4 UPDATES
Free of Charge Visas for FIFA 2022 World Cup Hayya Cardholders
SAUDI Tourism Authority welcomes the extension of Saudi’s multi-entry visa, available to visitors holding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Hayya Card. For the first time ever, visitors will be able to enter and secure a visa for Saudi free of charge. To make it easier than ever for Hayya Card holders to enter Saudi, the visas will now allow for ‘Hayya with me’ – meaning Hayya Card holders can invite and bring three additional travel companions with them. The three companions must also hold a valid Hayya Card to enjoy free-of-charge entry to the unique, incomparable authentic home of Arabia.
Visas will allow a 60-day stay in Saudi beginning 10 days before the tournament, without fees to issue the visa. Holders of the Hayya Card will be able to apply for their visas online and book a trip to the home of Arabia with confidence, before, during, and after the World Cup, without having to enter Doha first. All Hayya Card holders are eligible for the Saudi visa, providing an opportunity to bring friends and family to visit Saudi with ‘Hayya with me’. The announcement encourages first- time and returning visitors alike to explore destinations in close proximity to the World Cup. Saudi is a short flight away making it a practical and convenient destination for World Cup attendees to visit or make a home base during the games. Saudi is expecting to welcome football fans from around the world. The Hayya Card is required for all World Cup attendees and provides entry into Qatar and the stadiums. Beyond proximity, travelers can enjoy Saudi’s authentic Arabian culture, and explore and round out their experience while in the region. Saudi will be hosting a dynamic program of entertainment events including MDLBeast, Red Sea Film Festival, Riyadh Season, and Winter at Tantoura in AlUla, all of which take place during the World Cup. Short hopper flights are available to key
Saudi destinations, with flag carrier SAUDIA operating 40 shuttle flights daily to Doha from both Jeddah and Riyadh, increased to 60 daily flights on the Saudi team’s match days. The Salwa Border Crossing between Saudi and Qatar will also be open for travel and the port will have an increased daily capacity of more than 24,000 cars.
Saudi is home to 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites and more than 10,000 archaeological sites, as well as the mountainous Asir region– which includes Rijal Almaa, voted a UNWTO ‘best tourism village’ in 2021, and the arts and culture hub of Jeddah.
Saudi has lifted all travel Covid restrictions for international travellers.
Calls Escalate to End Airplane Seat Shrinkage
US senators have expressed discontent in the sizing of airplane seats. 6 US senators have written to the Federal Aviation Administration to prevent airlines from deceasing airline seat sizes any further. In an open letter, the senators expressed concern that seats have shrink in size by 30 inches to 28 inches over a 30year period. In the later written to FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen,
“We urge the FAA to comprehensively review the safety factors impacting seat pitch, width, and length and ensure that such safety factors take into account the entirety of the American public – including children, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and others,”
“We urge the FAA to immediately prohibit any reduction in size, width, or pitch of seats.” The FAA have already confirmed previously that such a ban or to regulate seat sizes will not come into effect.
Van Morrison Announces Festive Gigs At The Europa Hotel
BLUES rock legend Van Morrison has today announced a return to Belfast’s Europa Hotel for two Christmas shows in his home city.
The Christmas performances, entitled
“Life Ain’t No Dress Rehearsal”, will take place over two nights on December 4 and 5 at the world-famous hotel, which is part of Northern Ireland’s leading collections of hotels, Hastings Hotels.
The intimate ‘jazz club’ cabaret-style shows will see the legendary singer-songwriter perform a back catalogue of past hits like ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ and ‘Days Like This’ as well as songs from his later albums and collaborations.
Tickets are on sale on
ticketmaster.co.uk.
www.hastingshotels.com
NORWAY’S famous Fjords will move within easy flying distance for Irish travellers from next April with the launch by Norwegian airline Widerøe of an exciting new twice weekly service between Dublin Airport and the city of Bergen.
The new service, which will commence next spring, will open up other new locations in Norway for Irish travellers with connections to Bodø and Tromsø in Northern Norway, putting access to midnight sun in the summer and the Northern Lights in the winter season within easy reach. Bergen, a World Heritage City
and
a European Capital of Culture located in the west of Norway, is renowned for its architecture and its mix of traditional wooden houses and brick buildings, as well as modern architecture. It’s also home to the iconic Bryggen harbour district, one of north Europe’s oldest ports.
According to Christian Skaug, Commercial Director of Widerøe: “We are
extremely happy to share the
news that we will start flying to Bergen from Dublin in April 2023. We have high hopes for this route, both for travellers from Norway to Dublin, and for the Irish to discover Norway
and Bergen. The route is tailor made for excellent onward connections into the famous Norwegian
fjords scenery of the north.”
According to Vincent Harrison, Managing Director of Dublin Airport: “This new route opens the door for Irish travellers to one of the most scenic parts of Norway, with the city of Bergen providing a gateway to the famous Norwegian Fjords. The addition of this exciting new destination is yet more good news for Dublin Airport as we continue to expand our route offering for our passengers. We are delighted to be working with Widerøe and look forward to this route opening next spring.”
According to Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland:
“Today’s announcement by Widerøe is good
news for Irish tourism in 2023, as we continue to restore growth in inbound tourism. As an island destination, we know there’s a proven direct correlation between access and growth in visitor numbers, so this new flight will certainly help boost visitor numbers from Norway. We’re looking forward to working closely with Widerøe, Dublin Airport and other tourism interests, to maximise the promotion of this new service. The Nordic
Bermuda Removes Covid-19 Travel Restrictions Two Weeks Earlier Than Planned
and the breath-taking NEW Route from Dublin Airport to Norway CONFIRMED
Nov/Dec 2022 Travel News
Aircoach Announce New L’Derry-Dublin Route
AIRCOACH, an Irish private bus and coach operator, has acquired the well-known North West based passenger transport company, Airporter.
The deal will see Aircoach expand its commercial operation and increase its daily routes to seven with the new all- island route connecting the North West to Belfast International Airport, Dublin Airport and Dublin City Centre.
THE Bermuda Tourism Authority has decided to reinstate the Bermuda Arrival Card, in place before the pandemic, from the 14th November, scrapping the requirement for proof of vaccination or medical insurance, an approved Travel Authorisation and the associated $40 fee.
The preventative requirements for Covid-19 were originally meant to be eased on the 30th November, but are now being removed two weeks earlier, in an attempt to ‘streamline the overall travel experience’ for tourists visiting the country.
Vince Campbell, Bermuda’s tourism
minister said: “Our government has delivered on its pledge to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors and now with the earlier end date for the TA, travel to Bermuda will be simpler for our visitors.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
