to be the most effective way forward.

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Tui Group remains in red but looks forward to 2022 recovery

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Tui Group has reported a €2.4 billion loss for the financial year as it battles back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The figure is an improvement on losses of €3.5 billion seen the year before.
The holiday giant said it was close to breaking even in the final quarter of its financial year, as the travel climate continued to improve.
Tui said the first quarter of its new financial year was 93 per cent booked, based on lower winter capacity projections.
However, figures were still a third below pre-pandemic levels.ADVERTISEMENTTui, which reported a 40 per cent fall in revenue from €7.9 billion to €4.3 billion in the year to the end of September, said Easter was already running at about 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Fritz Joussen, chief executive of Tui Group, sought to sound upbeat: “The operating business is back.
“We are generating significant cash inflows and achieving positive results again in many markets and with our hotels and Tui hotel brands.
“We expect summer 2022 to reach a largely normalised booking level.”
Tui said there would be flexibility in deciding whether to offer winter programme capacity at the lower end of the range depending on the impact of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
For winter and the coming year, a statement said holidaymakers were choosing higher-value offers, more package tours and are also prepared to plan a larger budget for their holidays.
Average prices are approximately 15 per cent higher than in the pre-crisis year.
For the comparatively well-booked summer of 2022, average prices are even 23 percent higher.

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ABTA has argued new measures designed to slow the spread of Covid-19 could tip some companies over the edge, forcing them to close their doors for good.
In response, the organisation has called on the government to step up to provide financial support for the industry.
The association argued the latest changes come at a time when the industry is still reeling from the impact of travel measures, which have seen two summer and winter seasons lost to the pandemic, and that it is the smaller businesses who may find it the most difficult to get through this latest setback.
New data from ABTA lay bare the devastating impact the pandemic has had on travel prior to the latest changes:

Employment across the travel industry has halved since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
The volume of new bookings taken across summer and autumn 20212 is reported, on average, to be at 28 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.
Companies report their turnover for the financial year at just 22 per cent of pre-pandemic turnover levels on average.

It was only in recent weeks that the industry had started seeing the beginnings of a recovery following the relaxation of travel rules in October, ABTA said.
But the return of pre-departure tests and PCR tests on or before day two of arrival, means the industry is back to where it was in the summer.
Now a third winter season is under threat and once again there is weak consumer confidence in the run up to the peak booking period for next summer.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: “Public health must come first but the government should be looking to soften the blow to travel companies by providing financial support in the shape of grants and the return of furlough for travel staff.ADVERTISEMENT“Ministers have previously explained to us that the government’s approach is to enable the travel industry to trade their way out of this crisis, instead of providing support.
“However, it is clear they have now abandoned this approach.”
He added: “We can’t go on like this with requirements changing but nothing to support those businesses worst affected.
“It is the smallest companies that are suffering the most – with travel bosses having already taken every step possible to keep their businesses going – including drastically cutting staff levels.
“Not only has there been an absence of any specific support for the sector, but many companies have either been excluded or refused access to the general grant funding – so it’s no wonder that many of our members feel totally abandoned by the government.”
ABTA recognises that the government will take the measures it feels are necessary to protect public health, but says that, as it is choosing to implement these measures, authorities have an obligation to bring forward measures of financial support for those worst affected.

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Caribbean Tourism Organisation to launch online training campus

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The Bahamas is running a major six-month advertising campaign across taxis and outdoor spaces in London as the tourism market reopens.ADVERTISEMENTAlso included are sites at 20 underground stations and at London Heathrow Airport.
The adverts depict iconic Bahamian imagery including the Islands’ crystal-clear waters, Junkanoo dancers in colourful attire, iconic swimming pigs and pink flamingos.
The out of home campaign aims to place the Bahamas as the number one winter sun holiday destination for British travellers as there are currently no Covid-19 restrictions from the UK to the islands of the Bahamas.
For further information about the Bahamas, visit the official website.

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