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      Business travel bounces back

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      Four in five executives expect to travel for business this year in latest sign of post-pandemic bounce back.
      The vast majority of people (80%) believe they will travel for work this year and next, in the latest sign of a surge in demand for international travel following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
      A renewed public focus on sustainability means that most passengers would now prefer to travel by train than plane, new polling by Opinium Research, commissioned by HS1, shows.
      The data reveals how demand for environmentally-friendly travel is surging back following the end of all coronavirus restrictions in the UK.
      Two-thirds of respondents stated they would prefer to travel by train over plane, with 66% saying they are likely to travel to Europe by train over using a plane for business. The figure increased to 77% for leisure passengers.ADVERTISEMENTRespondents stated that Covid-19 had highlighted a need for businesses to take more sustainable travel options, demonstrating a major shift in attitudes towards green transport when going overseas. This was reflected by four in five of those surveyed (81%) saying they want their business to become greener by reducing their carbon footprint.
      Dyan Crowther, CEO, HS1, said: “We’re extremely pleased to see that people are looking to get back out there for business and leisure, and taking up all of the UK’s travel options in 2022.

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      Wyndham builds momentum in 2022 through Asia-Pacific expansion

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      Saint Lucia and Spain among nations relaxing Covid entry restrictions

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      Saint Lucia and Spain are among the nations relaxing entry requirements. For Saint Lucia, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to take pre-travel Covid tests, with unvaccinated travellers requiring a negative PCR test. Meanwhile Spain will allow unvaccinated arrivals entry with proof of negative PCR or antigen test.
      Saint LuciaVaccinated travellers must provide a valid vaccination record as requested on check-in, boarding, and entry to Saint Lucia. Unvaccinated travellers five years and older must have a valid negative standard COVID-19 PCR test five days before arrival. An unsupervised self-swab antigen or PCR test is not accepted.
      Passengers arriving without tests or with the wrong type of test will be retested on arrival at their own cost and will be required to remain in quarantine until the test result is known.
      In addition, travellers are no longer required to pre-register online prior to arrival in Saint Lucia. All arrivals are required to bring proof of vaccination status or test results as per protocols. International travellers and returning nationals must complete a Health Screening Form before disembarkation in Saint Lucia for ease of processing on arrival.
      For more information about Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 response, all protocols, and details of entry requirements, visit www.stlucia.org/covid-19.ADVERTISEMENTSpainSpain has updated its entry requirements and non-vaccinated UK passengers can now enter Spain with proof of a negative PCR or antigen, or proof of diagnostic recovery.
      The new entry guidelines, effective from 6 April 2022 require all UK travellers ages 12 and above to submit one of the following three criteria:
      1 Certificate of vaccination: Proof of being fully-vaccinated (with both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a one-dose vaccine) at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain. If more than 270 days have passed since the final dose, certification of a booster vaccination is also required, except for teenagers aged 12 to 17 (inclusive).
      2 Diagnostic Test Certificate: Proof that the passenger has carried out a negative diagnostic test including PCR tests (within 72h) or antigen tests (within 24h).
      3 Certificate of recovery: Proof that the passenger has recovered from COVID. Recovery certificates issued by the official authorities will be valid at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test or positive antigen screening test, carried out by qualified personnel. The certificate shall be valid for 180 days after the date of the first positive diagnostic test result.
      Children under 12 years old are exempt when travelling with an adult.

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      Jamaica reports rapid rise in UK visitors More

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      Jamaica reports rapid rise in UK visitors

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      The Jamaica Tourist Board has reported a significant increase in UK visitors returning to the Caribbean island with more than 15,000 arrivals in January, 18,000 arrivals in December and 16,000 arrivals in November.
      The latest arrival data indicates the paradise island, winner of “Caribbean’s Leading Destination” at World Travel Awards, is almost on course to return to the pre-pandemic volume of visitors. Across the year, British travellers to Jamaica reached 74,290 in 2021 compared to 225,000 in 2019.
      The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica said: “The recent increase in arrivals from UK visitors augers well for 2022. We are encouraged to see the results of the hard work of everyone in Jamaica to successfully rebuild tourism. Our airline partners responded to our careful and thorough resilience planning by committing to return and to increase airlift to Jamaica.  From June 2021, Virgin Atlantic increased to five flights per week and British Airways operates five per week. By October that year TUI had also relaunched with six flights a week to Jamaica. We are now poised and ready to welcome all our British visitors to return – particularly in 2022 the year of our sixtieth anniversary of independence.”
      Jamaica reopened its borders in June 2020 with a Jamaica CARES programme which focused on extensive health and safety protocols, which were developed in conjunction with authorities across health and tourism sectors. As a result, Jamaica was among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels recognition.
      Strong visitor numbers for December also followed hard on the heels of the news of the relaxation of Jamaica’s Covid-19 requirements. From 1 March 2022, people arriving in Jamaica no longer need to complete a travel authorisation form before arriving in the country. Travellers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel.ADVERTISEMENTElizabeth Fox, regional director UK and Northern Europe, said: “2022 is the year to return to Jamaica and we’re already achieving a great increase in honeymoon enquiries. Jamaica has definitely been top of mind for British travellers recently – from absorbing beautiful shots of Port Antonio filmed in the James Bond No Time to Die film through to cheering on our bobsled sportsmen and women during the winter Olympics. We are ready for visitors to return and promise them a holiday of a lifetime.”

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      Aurora Expeditions expands North American team

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      Aurora Expeditions, the Australian adventure travel company, has announced its North American operations are continuing to grow, with the company hiring three new Business Development Managers in a move to significantly expand its market presence. 
      The company, who is celebrating its 30th year of operations, recently successfully resumed its Antarctic expeditions with 70 per cent of the season’s guests coming from the US and Canada – and Aurora is eager to build on this.
      The new team members bring a wealth of travel industry experience to the Aurora team, and include Kelli Mills (Northeast), who has extensive experience in expedition travel and is also former agency owner with over 15 years in the industry; Jennifer Reynolds (Southeast), Adventure and Small-ship sector expert of more than 18 years, and Bonnie Newman (Western), who has previously been nominated for Travel Agency Advocate of the Year and has established solid relationships with agency partners, particularly within Virtuoso, a key partner within Aurora’s global trade network.
      These new hires will join the existing team of Lisa Bertini, who has recently been appointed VP of Sales, North America. Lisa will work with and lead the national sales team to further propel the company’s growth by maximizing sales and partnership opportunities throughout the market. Aurora has also recently expanded its focus beyond the English-speaking market in hiring Nicolas Bilek, a dedicated resource for business development in Quebec.
      “Aurora Expeditions is committed to growing and investing in North America,” commented Lisa Bertini, VP of Sales, North America.  ADVERTISEMENT“We have already seen a significant increase in interest in our active and life-changing voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic from this market, and I am confident that our new team members will help to accelerate and expand this growth for us, working with our valued trade partners.” 
      “More than ever, North American travelers are motivated to book their dream trips, and are craving remote, nature-based, enriching, and environmentally conscious experiences. As a small-ship expedition operator focused on true exploration to some of the world’s wildest, awe-inspiring, and isolated environments, we are extremely well positioned to meet the market’s desire to explore the polar regions and beyond.”
      Aurora recently released its 2023 Arctic season, which has so far seen an overwhelmingly positive response. Its Antarctica 2022-23 voyages are also in high demand, with many voyages close to sold out. The company’s upcoming voyages include Costa Rica & The Panama Canal, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Greenland, and Canada’s Northwest Passage, followed by an extensive 22-23 Antarctica season.
      Aurora Expeditions’ second purpose-built expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle, is due to debut in late 2022.

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      Travel companies tackling energy price hike dilemma

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      Travel companies tackling energy price hike dilemma

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      Holiday surcharges are a real possibility in the travel and tourism industry as companies grapple with the rising energy prices. Segments such as lodging, transportation and tourist attraction etc., will certainly be impacted. Therefore, travel and tourism businesses will be in dilemma whether to pass these additional costs on to the consumers or absorb the charges themselves, observes GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
      Unfortunately, this has come at what was expected to be a pivotal year in the travel and tourism industry. Traveler confidence is returning, but low-cost travel options remain highly sought after, especially after the economic hardship due to the pandemic. According to a GlobalData Q3 2021 Global Consumer Survey, *58% of respondents said that ‘cost’ was the most influential reason to purchase a holiday, making it the leading motivator for travel consumption.
      Craig Bradley, Associate Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As energy and fuel prices have soared, transportation companies such as airlines and rail companies are facing higher overhead costs in 2022 than in previous years. Companies that choose to absorb these charges could struggle to turn a reasonable profit, forcing many to pass these charges on to travelers.
      “Lodging, and other hospitality services face a similar dilemma. Energy and fuel costs impact entire supply chains, so the cost of imported goods such as food and beverage will increase. These companies have already been under significant strain during the pandemic, with hotels reporting low room occupancy levels or closing down indefinitely due to COVID-19 restrictions.”
      Rising operational costs could also be problematic for pre-booked holidays in 2022 and 2023 through travel intermediaries. Some companies may be forced into levying a surcharge to existing reservations to cover rising costs. In that case, travel agencies and tour operators have a predicament whether to pass the charge on to paying customers or not. This could force the customers to cancel itineraries altogether either due to lack of affordability or service dissatisfaction.ADVERTISEMENTBradley concludes: “Additional surcharges present travel and tourism businesses with a highly challenging situation. Adding extra costs or taxes could damage the customer relationships. As a result, companies may look at alternative measures to cut costs by stripping back services or streamlining operational processes which could potentially impact customer service but allow them to navigate through this unfolding situation.”
      *Data taken from GlobalData Q3 2021 Global Consumer Survey – 22,499 respondents

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      Seatrade Cruise Global announces new interactive offerings for 2022

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      Seatrade Cruise Global announces new interactive offerings for 2022

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      Seatrade Cruise Global, the industry’s leading annual business-to-business event, returns to Miami Beach Convention Center, 25-28 April 2022. The four-day gathering will focus on the resiliency of the cruise sector with visionaries, experts and thousands of like-minded professionals collaborating on advancements towards recovery and building a blueprint for a reimagined future.
      “Celebrating resiliency, this year’s show will be very special and a long overdue homecoming for our global cruise community,” says Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand and Event Director for Seatrade Cruise. “We’re elated to welcome back our broader international community to reconvene – our dynamic line-up of programming will ignite powerful dialogue, fostering a renewed spirit of excitement for our industry’s path ahead.”
      All-new Conference Programming
      The Seatrade Cruise Global program will feature expert speakers delving into topics and trends shaping the cruise market. Headlined by the highly anticipated annual State of the Global Cruise Industry keynote address, sponsored by Fincantieri, the conference offers thought-provoking forums and workshops exploring the latest developments across health and safety, hotel operations, technology and beyond. Sector-focused content allows visitors to plan their trip based on their professional roles or interests.
      New sessions added to the conference program include:ADVERTISEMENTBucket-list Voyages: Spotlights how cruise lines are building memorable itineraries and delivering remarkable experiences, both onboard and in destinations around the world.A Look at Cruising PR and Communications: Addresses lessons learned in a new era for cruising media communications.Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Panel: Explores diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to hiring strategies and business initiatives. Expedition Day
      With expedition cruising rising on the list of the most sought-after leisure travel pursuits, a half-day has been dedicated to unlocking the growing sector. Sessions include An Insider’s Guide to Expedition Cruising; Expedition CEO Panel; Staffing and Crewing Challenges and Opportunities; Hybrid Luxury – Expedition Cruising.
      Introducing the Interactive Tech Zone
      Debuting this year is the Interactive Tech Zone providing attendees the chance to learn about the latest advances in science through an information technology playground. In partnership with theICEway, delegates are encouraged to engage with VR headsets, emotion recognition technology, dynamic digital displays and AR crew training. Joining the space is software engineering company Sourcetoad, holding a rapid prototype exercise seeking ideas to build an application or software solution to present to the industry.
      Revamped, AI-enabled Matchmaking
      Further debuting in 2022 is an advanced matchmaking service for optimized networking opportunities. Seatrade Cruise Global’s new AI driven matchmaking software simplifies the process allowing attendees to easily confirm meetings in advance, streamline scheduling and sort contacts by sector, title and business type, providing automatic suggestions to strategically pair attendees with viable leads. The service is complete with a dedicated matchmaking lounge and an on-site concierge team to facilitate the networking experience.
      Fresh Exhibitors
      Uniting 500+ exhibitors from across the globe, Seatrade welcomes over 52 newcomers in 2022, including Philips Professional Displays, La Bottega, Battle Company and Acuity International. The full exhibitor list can be found here.
      To find out about Seatrade Cruise Global’s practicing safety protocols, visit seatradecruiseglobal.com.

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      Hertz and Polestar partner to purchase 65,000 electric vehicles

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      India remains key source market for GCC’s inbound travel sector

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      With the global post-pandemic recovery continuing to gather pace, India’s positioning as Dubai’s largest source market remains the key focus at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 9 to 12 May.
      With India’s travel industry projected to account for 29 million outbound trips per year by 2025, according to analysis from GlobalData, and ResearchandMarkets.com predicting its outbound tourism market will surpass $42 billion by the end of 2024, ATM 2022 will offer a timely opportunity to explore the vast potential offered by the country’s travel, tourism and hospitality sector.
      Data from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) shows that the country ranked top of the emirate’s source market list for 2021, accounting for 910,000 inbound visitors, and short-haul flight queries for destinations including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Egypt have witnessed a 30 percent uptick among Indian tourists, according to Thomas Cook (India).Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “The global pandemic had a major impact on India’s travel sector but, as our industry’s global post-pandemic recovery continues to gather pace, Indian tourists appear eager to return to their favourite Middle Eastern destinations. We are excited to explore the vast potential of this vital source market as part of our dedicated buyer forum at ATM 2022.”
      The number of inbound tourists travelling from India to the UAE has witnessed a 50 percent increase of late, with VFS Global processing 40,000 travel visas since Dubai reopened its borders following the pandemic. With a buyer forum dedicated exclusively to India, attendees, exhibitors and delegates at ATM 2022 will have ample opportunity to take a deep dive into the country’s tourism, travel and hospitality industry, examining current and future trends, and exploring the ways in which destinations across the Middle East can capitalise on this important source market.
      “With the reopening of the Indian skies, flights to and from India now reach 3,250 flights per week by 66 airlines. Emirates alone is now back to pre-pandemic frequencies, operating 170 weekly flights to nine cities, which underscores the importance of the Indian market for the region. ADVERTISEMENT“ATM 2022 offers the ideal forum in which to explore synergies between the GCC and Indian tourism sectors, and to identify opportunities to grow inbound travel in the future,” she added.
      In addition to the dedicated India forum, ATM 2022 will also feature sessions focused on Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism sector.
      Now in its 29th year and working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) – formerly the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) – ATM show highlights in 2022 will include, among others, a destination summit focused on the key source market of India, as well as Saudi Arabia.
      Previously called Travel Forward, the revamped and rebranded ATM Travel Tech event will take place on the ATM Travel Tech Stage, hosting seminars, debates and presentations as well as the inaugural ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition.

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      Japan and Singapore top passport index amid geopolitical uncertainty

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      Japan and Singapore continue to share number one spot on the Henley Passport Index — the ranking for the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa — with their passport holders able to access 192 destinations around the world visa-free, not taking temporary Covid restrictions into account.
      Germany and South Korea hold joint-2nd place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 190, while Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain share 3rd place, with their passport holders able to access 189 destinations around the world without having to acquire a visa in advance. The UK, which recently dropped all remaining Covid-related restrictions, now sits in 5th place, with a score of 187, with the US just one place behind in 6th spot, with a score of 186. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index­ — which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — with its nationals only able to access 26 destinations visa-free.
      Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, says the latest update provides a unique snapshot of a volatile and rapidly changing world. “The country you are born in dramatically impacts the quality and extent of opportunities you will have in your life as well as the challenges you might face along the way. Holding more than one citizenship, with the range of personal access rights each guarantees, is the ultimate asset in a time of crisis and volatility.”
      Commenting in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q2, released today along with the latest Henley Passport Index, Dr. Parag Khanna, bestselling author and Founder of FutureMap says creative solutions will be needed as mass migration becomes the norm. “When faced with war or climate disruptions our fight or flight instinct kicks in and the sensible response has been to move in search of more suitable conditions. We are becoming a migratory species again. In the coming decades climate disruptions threaten to make some regions of our planet uninhabitable, and millions, if not billions, of people will need to find new homes.”
      According to exclusive research by Henley & Partners and Deep Knowledge Analytics into the correlation between passport power, and climate change vulnerability and preparedness, wealthy and developed nations with the greatest visa-free access also score highly when it comes to their readiness to adapt to the climate crisis. Charles Phillips of the Oxford Business Group says, “We can see close correlations between climate adaptation performance and international travel freedom. It brings into stark reality the fact that your citizenship and passport really do matter when it comes to mitigating climate risk”.ADVERTISEMENTSebastian Mikosz, Vice President of Environment and Sustainability at IATA, says forecasts indicate demand for 10 billion passenger journeys by 2050 (up from around 4 billion pre-pandemic). “Much of this growth will come from passengers who have never had the opportunity to fly before: in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We owe it to this next generation of flyers to find sustainable solutions, so they can enjoy and benefit from air travel as we have done so far.”

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