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      Saga to launch new special interest tours next year

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      Saga has launched a new range of special interest tours for guests looking to spend their holiday pursuing their passions or finding a new one altogether.
      Each holiday will allow guests to explore special interests including walking, birdwatching, wildlife appreciation and archaeology alongside likeminded travellers.
      Guests will be joined by an expert host, and talks, activities and excursions will be centred around the particular interest.
      For more intrepid adventures, the tours include cycling in Korcula and birdwatching in Costa Rica, while those looking to remain closer to home can enjoy wildlife spotting on the Isle of Mull and walking the Peak District.
      All departures begin from February with further details available on the website.

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      As with all Saga Holidays, guests also have access to a host of included extras when booking trips, including travel insurance on all overseas holidays, extended cancellation rights and VIP door-to-door travel service on all worldwide holidays and river cruises.
      Chris Simmonds, managing director of Saga Holidays, said: “We’re excited to announce this new range of special interest holidays for our guests for our 70th anniversary year in 2021.
      “Whether you’re an avid bird watcher or a history enthusiast, these tours included in our brand new Special Interest collection have something for everyone.
      “We’re looking forward to welcoming our first guests on the tours next year to enjoy their favourite hobbies in many new destinations for Saga.”
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      UNWTO signs Expedia partnership to drive tourism recovery

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      The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has signed a deal to work alongside the Expedia Group to strengthen ties between the public and private tourism sectors.
      It is hoped the deal will drive a recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
      The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding that will see them collaborate on a range of topics, with the common goal of driving recovery and making the sector more resilient and sustainable.
      UNWTO secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, met with representatives of the Expedia Group in Brussels, on the back of successful talks with leaders of the European Institutions.
      Highlighting a commitment to strengthening ties with the private sector, this enhanced partnership will see the United Nations agency work more closely with the Expedia Group.

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      Joint actions will focus on market intelligence and innovation.
      UNWTO and Expedia will also work together to promote entrepreneurship and professional education, and in the field of consumer protection.
      Pololikashvili added: “From the very start of this crisis, UNWTO has been a strong advocate of close cooperation between the public and private sectors.
      “This enhanced partnership will help improve our knowledge of global tourism trends, allowing us to respond to new challenges and guide tourism’s recovery.
      “It will also help us place innovation and sustainability at the heart of this recovery, ensuring tourism emerges stronger than before.”
      The partnership with between UNWTO and Expedia Group will see both parties share data on tourism trends and developments, both at the global and the local scale.
      This will help inform decision-making, producing data-based policies aimed a tourism’s sustainable recovery and future development.
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      Soon Hwa elected PATA chairperson

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      The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the ratification of the new executive board.
      Soon-Hwa Wong has been formally endorsed as the chair of the body, and replaces Chris Bottrill who was elected chair in May 2018.
      The latter remains a member of the executive board as immediate past chair.
      On his appointment, Soon-Hwa said: “It is indeed an honour to be given the privilege to serve PATA members, especially in a time like this.
      “PATA will celebrate a significant milestone, our 70th Anniversary, next year.

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      “We are embarking on a comprehensive organisation redesign that will transform PATA into an association that will lead the tourism industry into the post-Covid future and beyond.
      “Together with our industry partners from both the public and private sector, we will commit to sustainable tourism development to benefit the economic well-being of the community at large.
      “Come join us in our journey to build a safer and better world.”
      Soon Hwa has some 40 years of extensive experience in the Asia Pacific tourism and hospitality industry.
      After a long and successful corporate career, he founded Asia Tourism to provide advisory and consulting services to commercial and not-for-profit enterprises.
      He recently set up AsiaChina, primarily focusing on the two-way tourism flow between China and the APAC region.
      As part of paying it forward, he is also providing pro-bono services in mentoring start-ups and university students in his alma mater in addition to serving in several social committees.
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      WTTC finds huge demand to travel next year

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      An overwhelming majority of US and Canadian travellers, as many as 99 per cent, are eager to travel again, with 70 per cent stating that they plan to take a holiday next year.
      That is according to a travel leaders group survey of nearly 3,000 frequent travellers.
      The survey was conducted in September in conjunction with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global tourism private sector.
      Results indicate that 45 per cent of respondents have already made plans or are starting to make finite plans for their next holiday, while 54 per cent say they are dreaming of when they can travel again.
      “These are really strong numbers.

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      “The fact that 99 percent of travellers surveyed said they are planning a trip or looking forward to the time they can travel again indicates that as concerns about Covid-19 are addressed, leisure travellers will lead the recovery,” said John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group.
      In the survey, 23 per cent of respondents said they plan to travel by the end of 2020, 70 per cent said they will travel in 2021 with just 18 per cent saying they will resume traveling in 2022.
      “Consumer uncertainty about the risk of exposure or concerns about being quarantined is a core problem,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC president.
      “With rapid testing to replace quarantine requirements, enhanced contact tracing and industry-wide standards by sector that can be clearly communicated to the public, we can help alleviate many of those concerns.”
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      ABTA argues sustainability must be part of tourism recovery

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      ABTA argues sustainability must be part of tourism recovery

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      Mark Tanzer has argued the travel sector has an opportunity to “build back better” following an extremely challenging year.
      Opening the annual Travel Convention, the ABTA chief executive said sustainability must be key to the sector moving forward, but that progress would not be easy.
      Addressing the conference this morning, he said: “We are very much still in the middle of this crisis, which started back in March with the closing of the UK borders.
      “We are currently in the middle of a second spike, here in the UK and across Europe.
      “This means travel corridors have closed down, causing real trouble for the travel industry.

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      “Customer confidence is impacted by this, by both the government advice and the blanked travel ban from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”
      He added: “After a wash-out of a summer season, we are seeing weak demand for winter bookings.
      “This coincides with the end of the government furlough scheme, and we have seen 20 ABTA members fail so far this year – an indication of the financial pressure travel companies are under.”
      Turning his attention to what must be done to turn the fortunes of the sector around, he argued the government must act quickly.
      “Travel is a resilient industry, and we are used to digging ourselves out of trouble – but this is different.
      “The problems we face are directly linked to the government health policy.
      “The FCDO advice has to be changed, and we must move to a more regional approach.
      “We have seen the government is able to discriminate between different levels of risk, as we have seen with the newly introduced three tier system here at home.
      “This must be extended internationally.
      “There must also be a move toward testing, with the global travel taskforce reporting as quickly as possible.”
      He added: “There is no doubt this is the biggest crisis we have faced – but there are reasons for optimism.
      “People are booking for 2021 and may be looking to spend more, as they are unable to travel this year.”

      In terms of sustainability, ABTA has argued the travel industry has an opportunity to rebuild in a more sustainable way following the coronavirus crisis.
      The body has today published a new report which sets out how the devastating impact of the global pandemic has brought into relief the value of tourism to holidaymakers, the UK and destinations.
      Entitled ‘Tourism for Good – A Roadmap for Rebuilding Travel and Tourism,’ the document explains how it is imperative to purposefully rebuild a more responsible and resilient tourism industry that benefits all those involved.
      It also seeks to provide a framework for collaborative action to build better places to live in and better places to visit.
      Central to the report is the belief that travel is a powerful force for good; being both physically and mentally restorative for holidaymakers while also generating significant economic, employment and social benefits in the UK and around the world.
      It also acknowledges the challenges that the sector faces, including the need to accelerate decarbonisation and to ensure that tourism generates greater benefits for destinations and local communities.
      The report emphasises the huge value and contribution of UK outbound tourism, both domestically and internationally, in terms of job creation, livelihood opportunities, social benefits for local communities, support and funding for nature and wildlife conservation and cultural heritage protection.
      New research from CEBR shows that the aggregate global GVA (gross value added) of UK outbound tourism is estimated at $84 billion and supports 2.7 million jobs, while in the UK it generates £37 billion (1.8 per cent of GDP) in aggregate economic impact and 526,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
      For certain destinations – the Maldives, Jamaica, Cyprus, Malta, Mauritius, Greece, Spain and Portugal – which rely heavily on tourism already, UK holidaymakers alone make a marked contribution of more than one per cent of national GDP .
      Underpinned by a series of nine core principles, the report sets out a roadmap to guide a commitment from ABTA to working with its members, their suppliers, destination authorities, travellers and the wider travel industry.
      It also calls on the UK government to support tourism’s contribution to economic development and employment, deliver the necessary policies to encourage transport providers to transition to greener technologies, and to help consumers to transition to low-carbon transport.
      Tanzer concluded: “Tourism’s unexpected standstill has given us a unique opportunity to reflect on the type of industry we want to rebuild, fit for the challenges we face and a contributor to the global good.
      “I believe the future prosperity of the industry depends on putting sustainability at the heart of our recovery.”
      Find out more about the Tourism for Good roadmap below
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      IATA joins with ACI for latest aviation appeal

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      IATA joins with ACI for latest aviation appeal

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      Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have reinforced an urgent call for governments to use testing as a means to safely re-open borders and re-establish global connectivity.
      The organisations argue the move it necessary to prevent the systemic collapse of the aviation industry.
      There have also been calls for further non-debt generating financial support for the sector.
      The dual measures would protect countries from the importation of Covid-19 cases, avert an employment crisis in the travel and tourism sector, and ensure that the critical aviation structure remains viable and able to support the economic and social benefits on which the world relies.
      Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general, said: “We need action quickly. Large parts of the global air network have been severely ruptured for well over a half year.

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      “Job losses—inside and outside the industry – mount with each day that borders are closed.
      “And with each job lost the recovery and impact on the broader economy becomes even more difficult.
      “Momentum is building in support of testing to re-open borders.
      “It is the top operational priority. And to make sure that we have a viable aviation sector at the end of this crisis a second round of financial relief is unavoidable.”
      The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) estimates that 46 million jobs are at risk because of the loss of connectivity caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
      The vast majority of these (41.2 million jobs) are in the travel and tourism sector which relies on aviation.
      The remainder (4.8 million jobs) are spread across direct employment in aviation, including airports and airlines.
      The viability of the airline sector to support employment is being challenged by the severe and prolonged fall in business:
      ACI estimates the airport industry will suffer a 60 per cent reduction in revenues, reaching an unprecedented loss of $104 billion.
      IATA estimates that airline revenues will be down at least 50 per cent, falling to $419 billion compared to $838 billion in 2019.
      Safely re-opening borders without quarantine by using a coordinated approach to testing would boost the entire economy and be a revenue lifeline for airlines and airports.
      ACI and IATA have called on the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force to provide an internationally agreed and recognised approach to testing that can be adopted at a national level.
      “The Covid-19 pandemic remains an existential crisis and airports, airlines and their commercial partners need direct and swift financial assistance to protect essential operations and jobs,” ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said.
      “But such assistance is only one piece of the puzzle as the industry restarts and prepares to sustain continuing operations focused on the health and welfare of travellers, staff, and the public.
      “ACI and IATA are aligned in calling for urgent government action to introduce widespread and coordinated testing of passengers to enable quarantine requirements to be removed.
      “Without this action, it is not an exaggeration that the industry is facing collapse.”
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      IATA seeks to reassure passengers over onboard Covid-19 transmission risks

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      The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has sought to demonstrate the low incidence of in-flight Covid-19 transmission with an updated tally of published cases.
      Since the start of 2020 there have been 44 cases of Covid-19 reported in which transmission is thought to have been associated with a flight journey (inclusive of confirmed, probable and potential cases).
      Over the same period some 1.2 billion passengers have travelled.
      “The risk of a passenger contracting Covid-19 while onboard appears very low.

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      “With only 44 identified potential cases of flight-related transmission among 1.2 billion travellers, that’s one case for every 27 million travellers.
      “We recognise that this may be an underestimate but even if 90 per cent of the cases were un-reported, it would be one case for every 2.7 million travellers.
      “We think these figures are extremely reassuring. 
      “Furthermore, the vast majority of published cases occurred before the wearing of face coverings inflight became widespread,” said David Powell, IATA medical advisor.
      New insight into why the numbers are so low has come from the joint publication by Airbus, Boeing and Embraer of separate computational fluid dynamics research conducted by each manufacturer in their aircraft.
      While methodologies differed slightly, each detailed simulation confirmed that aircraft airflow systems do control the movement of particles in the cabin, limiting the spread of viruses. Data from the simulations yielded similar results:
      Aircraft airflow systems, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, the natural barrier of the seatback, the downward flow of air, and high rates of air exchange efficiently reduce the risk of disease transmission on board in normal times.
      The addition of mask-wearing amid pandemic concerns adds a further and significant extra layer of protection, which makes being seated in close proximity in an aircraft cabin safer than most other indoor environments.
      IATA’s data collection, and the results of the separate simulations, align with the low numbers reported in a recently published peer-reviewed study by Freedman and Wilder-Smith in the Journal of Travel Medicine.
      Although there is no way to establish an exact tally of possible flight-associated cases, IATA’s outreach to airlines and public health authorities combined with a thorough review of available literature has not yielded any indication that onboard transmission is in any way common or widespread.
      Further, the Freedman/Wilder-Smith study points to the efficacy of mask-wearing in further reducing risk.
      “ICAO’s comprehensive guidance for safe air travel amid the Covid-19 crisis relies on multiple layers of protection, which involve the airports as well as the aircraft.
      “Mask-wearing is one of the most visible.
      “But managed queuing, contactless processing, reduced movement in the cabin, and simplified onboard services are among the multiple measures the aviation industry is taking to keep flying safe.
      “And this is on top of the fact that airflow systems are designed to avoid the spread of disease with high air flow rates and air exchange rates, and highly effective filtration of any recycled air,” concluded Powell.
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      IATA seeks to reassure passengers over on-board Covid-19 transmission risks

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      The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has sought to demonstrate the low incidence of in-flight Covid-19 transmission with an updated tally of published cases.
      Since the start of 2020 there have been 44 cases of Covid-19 reported in which transmission is thought to have been associated with a flight journey (inclusive of confirmed, probable and potential cases).
      Over the same period some 1.2 billion passengers have travelled.
      “The risk of a passenger contracting Covid-19 while onboard appears very low.

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      “With only 44 identified potential cases of flight-related transmission among 1.2 billion travellers, that’s one case for every 27 million travellers.
      “We recognise that this may be an underestimate but even if 90 per cent of the cases were un-reported, it would be one case for every 2.7 million travellers.
      “We think these figures are extremely reassuring. 
      “Furthermore, the vast majority of published cases occurred before the wearing of face coverings inflight became widespread,” said David Powell, IATA medical advisor.
      New insight into why the numbers are so low has come from the joint publication by Airbus, Boeing and Embraer of separate computational fluid dynamics research conducted by each manufacturer in their aircraft.
      While methodologies differed slightly, each detailed simulation confirmed that aircraft airflow systems do control the movement of particles in the cabin, limiting the spread of viruses. Data from the simulations yielded similar results:
      Aircraft airflow systems, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, the natural barrier of the seatback, the downward flow of air, and high rates of air exchange efficiently reduce the risk of disease transmission on board in normal times.
      The addition of mask-wearing amid pandemic concerns adds a further and significant extra layer of protection, which makes being seated in close proximity in an aircraft cabin safer than most other indoor environments.
      IATA’s data collection, and the results of the separate simulations, align with the low numbers reported in a recently published peer-reviewed study by Freedman and Wilder-Smith in the Journal of Travel Medicine.
      Although there is no way to establish an exact tally of possible flight-associated cases, IATA’s outreach to airlines and public health authorities combined with a thorough review of available literature has not yielded any indication that onboard transmission is in any way common or widespread.
      Further, the Freedman/Wilder-Smith study points to the efficacy of mask-wearing in further reducing risk.
      “ICAO’s comprehensive guidance for safe air travel amid the Covid-19 crisis relies on multiple layers of protection, which involve the airports as well as the aircraft.
      “Mask-wearing is one of the most visible.
      “But managed queuing, contactless processing, reduced movement in the cabin, and simplified onboard services are among the multiple measures the aviation industry is taking to keep flying safe.
      “And this is on top of the fact that airflow systems are designed to avoid the spread of disease with high air flow rates and air exchange rates, and highly effective filtration of any recycled air,” concluded Powell.
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