Category: Latest Travel News

Rabat, Morocco, February 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Kingdom of Morocco met to advance the organization of the 24^th UNWTO General Assembly in October 2021, the first global high-level United Nations event to be held since the beginning of the pandemic.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

Led by the Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, a delegation from UNWTO has concluded an official visit to Morocco to discuss the programme, calendar and facilities to be prepared for this statutory meeting that will focus on Education and Youth, Rural Development and Digital Innovation.

Tourism is adapting to the new reality and we face the future with optimism and with the backing of our Members

The Minister of Tourism of Morocco, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, and her team accompanied the delegation during this three-day visit and expressed their commitment to organizing an “historic” General Assembly to showcase the importance of restarting international tourism in a safe and more sustainable way.

The Prime Minister of Morocco, Saadeddine Othmani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita welcomed the UNWTO Secretary-General in Rabat highlighting the importance of the celebration and the high-level support of the host country. The delegation was also received by the Governor of Marrakesh-Safi region, Karim Kassi Lahlou, and other local authorities and representatives of the private sector of the area that will be strongly involved in the preparations for this meeting.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked the Prime Minister and his government for their “hard work” to ensure that the Assembly will be a success on the back of the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said: “Tourism is adapting to the new reality and we face the future with optimism and with the backing of our Members.”

London, United Kingdom, February 8, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for governments to abandon the concept of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on how individual ‘high-risk travellers’ are treated at borders.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, is urging governments around the world to shift their focus from whole countries, towards individual travellers.

Instead, WTTC says governments around the world should redefine their whole approach to risk assessment, to revive international business and leisure travel.

Combined with a common international consensus on the metrics used to assess risk and a laser-like focus on a cost-effective, comprehensive, and rapid departure and arrival testing scheme for all travellers, could pave the way forward for the meaningful return of travel.

It would also ensure only those affected are forced to isolate, while travellers who test negative can continue to enjoy safe travels through observing hygiene protocols and mask wearing.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO, said: “Risk based on entire countries is neither effective nor productive. Redefining risk towards individual travellers instead will be key for unlocking the door to the return of safe international travel. We need to learn from past experiences and crises such as 9-11. 

“We cannot continue labelling entire countries as ‘high-risk’ which assumes everyone is infected. While the UK is currently seeing high levels of infections, clearly not all Britons are infected; the same goes for all Americans, Spaniards, or the French.

“The reality is much more complex. Not only does it stigmatise an entire nation, but it also halts travel and mobility when many people who test negative on departure and arrival could safely travel without exporting the virus.

“We have to recognise this reality and redefine the risk to focus on ‘high-risk’ individuals. We firmly believe implementing a comprehensive testing regime and the use of technology is the only practical way to restore international travel securely. Furthermore, a comprehensive testing programme will be less expensive than the economic cost brought on by blanket quarantines and lockdowns.

“This refocus would avoid exporting the virus and enable the free movement of travellers, while still observing enhanced hygiene protocols such as mask wearing and social distancing.

“We must learn to live with the virus, as it will take time for the global population to be vaccinated. This is why WTTC has long advocated introducing a comprehensive and cost-effective test on departure and arrival for all international travellers, as a way of preventing those carrying the virus from spreading it.

“As always, there is a crucial balance to be struck between the priority on public health with the need to sustain economic activity. As well ensuring people are safe and healthy, we also need to secure the health of the global economy – and revive the 174 million Travel & Tourism jobs affected by this devastating pandemic.”

According to WTTC’s 2019 Economic Impact Report, Travel & Tourism contributed US$8.9 trillion, or 10.3% towards the world’s GDP. It accounted for one in 10 global jobs, giving employment to 330 million people through the Travel & Tourism sector.

Panama, Panama City, February 5, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is partnering with the government of the Republic of Panama and Copa Airlines to trial IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

• Panama is the first government to participate in a trial of IATA Travel Pass which will be essential to re-establishing global connectivity while managing the risks of COVID-19.
• Copa Airlines will be the first carrier in the Americas to trial the IATA Travel Pass.

Using IATA Travel Pass, Copa Airlines passengers will be able to create a ‘digital passport’. This will allow passengers to match their travel itineraries with the COVID-19 health requirements of their destination and validate that they are in compliance with these. The initial trial phase is expected to begin in March on select flights from Copa’s Hub of the Americas in Panama City.

“At Copa Airlines we are proud to be pioneers in the implementation of IATA Travel Pass, working together with IATA and the government of Panama. The IATA Travel Pass will simplify and enhance compliance with health requirements for our passengers. An international standard solution for digital health passports such as IATA Travel Pass holds the key to the safe restart of the travel and tourism industry, which is an important contributor to Panama’s and Latin America’s economy,” stated Dan Gunn, Copa’s Senior Vice President for Operations.

“The Government of Panama supports the implementation of this important tool developed by IATA that, through its integration with different stakeholders, will allow passengers to comply with our health requirements, thus restoring confidence in travel and tourism, important pillars for the country’s economic recovery,” said Ivan Eskildsen, Administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority.

“The IATA Travel Pass is gaining momentum. This trial, the first in the Americas, will provide valuable input and feedback to improve the Travel Pass program. This is an important step in enabling international travel during the pandemic, giving people the confidence that they are meeting all COVID-19 entry requirements by governments. We are proud to be working with Copa Airlines and the government of Panama on this vital trial,” said Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President for Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.

“Aviation is the backbone of many economies across the Americas. And it has essentially ground to a halt in the crisis—taking a huge toll in lost jobs across the region. The IATA Travel Pass will help give governments confidence that passengers have complied with health requirements enabling aviation to reconnect the region’s economies with each other and to the world.  Copa Airlines’ extensive network in the region and Panama’s strategic geographic position makes them an ideal candidate to trial the IATA Travel Pass,” said Peter Cerdá, IATA Regional Vice President for the Americas.

In addition to checking travel requirements, IATA Travel Pass will also include a registry of testing and eventually vaccination centers – making it more convenient for passengers to find testing centers and labs at their departure location which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination.

The platform will also enable authorized labs and test centers to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers. This will manage and allow the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders and to provide a seamless passenger experience.

Geneva, Switzerland, February 5, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2020 showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) fell by 65.9% compared to the full year of 2019, by far the sharpest traffic decline in aviation history. Furthermore, forward bookings have been falling sharply since late December.

• Updates about the global aviation and the tourism sector here.

• International passenger demand in 2020 was 75.6% below 2019 levels. Capacity, (measured in available seat kilometers or ASKs) declined 68.1% and load factor fell 19.2 percentage points to 62.8%.
• Domestic demand in 2020 was down 48.8% compared to 2019. Capacity contracted by 35.7% and load factor dropped 17 percentage points to 66.6%.
• December 2020 total traffic was 69.7% below the same month in 2019, little improved from the 70.4% contraction in November. Capacity was down 56.7% and load factor fell 24.6 percentage points to 57.5%.
• Bookings for future travel made in January 2021 were down 70% compared to a year-ago, putting further pressure on airline cash positions and potentially impacting the timing of the expected recovery.
• IATA’s baseline forecast for 2021 is for a 50.4% improvement on 2020 demand that would bring the industry to 50.6% of 2019 levels. While this view remains unchanged, there is a severe downside risk if more severe travel restrictions in response to new variants persist. Should such a scenario materialize, demand improvement could be limited to just 13% over 2020 levels, leaving the industry at 38% of 2019 levels.

“Last year was a catastrophe. There is no other way to describe it. What recovery there was over the Northern hemisphere summer season stalled in autumn and the situation turned dramatically worse over the year-end holiday season, as more severe travel restrictions were imposed in the face of new outbreaks and new strains of COVID-19.” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

International Passenger Markets

• • Asia-Pacific airlines’ full-year traffic plunged 80.3% in 2020 compared to 2019, which was the deepest decline for any region. It fell 94.7% in the month of December amid stricter lockdowns, little changed from a 95% decline in November. Full year capacity was down 74.1% compared to 2019. Load factor fell 19.5 percentage points to 61.4%.
  • European carriers saw a 73.7% traffic decline in 2020 versus 2019. Capacity fell 66.3% and load factor decreased 18.8 percentage points to 66.8%. For the month of December, traffic slid 82.3% compared to December 2019, an upturn over the 87% year-to-year decline in November reflecting pre-holiday momentum that was reversed toward the end of the month.
  • Middle Eastern airlines’ annual passenger demand in 2020 was 72.9% below 2019. Annual capacity fell 63.9% and load factor plummeted 18.9 percentage points to 57.3%. December’s traffic was down 82.6% compared to December 2019, improved from an 86.1% drop in November.
  • North American airlines’ full year traffic fell 75.4% compared to 2019. Capacity dropped 65.5%, and load factor sank 23.9 percentage points to 60.1%. December demand was down 79.6% compared to the same month a year-ago, a pick-up over an 82.8% drop in November reflecting a holiday surge.
  • Latin American airlines had a 71.8% full year traffic decline compared to 2019, making it the best performing region after Africa. Capacity fell 67.7% and load factor dropped 10.4 percentage points to 72.4%, by far the highest among regions. Traffic fell 76.2% for the month of December compared to December 2019, somewhat improved from a 78.7% decline in November.

• • • African airlines’ traffic fell 69.8% last year compared to 2019, which was the best performance among regions. Capacity dropped 61.5%, and load factor sank 15.4 percentage points to 55.9%, lowest among regions. Demand for the month of December was 68.8% below the year-ago period, well ahead of a 75.8% decline in November. Carriers in the region have benefitted from somewhat less severe international travel restrictions compared to the rest of the world.
    • China’s domestic passenger traffic fell 30.8% in 2020 compared to 2019. It was down 7.6% for the month of December versus December a year-ago period, which was a deterioration compared to a 6.3% decline in November amid new outbreaks and resulting restrictions.
    • Russia’s domestic traffic fell 23.5% for the full year, but 12% for the month of December, much improved over a 23% decline in November. Full year results were supported by booming domestic tourism over the summer and falling fares.

  The Bottom Line
  “Optimism that the arrival and initial distribution of vaccines would lead to a prompt and orderly restoration in global air travel have been dashed in the face of new outbreaks and new mutations of the disease. The world is more locked down today than at virtually any point in the past 12 months and passengers face a bewildering array of rapidly changing and globally uncoordinated travel restrictions. We urge governments to work with industry to develop the standards for vaccination, testing, and validation that will enable governments to have confidence that borders can reopen and international air travel can resume once the virus threat has been neutralized. The IATA Travel Pass will help this process, by providing passengers with an App to easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information. In the meantime, the airline industry will require continued financial support from governments in order to remain viable,” said de Juniac.

Geneva, Switzerland, February 4, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Underlining the day’s theme, Advancing Global and Regional Cooperation, two prime ministers and more than a dozen other ministers tackled subjects ranging from resetting geopolitics to improving international trade.

Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, echoed many of the ideas and fears espoused by fellow world leaders over the course of The Davos Agenda week. He noted the renewed sense of global collaboration in the fact that, as a result of COVID-19, “we were forcefully reminded that our fates were intertwined and we had to work together.” This, he suggested, has led to a period in which confidence has been rebuilt. The task now is to ensure this continues, particularly in a geopolitical sphere where tensions between China and the US continue to reverberate.

The prime minister noted that as the world transitions to a new phase, “hard decisions will have to be made”, adding that “to resume growth, we must look beyond returning to the status quo ante”. Like many leaders in the past week, Lee expressed his fears over climate change, which he described as “accelerating dangerously”. He did, however, suggest that “if countries act now and in concert, we can still hope to avert a catastrophe.”

Looking ahead to May when the city state will host the Forum’s Annual Meeting 2021, Lee said he hoped that by hosting the meeting, Singapore could contribute to the continuing global discussion on these issues.

With the incidence of COVID-19 increasing in Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said: “I am standing in the frontline of the battle,” and pledged that “no one’s health is left behind.” He cautioned that lessons had to be taken from this experience to “prepare ourselves for future crises.” In this respect, Suga underlined Japan’s “unwavering commitment to free trade” and its commitment to a green recovery, seeking to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through mobilizing all policy measures and creating a digital agency.

He reiterated that Japan would hold the Olympic and Paralympic Games later this year, calling for “continued support” in this endeavour.

“Cooperation is proving the most efficient way to deal with the pandemic and its impact,” said Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Minister of Foreign Affairs European Union and Cooperation of Spain, echoing a widespread sentiment from the week, before adding: “We wouldn’t have been able to develop a vaccine in less than a year if it hadn’t been for international cooperation – by the way, public and private.”

This sense of collaboration between the public and private sectors was noted by François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, who said “government can do big things, but the partnership between the public and private sector has helped us to do big things fast.” They were joined by H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia in this sentiment, who said the effects of the pandemic have shown that we can’t address global challenges unless we work together.

Africa took centre-stage with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, warning that “the gains African countries have recorded in trying to create societies of opportunities for all our peoples are being seriously threatened” as a result of the pandemic. He said that those in “Africa should make every effort to generate for ourselves the additional funds we need to advance”. He went on to lay out a six-point plan for all African nations, including working to secure a return to macroeconomic stability and fiscal responsibility, using digital technology to enhance their socio-economic position and developing robust institutions.

Institutions featured in a discussion on the international system, with reform of the World Trade Organization topping the agenda. Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, said the organization still “plays a central part”, but warned that “it’s now or never for the WTO.” She argued that three things are required to address reform – namely tackling current societal challenges, restoring a level playing field and reviving multilateralism, which she described as “the enabling factor”.
Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade of the United Kingdom, echoed these sentiments, saying: “It’s in everybody’s interest to see the system restored, including China’s,” but cautioned that it requires “full engagement of all those interested in restoring multilateralism”.

In a week where news outlets reported that the European Union was threatening to block vaccine exports over fears of supply problems, “vaccine nationalism” was hotly debated. Taro Kono, Minister in charge of Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, Cabinet Office of Japan, admitted his concerns, saying: “It is understandable to put their own people first, but we are living on the same planet and supply chains are global.” He added: “If we disrupt supply chains in one way, it could lead to retaliation.”

Retno L. P. Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia agreed, issuing her own plea: “Please stop the politicization of vaccine, please stop the vaccine nationalism. We must remind ourselves vaccines are a humanitarian issue, not a political one.”

Meanwhile, Kang Kyung-Wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, took a different tack. After describing the COVAX facility as a “saving grace”, she suggested that it might offer a sustainable mechanism example for dealing with other crises.

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, European Commission, clarified Europe’s position on vaccine exports, saying that the bloc was “fully committed to play its part” in ensuring vaccines’ availability throughout the world. He spoke of a “time-limited system to ensure clarity on products and exports in the EU” for vaccines that had been purchased in advance and stated clearly that “humanitarian needs and the COVAX facility, were fully exempted” from the measures.

Several ministers spoke about the China-United States relationship, with most cautiously optimistic of a possible change of dynamic with the incoming Biden administration. Fu Ying, Vice-Chairperson, Foreign Affairs Committee, 13th National People’s Congress of China, described the bilateral relationship as one of “cooperation and competition” and suggested that how “China and the US define [their] relationship is important not just to both countries but to the world.”

Ernesto Araújo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of External Relations of Brazil, warned of threats to democracy and of what he called “techno-totalitarianism” used to suppress and control populations. He called for “an international system that rewards democracy”.

About The Davos Agenda
The Davos Agenda is a pioneering mobilization of global leaders aimed at rebuilding trust to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in 2021. A full week of global programming is under way, dedicated to helping leaders choose innovative and bold solutions to stem the pandemic and drive a robust recovery over the next year. Heads of state, chief executives, civil society leaders and the global media are participating in almost 100 sessions spanning five themes.

London, United Kingdom, February 4, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recognises the tremendous progress made by the UK government to lead the world with its comprehensive vaccine rollout across the country, together with a highly-targeted testing programme, to stop the spread of the virus.

“We believe these two measures are critical to beating COVID-19 and getting the country back on its feet and on the move again. That is why we support the comments made by UK Transport Minister Robert Courts, who warned borders would be harder to reopen under a blanket travel shutdown.

“WTTC has long opposed costly and ineffective blanket travel bans and quarantines, as they are stalling the country’s economic recovery and significantly slowing the revival of the global Travel & Tourism sector.

“Shutdowns are also shown to be entirely counterproductive and simply don’t stop the spread of COVID-19, and its emerging variants.

“We fully support the points made by the Transport Minister and agree that a total shutdown is not the way forward to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and argue that a wider shutdown would be harder to lift, as has been the case in both Australia and New Zealand.

“WTTC believes that the only way to save Travel & Tourism while protecting public health, is the introduction of an internationally recognised testing scheme on departure and arrival.

“A rapid and cost-effective testing regime would avoid exporting the virus and enable the free movement of travellers which would see the return of a sector, critical to powering the UK economy post COVID-19.”

Geneva, Switzerland, February 3, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, and author of the best-selling books “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” and “COVID-19: The Great Reset” released his new book, “Stakeholder Capitalism: A Global Economy that Works for Progress, People and Planet”, co-authored with Peter Vanham.

In the book, Schwab looks at the achievements and shortcomings of the global economic system dominant in the past decades: shareholder capitalism in the West, and state capitalism in the East. Both systems enabled unprecedented advances in wealth, measured by GDP and profits, he writes. But they also led to historical economic inequality, and the degradation of the environment.

“We can’t continue with an economic system driven by selfish values, such as short-term profit maximization, the avoidance of tax and regulation, or the externalizing of environmental harm,” Schwab writes. “Instead, we need a society, economy, and international community that is designed to care for all people and the entire planet.”

Schwab proposes a third way: the model of stakeholder capitalism. It is one where companies seek long-term value creation instead of short-term profits; governments cooperate to create the greatest possible prosperity for their people, and civil society and international organizations complete the stakeholder dialogue, helping balance the interests of people and the planet.

Schwab first wrote about the stakeholder model in his book “Modern Enterprise Management” in 1971. 50 years on, his views are becoming mainstream in the global business community. Advocacy groups such as the US Business Roundtable endorsed stakeholder capitalism in 2019, and more than 60 World Economic Forum members this week signed up for the “Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics”.

Various global commentators provided an “Advance Praise” of the book. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma said it “offers a vision for politics and economics driven not only driven by value creation, but by values”. Primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall, called it “fascinating”, and Oxfam Director Gabriela Bucher a “timely analysis”. A discussion on the book was held on Monday at the Davos Agenda.

Political and business leaders also offered their endorsement, including the CEOs of Microsoft, Salesforce, Tata Sons, Grupo Santander, Bank of America, and the Prime Ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands, Alexander De Croo and Mark Rutte.

Phuket, Thailand, January 2, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / SAii, the fun and free-spirited upper-upscale lifestyle brand from S Hotels and Resorts PCL, Thailand’s homegrown hotel group, has arrived in its spiritual home with the opening of its first two resorts in the “Land of Smiles”: SAii Laguna Phuket and SAii Phi Phi Island Village.

Book your hotel in Phuket, Thailand and around the world in 143 countries at best rates available. Pay at the hotel and earn HolidayClicks Points. Book now at HotelWorlds.com!

SAii, which derives from the Thai word for “sand”, was first unveiled in 2019 at SAii Lagoon Maldives, the idyllic island resort at CROSSROADS Maldives, Singha Estate’s ground-breaking integrated destination in the Indian Ocean. Now, S Hotels & Resorts is celebrating the launch of its next two SAii resorts, both of which are nestled on the shores of Thailand’s serene southern islands.

SAii Laguna Phuket is a bright waterfront resort that reflects the tropical beauty of the famous Thai island. It has undergone an extensive renovation including the creation of a new events hall, a stunning seafront restaurant, and an enhanced beachfront bar to integrate SAii wellness and culinary brand signatures. An integral part of Laguna Phuket, the world-class integrated resort at Bangtao Bay, overlooking the Andaman Sea, the retreat is perfectly suited to light-hearted couples, families, groups of friends, and one-of-a-kind weddings and events.

SAii Phi Phi Island Village, situated on a soft-sand 800-metre beachfront, has completed a series of improvements to its locally-inspired accommodation and amenities. The open-plan lobby, freeform pool, natural spa and sea-facing restaurants have all been upgraded, and the spectacular Hillside Pool Villas have been refreshed and remodelled, with the addition of a new two-bedroom option – the resort’s top room category. The resort is further dedicated to preserving the environment through its interactive Marine Discovery Centre.

The two new SAii resorts in Thailand will attract “InSAiiders” – the brand’s term for experience-seeking explorers who value personal freedom, authentic encounters, and a sense of discovery. These millennially-minded guests are tech-savvy, but also have a desire to look beyond the screen and engage in new adventures.

With SAii, the guest journey follows a series of intuitive touchpoints, from “Hello”, a warm Thai welcome, to “Hub”, the social heart of the resort where guests can mix their own bedroom amenities in the M.I.Y Aroma Lab, and “Sleep”, the comforting guest room concepts. “Play” reflects each resort’s activities on land and at sea, including sustainable enterprises, “Treat” showcases its culinary offerings, and “Live” helps to deliver exceptional weddings and events, before “SAii For Now” provides a heartfelt goodbye.

To achieve this immersive guest journey, SAii Laguna Phuket and SAii Phi Phi Island Village, both packed with highly Instagram-able views and vistas, have introduced a series of wellness and F&B concepts to the Thai market. Mr Tomyam, which made its debut at SAii Lagoon Maldives, focuses on Thai-inspired dishes with live kitchens and alfresco seating; while Miss Olive Oyl is a vibrant Mediterranean-style seafood grill and bar. Lèn Be Well, which is already delighting Thai guests at Santiburi Koh Samui, promises a personalised approach to wellbeing through five core pillars: Romance, Relax, Culture, Adventure and Family. Through these signatures, each SAii resort also offers a deep connection with its destination and environment.

Book your hotel in Phuket, Thailand and around the world in 143 countries at best rates available. Pay at the hotel and earn HolidayClicks Points. Book now at HotelWorlds.com!

“S Hotels & Resorts is a proud Thai company with an international outlook. Our charismatic brand, SAii, embraces many of the qualities for which Thailand is famous, such as kindness, humbleness and friendliness, coupled with creativity, style and fun. Having successfully introduced SAii to the international market with SAii Lagoon Maldives, we are delighted to bring this concept back home with the launch of SAii Laguna Phuket and SAii Phi Phi Island Village. These resorts will be integrated deep within their communities and I look forward to introducing them to our InSAiiders,” said Dirk De Cuyper, Chief Executive Officer, S Hotels & Resorts.

The unveiling of Thailand’s first two SAii resorts will kickstart an exciting year of expansion for S Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality arm of Singha Estate PCL, driven by the roll-out of its homegrown brands, including SAii and nābor, an alternative collection of locally-inspired “luxury-midscale” hotels and resorts. The group currently operates a global collection of 39 hotels and resorts on three continents, totalling more than 4,600 keys.

For a detailed travel guide on Phuket, go to VisitPhuket.org

Galle, Sri Lanka, February 2, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / If like us you’ve been pining for a dose of tropical island life, you’ll welcome the news of Sri Lanka’s reopening with open arms.

International travel to Sri Lanka has now resumed and both Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle and Anantara Kalutara resorts have been granted ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 authorisation. The Anantara resorts are among the few internationally branded five-star hotels eligible to host international guests as part of the island’s bio-bubble approach to kick-start tourism.

Experience the rich beauty of the island’s coconut palm fringed southern coastline with fully sanitised luxury vehicles available to transport guests between both properties.

The full suite of facilities including award winning restaurants and indulgent Anantara Spa treatments are open for guests to enjoy at both resorts. Venture out to reacquaint with Mother Nature on guided tours to some of Sri Lanka’s well known national parks or witness majestic whales in the ocean.

Anantara Kalutara Resort will be welcoming international guests from 6th February and Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort from 22nd February 2021. Both properties fully implement the Anantara Stay With Peace of Mind hygiene and safety protocols.

For a detailed travel guide on Sri Lanka, visit TourismSriLanka.org

Geneva, Switzerland, February 1, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / As nations around the globe struggle to cope with the manifold disruptions of the COVID-19 crisis, innovators have stepped up and offered solutions to build a greener, fairer and more resilient world as we emerge from the pandemic and head towards COP26.

UpLink, created by the World Economic Forum in partnership with Salesforce and Deloitte, connects the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to networks of contacts that have the resources, expertise and experience to help bring about change. It was launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos and is now live with nearly 10,000 users, over 900 solutions, 12 digital communities, and 80 high-quality UpLink Innovators selected by experts and investors.

“UpLink is a unique way to improve the state of the world,” said John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum. “I’m very proud the Forum, in cooperation with its partners, has developed a tool to connect entrepreneurs and accelerate new ideas. The innovation we have seen in the past year makes us very hopeful for the future.”

• Sustainable First is an effort to showcases excellence in sustainability and sustainable tourism.

Innovations highlighted and supported by UpLink so far include Cubex Global, a digital marketplace which sells unused space in shipping containers; SUGi, which allows individuals to invest in nature and plant urban forests; and Desolenator, which is using solar power to purify water, making remote communities more water-resilient.

UpLink is calling on impact-oriented entrepreneurs, investors, experts and changemakers to join the movement to power innovation to achieve the SDGs.

15 challenges to fast-track impact

The inaugural Ocean Solutions Sprint brought together ways to tackle illegal fishing and plastic pollution to the degradation of coral reef habitats. A cohort of 11 Ocean Innovators are now in a programme to accelerate and scale their impact to produce global systemic change.

The Trillion Trees Challenge leveraged momentum from the launch of 1t.org – the campaign to conserve, restore and grow one trillion trees by 2030. A cohort of Trillion Trees innovators was announced in September. UpLink also launched a COVID-19 innovation sprint to fight the pandemic and a COVID Social Justice Challenge to address systemic inequalities in the COVID-19 response, some of the top innovators across these challenges include:

Pachama is developing a modern market for forest carbon credits using remote sensing and machine learning to validate and monitor reforestation and avoidance of deforestation projects.

Carbon Health is a primary care provider delivering a premium experience through its modern clinics and virtual care, making world-class healthcare accessible for everyone.

Intelehealth is a telemedicine and case management platform connecting patients and frontline health providers with remote doctors to deliver high quality health services to last mile populations.

UpLink also partnered with The Circulars to kick-off our drive to source innovation for the circular economy. The Circulars Accelerator programme will connect industry leaders with 15 ground-breaking entrepreneurs to scale disruptive innovation at a pace not achieved until now.

• Sustainable First is an effort to showcases excellence in sustainability and sustainable tourism.

During the Davos Agenda, UpLink kicked-off a 2021 programme of challenges to fact-tract impact on food production, clean air and equality. Challenges include: Mobilizing action on climate change and ensuring climate adaptation; a Deloitte-led challenge focused on education inequality; accelerating the clean energy transition; mobilizing protein diversification to transform how we produce food; achieving health equity; and pursuing clean air for all.