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The government is establishing what it brands a global travel taskforce to seek a safe return of international travel.
The move follows weeks of criticism from the hospitality sector that authorities were moving too slowly in offering assistance to the industry.
The department for transport and the department of health and social care have been working extensively with clinicians, health experts and the private testing sector on the practicalities of testing international arrivals, a statement explained.
However, the current rules around the 14-day self-isolation policy remain in place.
The next step is to develop an operationalised approach, which is why the government is creating taskforce to work at pace with industry on implementation and to identify options to reduce the self-isolation period while protecting public health.
The taskforce will accelerate work to inform proposals on a future testing regime and develop options for how this could be introduced.
This will include looking at the feasibility of proposals based on a single test taken after a period of self-isolation, provided by the private sector and at the cost of the passenger.
Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “The current measures at the border have saved lives.

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“Our understanding of the science now means we can intensify efforts to develop options for a testing regime and help reinvigorate our world-leading travel sector.
“This new taskforce will not only help us move towards safer, smoother international travel as we continue to battle this virus but will also support global connectivity – helping facilitate more Covid-19 secure travel whilst protecting the population from imported cases.”
The taskforce will work with medical experts to better understand when a test should be taken based on the progression of the disease.
It will also work closely with the private testing sector to ensure that testing for international arrivals does not impact on NHS capacity.
The body will also explore alternative testing models, including pilots with partner countries to ascertain whether self-isolation could be undertaken pre-departure.
The taskforce, which will be jointly chaired by the secretaries of state for transport and health and social care, will also consider other options to boost safe and sustainable tourism and business travel, supporting the sector in its recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “It is vital we do everything we can to control the spread of the virus and our measures at the borders are designed to help keep the country safe, by preventing imported cases of Covid-19.
“We know how these measures have a significant impact on people’s lives and on the travel and tourism industries, so we are working hard across government to explore ways to open up international travel in a safe way.”
The group will consult closely with partners from the aviation, travel, healthcare and testing sectors as well as the devolved administrations to implement measures to support the recovery of the travel sector.
The taskforce is expected to put forward their initial recommendations next month.
Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images
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In a historic first, G20 tourism ministers have hosted more than 45 chief executives and members of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to assess the future of the sector.
Minister presented their plan to save the embattled tourism sector and the 100 million jobs that rely on it globally.
During their G20 Chairmanship of the Tourism Track, Saudi Arabia requested the collaboration of the global travel and tourism sector on developing insights to help accelerate the global recovery.
The private sector event was opened by Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia minister of tourism and chair of the G20 Tourism Track.
He was joined by WTTC chief executive, Gloria Guevara, to set the scene.
This was followed by a keynote from Chris Nassetta, chief executive of Hilton and WTTC chair, and contributions from chief executive and ministers representing all regions of the world – including Argentina, the UK, the UAE, Singapore and Spain.

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They joined the private sector with a unified voice to agree that through joint collaboration, the recovery of tourism can be accelerated.
The chief executive used the historic forum to outline what they believe could be a game changing new 24-point plan that would save the struggling sector.
According to economic modelling from the WTTC, around 100 million jobs could be saved through strong international collaboration, eliminating travel barriers and an international testing protocol at departure, among others.
Guevara said: “This historic meeting provided the best platform to establish public and private collaboration which will lead to rebuilding a sector which has been devastated by the pandemic.
“On behalf of WTTC and the private sector globally, I would like to thank and recognise the minister of tourism of Saudi Arabia for his leadership, as well as the G20 tourism ministers for their collaboration to recover millions of jobs and livelihoods through the resumption of international travel in a safe and effective way.
“The nature of this meeting cannot be underestimated; it is the first time so many tourism chief executives and leaders have been invited to sit in the same forum as G20 tourism ministers to establish a tangible plan to save the tourism sector.
“This plan will have far reaching consequences; it will bring real and genuine benefits to the industry as a whole – from aviation to tour operators, taxis to hotels and beyond.”
Al Khateeb added: “On behalf of the G20 tourism ministers, I commend the WTTC and the global travel and tourism sector for their efforts to put people first during the global pandemic, by collaborating at the industry-level and with the public sector to put in place concrete actions that will protect millions of jobs and livelihoods, while ensuring that the sector is more resilient to crises in the future.”
Saudi Arabia will next month welcome the annual G20 Summit
IATA director general, Alexandre de Juniac, and Fang Liu, secretary general of ICAO, also added their voice to testing being the solution to eliminate quarantines.
Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general of UNWTO also contributed to the debate.
de Juniac said: “It is critical that governments and industry work together to safely re-open borders with systematic Covid-19 testing.
“Some 46 million jobs are at risk.
“The historic participation of industry in this G20 Summit is a good start to the government-industry partnership that will be needed to revive the travel and tourism economy on which ten per cent of global GDP depends.”
Fang Liu added: “Governments and industry have been working hard through ICAO to develop and align effective pandemic Covid-19 responses in air transport, and to reconnect the world of travel and tourism.
“Hundreds of millions of people and businesses all over the world are depending on these efforts, and this WTTC event provided an invaluable opportunity to underscore these points to G20 private and public sector leaders.”
At the request of Saudi Arabia, WTTC presented the recovery plan which includes twelve points for the private sector and twelve for the public sector, focusing on measures to reactivate international travel.
The unprecedented plan was pulled together with input from WTTC members and covered a wide range of initiatives which hinged on securing international coordination to re-establish effective operations and resume international travel, including the implementation of an international testing regime at departure to minimize the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Nassetta said: “WTTC’s private sector action plan is hugely important in supporting the recovery of the sector and bringing back 100 million travel and tourism jobs globally.
“It will take significant collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure a full recovery and rebuild traveller confidence, which is why today’s G20 meeting was so important.
“I’m encouraged by the progress we’re seeing around the world and look forward to the continued collective efforts to support our stakeholders and promote the incredible impact our industry creates for communities globally.”
According to the WTTC 2020 Economic Impact Report, the tourism sector will be critical to the recovery.
It revealed that during 2019, tourism was responsible for one in ten jobs (330 million in total), making a 10.3 per cent contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.
It is also one of the most diverse sectors in the world, employing people of all socio-economic levels, regardless of gender or ethnicity, employing 54 per cent women and 30 per cent young people.
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TUI is rearranging its group management, with Sebastian Ebel taking over as chief financial officer of the company.
An experienced manager of many years’ standing with the company, he will move to the top of the finance division from January 1st.
The supervisory board, headed by Dieter Zetsche, agreed on the changes at the annual general meeting on Tuesday
Ebel is currently responsible for the executive board division Holiday Experiences with hotels, cruises and activities in the destinations.
He joined the group back in 1991 during the Preussag era.

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Birgit Conix, who is currently responsible for finance, had already decided in the summer not to extend her contract term and to leave the group at the end of the year.
The Belgian had joined TUI in 2018 and during her time has driven forward the restructuring of the finance department, focusing in particular on strengthening the balance sheet structure before the Covid-19 crisis.
TUI chief executive, Fritz Joussen, said: “I would like to thank Birgit Conix for her commitment in difficult times.
“She has achieved a lot for TUI and has put financing and liquidity on a secure foundation during the crisis.
“Sebastian Ebel is a very experienced financial manager who has also successfully managed large operating companies.
“We have mastered many common challenges together.
“I look forward to having him at my side as chief financial officer in the future.”
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The Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has launched an outdoor campaign in major parts of the UK to promote the destination as a safe haven for travellers in the new travel environment.
The move follows the reopening of the Maldives’ borders on July 15th, and gradual return to market of properties across the country.
During this two-month long campaign, the Maldives will be promoted in the most prominent areas of London, including Kensington roadside, Waterloo station, Westfield London shopping centre, Liverpool Street Station, Blackfriars Station, Cannon Street Station, City Thameslink Station and Fenchurch Street Station.
Among these locations, Waterloo station screen is the largest indoor digital screen in Europe and is a major railway and underground station in London, as well as the busiest bus station in the UK.
The key objective of this campaign is to reassure tourists in the UK that the Maldives remains a safe and secure destination to travel to post Covid-19, due to its unique geographical formation and one-island-one-resort concept.

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Furthermore, the campaign aims to showcase the Maldives as an ideal choice for long-haul travel and will guarantee brand exposure to a large number of UK consumers, inspiring them to choose the Maldives as their next holiday destination.
The photos and publications showcased in the campaign will present the Maldives as a country with geographically isolated islands which will provide a safe environment for potential future holidaymakers.
Moreover, a list of exciting activities tourists can experience on their holiday in the Maldives will also be highlighted throughout the campaign.
With the UK being one of the leading markets in terms of arrivals to the Maldives post border reopening, MMPRC continues in its efforts in popularising the destination within the market.
In this regard, several marketing and promotional activities have been planned for the remaining months of the year including campaigns with several online and digital travel trade media and leading OTAs.
Prior to the lockdown in March, a total of 7,288 visitors from the UK arrived in the Maldives this year whereas there has been an arrival of 1,587 tourists from the UK since the border reopened on July 15th.
More Information
The Maldives is considered the World’s Leading Beach Destination by voters at the World Travel Awards.
Find out more on the official website.
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The UK Civil Aviation Authority has revealed that of the 1,261 ATOL licences that expired at the end of September, 995 have been renewed.
There are a further 90 still in the process in renewal.
This means that, in total, 176 companies decided not to renew their protection.
If a business decides not to renew their licence, this can be for a variety of reasons including making changes to their business model, which means they no longer need an ATOL licence to continue trading.
However, a number of companies are likely to have entered administration during the Covid-19 slowdown.

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Michael Budge, head of ATOL licensing at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said “We understand the huge pressure that travel businesses are under at this time and would like to thank them for positively engaging with us to meet the required conditions for their ATOL renewal.
“In the interest of protecting consumers, we continuously engage with and closely monitor ATOL holders throughout the period covered by their licence, requesting further information where necessary.”
Travel businesses that were not due to renew their ATOL licence during this renewals period should apply in good time before the March 31st expiry date.
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