About India Outbound Magazine
India Outbound, a brand of Media India Group, is India’s only B2B travel media platform, that encompasses a print magazine, a website, an online TV channel and dynamic social media platforms, entirely dedicated to the promotion of foreign destinations and products in India. India Outbound is a niche platform not just for tourism destinations and products to promote themselves to the Indian travel industry, but also for decision makers to build/change their strategy in a context where the Indian outbound market is not only growing but changing with new dynamics. India Outbound brings to you the latest trends of the market with in depth analysis.
|
Singapore Airlines among the first to test IATA’s Travel Pass
Singapore Airlines (SIA) becomes world’s first airline to pilot the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass mobile application for digital health verification, starting with passengers travelling from Singapore to London from March 15 to 28, 2021. This is the second phase of SIA’s digital health verification process trials, which is based on the IATA Travel Pass framework. Passengers with mobile phones running on Apple’s iOS operating system will be invited to download the IATA Travel Pass app, and create a digital ID comprising their profile photo and passport information. They can also insert their flight information into the app.
Subsequently, they can book their pre-departure Covid-19 test at one of the seven participating clinics in Singapore via a dedicated online portal. They can then register at the clinic using the digital ID and flight information in the app. They will be able to view their test results, as well as confirmation status to fly, directly on the app. IATA’s Timatic registry will provide the back-end information on the Covid-19 testing and entry requirements.
Participants will need to show their confirmed status in the app to the check-in staff in Changi Airport before flight departure. In line with the current regulatory requirements, they will also need to bring a physical copy of their health certificate that is issued by the clinic where they took their Covid-19 test.
By consolidating the verification of health credentials into a single app, participants can expect a faster and more seamless check-in process. Participants will have full control over how their personal information is shared, as the data is stored locally in the mobile phone and not in any central database. This is critical given the highly sensitive nature of health data.
If successful, the pilot will pave the way for the integration of the entire digital health verification process into the SingaporeAir mobile app from around mid-2021, again using IATA’s Travel Pass framework.
|
Etihad Airways extends its Covid-19 medical insurance cover
Etihad Airways, the second flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates has extended its Covid-19 global wellness insurance cover until October 01, 2021.
“As Etihad continues to gradually expand its services to up to 60 destinations this spring, the airline wants to instill confidence to travel and hopes this additional cover will reassure guests Etihad is doing everything it can to keep them safe and protected,” says Martin Drew, senior vice president, sales & cargo, Etihad Airways.
|
Korea Tourism targets international students from India
As a part of its post-pandemic tourism recovery plan, Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) signed an MoU with the Educational Tour Operators Association (ETOA) for a two-year plan that aims to develop tour products for schools, universities and other educational institutes for international field trips and study tours.
According to the Korea Tourism data, school group tours from India to South Korea were growing at a rate of more than 200 per cent annually till the end of 2019. The destination offers a unique learning experiences like visiting local schools, industrial visits to internationally renowned companies like Samsung, Hyundai, LG, KIA and team-building activities like learning the Korean martial art, Taekwondo while at the same time visiting theme parks, ancient palaces and modern skyscrapers make it a destination for both learning and enjoyment for the students.
ETOA is an upcoming association of tour operators established in 2015 in Mumbai. It focuses exclusively on educational travel and has more than 200 member agencies, who together handle almost 400,000 students every year for international trips.
“I am excited to work with ETOA to make South Korea the No. 1 choice of Indian schools and universities for their international field trips. Korea is one of the safest countries in the world and also one of the global leaders in technology and manufacturing. It is the ideal destination for students to know and learn about the future,” says Young Geul-Choi, director, KTO New Delhi office.
|
Tightened travel restrictions underline the current challenges for tourism, says UNWTO
One in three destinations worldwide are still completely closed to international tourism. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the emergence of new variants of the Covid-19 virus has prompted many governments to reverse efforts to ease restrictions on travel, with total closures to tourists most prevalent in Asia and the Pacific and Europe.
The UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report has provided an overview of the regulations in place in 217 destinations worldwide. While previous editions had shown a movement towards easing or lifting restrictions on travel, the latest report shows that the persistent seriousness of the epidemiological situation has caused governments to adopt a more cautious approach.
As of the beginning of February, 32 pc of all destinations worldwide, 69 in all, are completely closed for international tourism. Of these, just over half (38 destinations) have been closed for at least 40 weeks. At the same time, 34 pc of worldwide destinations are now partially closed to international tourists.
The report shows that regional differences with regards to travel restrictions remain. Of the 69 destinations where borders are completely closed to tourists, 30 are in Asia and the Pacific, 15 are in Europe, 11 are in Africa, 10 are in the Americas and three are in the Middle East.
At the same time, the UNWTO research also indicates a trend towards adopting a more nuanced, evidence and risk-based approach to implementing travel restrictions. Growing numbers of destinations worldwide now require international tourists to present a negative PCR or antigen test upon arrival and also provide contact details for tracing purposes. Indeed, 32 pc of all worldwide destinations now have the presentation of such tests as their main requirement for international arrivals often combined with quarantine, while the same amount have made tests a secondary or tertiary measure.
The report also notes how different governments are issuing advice to their own citizens. Analysis of the top 10 tourism source markets currently advising against non-essential travel abroad found they generated 44 pc of all international arrivals in 2018. UNWTO notes that advice issued by governments will play a crucial role in the restart and recovery of tourism in the weeks and months ahead.
|
Mauritius to offer free Covishield vaccine to long-term premium visa holders and residents with work permits
The government of Mauritius has expanded its Covid-19 vaccination programme to include all long-term international visitors over the age of 18 along with its citizens and residents. Visitors holding the Premium Visa as well as residents of Mauritius holding a Work Permit, Residence Permit or Occupational Permit are eligible to receive their vaccinations free of charge.
Mauritius is the only country in the world which offers long-term visitor visas free of charge and now a free Covid-19 vaccine to holders of these visas. The expanded vaccination programme is part of the national campaign to continue keeping Mauritius Covid-secure and to allow the full reopening of international borders once herd immunity is reached.
Mauritius is using the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) is encouraging all those eligible to accept this offer and is working across the tourism sector to promote take-up.
|
|
