Travel News July/August 2016


New Tourist Tax Travellers to Balearics will be affected


VISITORS to the popular Spanish Balearic Islands will now have to face a new charge as the result of a controversial new tourist tax.


The tax, which came into effect at the beginning of July, will range from €2 (£1.66) a day for customers residing in five-star resorts to 50 cents for those staying in hostels and shelters.


The authorities say the tax will be discounted 50 per cent for stays in low season and longer than 20 days at other times.


In all cases, holidaymakers will now be asked to


make a payment on arrival or when as they are set to return home.


The tax will not apply to children under 16 but parents will have to provide proof of age with passports or other legal documentation. The popular holiday hotspots to be affected by the tax include Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The Balearic government has faced controversy over the charge but have insisted that the money will be spent on sustainable tourism projects across all four islands.


Airline increases its week-day flights to Leeds to five daily


FLYBE, Europe's largest regional airline, has begun started operating a fifth daily weekday flight between Belfast City and Leeds Bradford airports that, due to increased demand, will operate year- round.


Flybe's weekday schedule now offers a wide selection of frequent travel options with flights now departing Belfast City at 06.50, 9.40, 12.55, 15.45 and 19.00 and returning from Leeds Bradford at 08.20, 11.05, 14.20, 15.15 and 20.25.


Vincent Hodder, Flybe Chief Revenue Officer, comments: "We are delighted that demand for this route supports the addition of an extra week day frequency year round and that we can now offer passengers a greater flexibility with even more options for convenient day return travel." Katy Best, Commercial and Marketing Director at Belfast City Airport, said: "Through Flybe, Belfast City Airport offers an extensive domestic route network of which Leeds Bradford is an integral service.


"2016 marks the 24th anniversary of the Leeds route from Belfast City Airport and we are


delighted to now offer additional capacity for passengers travelling between the regions for business, for city breaks or to study."


Tony Hallwood, Aviation Development Director at Leeds Bradford Airport, added: "I'm really pleased to see the growth of Flybe's year round frequency on the Belfast City route adding yet more choice for passengers across the Yorkshire and Humber region. The new frequency is really important as it provides increased flexibility for customers who regularly travel to Belfast for both business and leisure.


"The timing of the additional service in the middle of the day allows business travellers to have more flexibility around their meetings schedule. In addition, with the many tourist sights that Belfast City and Leeds have to offer, I am sure that the wider choice of departure times will be welcomed by leisure and short break visitors.


“I look forward to seeing the Belfast City route continuing to go from strength to strength.'' One way fares start from £29.99 including taxes and charges.


Aer Lingus unveils its sales team


AER Lingus has appointed Jenny Rafter as Head of Business Development for Leisure. Jenny has a wealth of experience within the travel industry having previously held sales roles with key travel players such as CityJet, Stobart Air and most recently as National Sales Manager - Republic of Ireland with Royal Caribbean International.


This marks the second prominent appointment within Aer Lingus Sales as earlier this year Yvonne Muldoon joined as Director of Sales.


Yvonne Muldoon said: "Jenny joins our team at a very exciting time for Aer Lingus as we continue to grow our network, increase our traffic to and from Europe as well as North America. In May we launched one of three new transatlantic routes for 2016, Los Angeles, and driving the message of Dublin as a leading gateway to North America continues to be a key focus. Jenny will lead the leisure team across multiple European sales regions and her extensive experience and understanding of the market will bring huge value to our team and the wider business.”


If travelling to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games you should take precaution against the Zika virus


TAKING THE ZIKA RISK OUT OF RIO


T MAY be that you are travelling to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games. If so you should consider the risk you are taking due to the concern about the Zika virus infection. The World Health Organisation have excellent information on their website, however this short article may help inform you with current and relevant details about this disease.


I


The Zika virus was identified in 1947 in Uganda and this disease is closely related to other diseases such as Dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, Yellow Fever and West Nile Virus.


The Zika virus is spread by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito flies especially during daylight hours. There are other modes of transmission namely sexual, mother to baby in pregnancy and through blood transfusion. Presently, the geographical distribution of this disease is Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific, the Caribbean and Central and South America. If you were to get this Virus, you would suffer from mild flu-like symptoms with a rash, temperature and aches and pains. The symptoms are short lasting usually around 4-7 days. There is no specific treatment and most people get better without any problem.


There are however complications of this Virus especially in relation to pregnancy. We know that in Central and South America there has been a significant increase in the number of birth defects - babies born with microcephaly (a smaller head than normal) hence the relation to this Virus and pregnancy. There is also a link between this virus and the Guillain-Barre condition, a disease of the nervous system.


While this may seem very bleak there are some sensible precautions you can take especially if you are travelling to Rio.


Firstly check with your GP or Travel Health clinic for your need for vaccinations and Malaria medication.


The Aer Lingus sales team which includes Jenny Rafter, new Head of Business Development for the island of Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Global GSA’s, Andrea Hunter, Business Development Manager for island of Ireland and Yvonne Muldoon, seated, Director of Sales


The World Health Organisation state quite clearly that if you are pregnant you should not travel to any Zika risk area until the risk of the Virus in pregnancy is fully and clearly established and clarified. As there is no vaccine available for this disease


TRAVEL HEALTH By HELEN JOHNSON


good mosquito bite avoidance measures must be followed. The Aedes mosquito that transmits is a very aggressive biter so insect repellant containing 50 per cent DEET should be applied regularly following the manufacturers instructions. Remember to use your insect repellent during the daytime as well as the evening. Sleep in air-conditioned accommodation and consider using an insecticide impregnated mosquito net. Adequate travel insurance is absolutely essential. During the daytime as well as during the evening


sleep in air conditioned accommodation and consider using an insecticide impregnated mosquito net. Adequate travel insurance is absolutely essential. Finally a word about sexual health and the Zika virus. Men who return from a Zika risk country and have no viral symptoms should use a condom for 28 days after return to reuce the risk of sex transmission of the disease. Women who return from a Zika risk country and have no symptoms should use contraception for 28 days to reduce the risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Men should use condoms during travel to avoid the risk of sexual transmission of the Zika virus especially during conception or pregnancy, for 28 days if they are symptom free and their partner is not pregnant or if they are suffering from the Zika virus they should use a condom, for six months if their partner is not pregnant. If their partner is pregnant the man who has the Zika virus should should use a condom for the whole pregnancy.


The World Health Organisation has excellent information on its website where you can read more to be well informed about this disease. Remember, there is no vaccine for this disease, so if you are travelling to Rio for the Games this year the very best you can do to prevent getting this disease, is practice thorough bite avoidance measures. If you come home unwell or become unwell when you come home you must seek advice from your GP.


* The writer of the Travel Health article, Helen Johnson, works at Lisburn Travel Health Clinic. You can contact the Lisburn practice by ringing (028) 92 501 281


TRAVEL HEALTH 13


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