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testing for vaccinated travellers and “radical” simplification of the PLF. At least two key issues
remain aside from the need to coordinate measures internationally – planning for future variants and agreement on vaccine validity and certification. The Iata/BAR-UK
submission proposes a way forward which could shape the next steps. On vaccine validity, it notes:
“Until a global approach can be agreed, Iata is proposing a 12-month validity after the second vaccination as a baseline to allow adequate time for people globally to access a booster dose.” On planning for future
variants, it argues: “The emergence of Omicron was met with hastily implemented travel restrictions . . . [which] were not part of the toolbox of measures put forward by the Global Travel Taskforce and left industry and government wholly unprepared to implement the new operational processes and communicate requirements to passengers. “Government should work
with industry to develop a framework for any future variants of concern to ensure a set of requirements which can be more easily implemented and communicated. “The red list measures should
now be fully reviewed . . . [hotel quarantine] should be phased out at the earliest opportunity. Direct flight bans should be avoided . . . [and] consideration given to targeted testing on arrival . . . where a country is newly added to a red list.”
Operator targets 3m carryings to Greece this year
Tui aims to double its tourism numbers to Greece this year over last after the country accounted for one in three of its customers in 2021. Chief executive Fritz Joussen
said: “We expect to achieve above pre-crisis levels to bring three million customers to Greece this year.” Speaking at the launch of a
new sustainable tourism project in Rhodes, Joussen said: “Greece in general and the South Aegean and Rhodes have been particularly strong through the crisis. This was rooted in the good central crisis management of the country. “We doubled the proportion
of customers [we took] to Greece during the crisis and there is strong evidence Greece will gain market share in the recovery. We brought 1.5 million customers to Greece last year. Our plan is for three million customers to Greece this year.” Joussen met virtually with Greek
Rhodes
prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last week, who said after the meeting: “One of our priorities is to extend the season. Many of our destinations have the capacity to attract visitors outside the summer months.”
Tui backs Rhodes project for ‘full sustainability’
Tui joined the Greek government and South Aegean Region in launching a major sustainable tourism project in Rhodes last week. The group will partner the Greek
authorities and local stakeholders in a five-year ‘Co-Lab Rhodes’ programme which aims to develop “a blueprint” for sustainable tourism. The South Aegean Region,
which includes Rhodes, has already committed up to €100 million for the project and hopes to win substantially more funding from the near €2 trillion EU ‘recovery fund’. The Greek government has said there is €330 million “on the table” for the project. Speaking at the project’s launch
last week, Tui Group chief executive Fritz Joussen said: “We will try to achieve for the first time full sustainability in one destination as a role model for our expansion. “If we need to be sustainable by
2050, we need to achieve something sooner, so we set up this project to understand how this works. We need to ensure our investments are fit to meet the targets. We will be learning.
54 27 JANUARY 2022
already exceeds €100 million through government and regional funding on wastewater and energy.” In addition, he said: “The focus of
the EU recovery fund, which begins in two months, is on a green recovery. We are optimistic we will have all the necessary funding.” Chatzimarkos added: “Tourism in
Fritz Joussen
Then we will be duplicating the learning to other destinations. This is not only for Greece and for Tui but for the whole touristic sector.” He insisted: “This is not about
tactics or competitive advantage. It’s about preparing the ground for the tourism industry. We will operate an open platform.” George Chatzimarkos, governor of
the South Aegean Region, said: “It is the first project in the world in which a destination of this size is tackling its transformation to more sustainability in such a comprehensive way. “The budget for the project
Greece began in Rhodes 60 years ago and tourism is responsible for 97% of local GDP. That is crazy. We could say we are investing in sustainability to preserve our economy. But it is not only that. We want to show respect to future generations. We have an obligation to do it.” The project is committed to
undertake “industry-leading research and make it available to all, the successes and failures”. The programme will aim to create
“green ecological growth”, improve the handling of waste and water and use of energy, restore biodiversity and protect natural resources, and strengthen “the positive impacts of tourism”, in particular through education and training.
travelweekly.co.uk
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