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China Suspends Entry for Non-Chinese Passport Holders


CHINA is suspending entry for most foreign passport holders who reside in Britain, after a fresh surge of coronavirus cases was reported in the UK. The suspension covers those holding visas or residence permits issued prior to November 3, with exceptions for diplomats and some others. Foreign nationals wishing to visit China for emergency needs may apply for special case visas. The Chinese Embassy in London says the suspension will be “assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly”. Anyone arriving in China must undergo two weeks of quarantine.


Norwegian Passenger Numbers Down 90%


NORWEGIAN Air has confirmed that its passenger numbers have decreased dramatically – down 90% – due to the global Covid pandemic and the fresh wave of lockdowns across Europe.


The airline carried just under 320,00 passengers, down 90% on the same month last year. Norwegian Chief Executive Jacob Schram said: “The pandemic continues to have a negative impact on our business throughout the autumn as travel restrictions remain and new ones are imposed across large parts of Europe. “As this pandemic will continue to affect travel for


several more months, we will continue to adapt our route network in line with changing demand.”


Low-Cost Carrier Warns of “Challenging Winter”


BUDGET carrier Wizz Air has warned that it faced a “particularly challenging winter” but stressed that it will not cut jobs. Chief Executive József Varadi said: “During the winter period, we expect conditions to be particularly challenging with ongoing travel restrictions due to Covid-19 as well as the seasonal drop in demand for travel.


“We will continue to focus on cost management and


strive to maintain cash-positive flying with a disciplined approach towards capacity.


“Notwithstanding the challenges that lie ahead of us


during the remainder of this fiscal year, we have laid the foundation for a swift recovery.


“In addition to expanding into new markets, we


intend to retain all our current staff base and thereby generate a head start for when demand returns. We are confident we will emerge as a structural winner, enabling Wizz Air to grow profitably in the years to come.”


Michael O’Leary Tells BBC Presenter to “Stop Rabbiting on About Refunds”


RYANAIR CEO Michael O’Leary recently clashed with a BBC radio presenter who said customers have been in touch to say they are still awaiting refunds over cancelled flights telling her to “stop rabbiting on about refunds”.


The Ryanair chief told Radio 4’s Today programme that passengers won’t be entitled to a refund if their trip is affected by the new travel ban, but they can change their flight for free.


He also told Five Live Breakfast presenter Rachel Burden that claims people haven’t yet been reimbursed were “completely false”, “part of a BBC bias” and “hearsay” before requesting that she “stop rabbiting on about refunds”.


November/December 2020 Travel News


TUI Launches Summer 2022 Programme From Belfast


T


UI have launched their summer 2022 programme from Belfast with customers in Northern Ireland now able to book ahead as far as October 2022. The programme includes thousands of free kids’ places, low deposits from £75 per person and £0 deposit on direct debit bookings made online on offer. 11 destinations are now on sale as part of the TUI summer 2022 programme from Belfast including: Canary Islands like Tenerife & Lanzarote, plus the ever-popular Greek Islands of Rhodes, Kos and Corfu. Mid-haul favourites Turkey and Bulgaria are also


available and if you fancy a shorter flight –Costa Dorada and Costa del Sol all come in around the three-hour mark.


Family favourite Majorca is also available with


Tuesday flights that give customers access to Marella Discovery sailings in the Western Mediterranean. A Friday flight to Corfu will give cruise enthusiasts


access to the largest shop in the Marella fleet, Marella Explorer – with itineraries covering the Eastern Mediterranean. TUI is seeing an upward trend in four and five-star all-inclusive hotel bookings for next summer, with over 40% of customers recently surveyed expressing this preference. This includes hotels which offer the ‘best of both worlds’ with villas or room options with private pools and accommodation, as families in particular seek the security of being able to maintain their ‘bubble’. TUI will be offering more options for this growing category in summer 2021 and expects this trend to continue for summer 2022


Good news for early bookers in Belfast - looking to the future of travel Menorca Predicts Tourism Will “Bounce Back” to Pre-Covid Levels


FERRY Despite the challenging year, the Balearic island of Menorca continues to develop its tourism proposition with new visitor attractions and tourism developments for 2021. In 2019, Menorca welcomed approximately half a million UK visitors with the UK maintaining its position as the most popular inbound tourism market to the island. In 2020, UK tourism has dropped significantly as a result of the pandemic however tourism board forecasts for 2021 predict the island’s end-of-year arrival figures will pick up to pre-pandemic levels. Tourism director Jesús Gomila, says: “We know the


British travel market is resilient and we are confident that as long as travel corridors are implemented, we will see UK tourism bounce back. Behind the scenes, huge efforts have been made to ensure tourism can restart safely and we eagerly await the return of British visitors.”


Menorca continues to develop its long-term sustainable tourism strategy to help preserve the island’s natural ecosystem revealing a new sustainability project entitled ‘Concept 0C02’.


The project is ultimately aimed at reducing C02 emissions and includes a number of initiatives, such as a new network of routes linked to gastronomy, ethnology, astrology and more.


UNESCO recognised Menorca as a natural biosphere reserve in 1993, taking into consideration the high degree of compatibility achieved between


Tourists Granted Greater Consumer Protections Under New UNTWO Proposal


TOURISTS will be granted greater consumer protections under a new proposal by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).


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The International Code for the Protection of Tourists hopes to make support available to tourists impacted by emergency situations globally more consistent. In its first meeting, a committee in charge of formulating the policy adopted a plan of action for a common framework.


UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Uncertainty and a lack of trust in travel are among the biggest challenges we face as we work to restart tourism. An International Code for the Protection of Tourists will be a landmark step towards addressing this.”


The committee aims to restore tourists’ confidence


in travel with a defined set of clear guidelines including real-time information for tourists, contingency plans and coordination to minimise disruptions, and training tourism stakeholders to help tourists during emergencies. It will also come up with effective tourist repatriation procedures.


the development of economic activities, expenditure and the ongoing conservation of its landscapes and heritage. Sustainability continues to lie at the very heart of Menorca’s tourism strategy.


Menorca has also been named the European Region of Gastronomy for 2022 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism. The European Region of Gastronomy project aims to promote local products and cuisine in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and has recognised Menorca’s efforts to enrich and support its own gastronomic heritage and cultural diversity. Menorca aims to consolidate its position as a leading food destination worldwide. In 2021, Menorca will host an array of gastronomic events and festivals ahead of the 2022 celebrations.


In preparation for Menorca’s status as European Region of Gastronomy 2022, local companies Farmers & Co, and Cómete Menorca (meaning ‘eat Menorca’), are developing a whole range of new experiences to connect visitors to local producers. Visitors can learn the secrets of Mahón cheese, discover the island’s craft beers or learn about the origins of Menorcan mayonnaise, amongst many other gastronomic experiences.


The Balearic island of Menorca will welcome a new cultural space for visitors to enjoy, enhancing its already broad cultural heritage proposition ahead of the 2021 season. “Cova de S’Aigu”, located in Cala Blanca-Ciutadella, is a burial cave that dates back to


prehistoric times and a place where archaeologists have found remains from a variety of historical eras including some inscriptions from the 18th century, the time of the British occupation of Menorca. Guided tours in English will be available from March 2021 where visitors can admire the different geological formations as well as a large lake with crystal clear waters among a host of other interesting sites.


Palladium Hotel Menorca is set to open in summer 2021. The four-star hotel is located above Arenal d’en Castell bay on the Balearic Island’s north-eastern coast, overlooking dramatic cliffs, lush pine forests and the sandy beaches that make up the Menorcan landscape. Highlights include two pools, Zensations by Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness, entertainment for all the family, and gastronomy drawing on local inspiration and seasonal ingredients, as well as cuisines from around the world. Rooms are priced from £126 per night based on two sharing on all-inclusive basis. Meanwhile, the family-owned Company Sagitario Hotel Group is set to launch a new family-friendly hotel in 2021.Hotel Gran Sagitario will be located just a few steps from the crystal-clear water and white sand of Cala Blanca in Ciutadella (Menorca) in a fabulous setting surrounded by green pine forests inside a quiet neighbourhood, with services for the entire family. The hotel chain embraces the ‘Farm to table’ philosophy and will only serve local Menorcan products in their buffets. Rooms are priced from £170 per night based on two sharing on a half-board basis.


EPIC Secures Back-to-Back Win as Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction


TOURISTS This award is voted on by the public, meaning that EPIC was voted to be the most popular out of all other European tourist attraction finalists, including Buckingham Palace, The Eiffel Tower and even the Colosseum, to name a few! Previous winners of the award include the Guinness Storehouse and the London Eye.


The World Travel Awards are among the most prestigious travel awards, and this year they are celebrating their 27th anniversary. EPIC is the first entity to ever win the Leading Tourist Attraction award back-to-back.


EPIC has dedicated this award to Irish people everywhere. Particularly those who have been working to help others in their communities throughout the pandemic. The museum is a celebration of what it truly means to be Irish, going beyond stereotypes to celebrate the impact of Irish emigrants over 1,500 years, and the influence they have had on the world. From politics, to poetry, to science, fashion and even infamy, Irish culture is popular all around the world because of these people. Patrick Greene, Director of the EPIC Museum, commented on the win; “We are immensely proud to receive this recognition two years running, especially against the backdrop of a challenging year. In the


same spirit that more people are “shopping local”, we hope that Irish people will have even more reason to experience a two-time winner tourist attraction on their own doorstep, and that we’ll be a must-see destination for overseas visitors again soon”. Dubliners now have a back-to-back winner on their doorstep at a time when they can’t travel outside the county. This is a great win for the entire Irish travel industry which has been severely impacted by Covid-19. EPIC hopes it will lift spirits within the industry, as well as flying the flag for Ireland, by demonstrating the country’s diverse and unique collection of tourist experiences. Colm Brophy TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development and Diaspora, celebrated the museum’s win, “I’m delighted that EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum has won the prize for Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction in the World Travel Awards 2020, for the second time. This is a wonderful tribute to the vision of the founder of the museum, Neville Isdell, and the great work by the curators, researchers, designers and many others at EPIC.


Since March, the museum has adapted with restrictions, and has connected with visitors in an online capacity more than ever before.


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