Trade bodies from across the aviation and travel industries in Britain are planning an industry day of action (#traveldayofaction) on June 23 to put pressure on the UK Government to support a safe return to international travel.

This is ahead of June 28, when the government will review both the traffic-light list and the requirements, measures and systems in place for international travel.

According to a statement on the UK travel industry association website, ABTA, the day of action will call on the UK Government to:

• Allow international travel to return safely and in a risk-managed way by properly implementing the Global Travel Taskforce’s plan. 
   
• Bring forward a package of tailored financial support to recognise that the unlocking of international travel, and hence businesses’ ability to trade and generate income, will be much slower than first anticipated, and more gradual than for businesses in the domestic economy. 

The day of action will involve an organised lobby at the Houses of Parliament – which will see MPs meet with a large number of their constituents at Westminster on a single day.

Ongoing lobbying

It will also be the culmination of intense lobbying and political engagement over the next few weeks. Activity ahead of the day included ABTA’s Mark Tanzer’s appearance at the Treasury Select Committee on Sunday (June 7) and the parliamentary debate on Thursday, June 10, which looks at support for the aviation, travel and tourism industries. 

Organisers and supporters of the cross-industry day of action already include ABTA, Airlines UK, the Airport Operators Association, BAR UK, UKinbound, the Business Travel Association, Advantage Travel Partnership, TTNG, and the other 11 members of the Save Future Travel Coalition, with other industry organisations welcome to join. 

The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) is also involved in the action day as one of the 11 members of the Save Future Travel Coalition.

ATTA also continues to use its position on key travel boards to put pressure on the UK government to use the correct scientific information to allow countries in Africa to move from red to amber to green. ATTA CEO, Chris Mears, told Tourism Update: “This was discussed at our meeting on Friday with everything being confirmed yesterday (Monday, June 7) with more details being finalised in the coming days.

“We will be sharing information directly with the ATTA members as we receive it and will be setting up a group on our members’ waterhole in order to keep interested parties updated on this.”

According to Mears, ATTA also continues to use its position on key travel boards to put pressure on the UK government to use the correct scientific information to allow countries in Africa to move from red to amber to green. Proposed interventions include:

• A push for transparent criteria and communications on the traffic-light list and ongoing monitoring.
• Addressing the ‘totally unacceptable’ cost of PCR tests and the push to get the UK government to accept a Lateral Flow test and then only if PCR negative.
• COVID vaccination certificates for travel.
• Continued financial support such as furlough, tax and VAT concessions until such time as UK travel businesses can achieve positive cash flow from bookings.

Industry urged to get involved

The UK travel trade bodies are calling on all corners of the travel industry – every airline, airport, tour operator, travel agent, supplier and partner – to get involved and support the activities of the day.

“These next weeks will be critical for the travel industry. We have been working together since the start of the pandemic to make the sector’s case on what the industry needs to get through this crisis and return safely to international travel,” said Tanzer.

“We’re in a situation where the Government is curtailing overseas travel but isn’t providing tailored support for the travel industry. The longer this goes on, the more jobs, livelihoods and businesses are at risk.”

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK added: “The UK is falling behind other countries, including many of our competitors in Europe, when it comes to restarting our aviation and travel sectors. With the success of the vaccine roll-out, it is vital the Government takes steps to capitalise on the progress that has been made, otherwise we face doing severe long-term damage to the economy and the competitiveness of our world-leading aviation sector.”

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The Republic of Ireland has said it will soon be allowing visa-free entry to South African visitors.

Earlier this year, in a bid to mitigate the spread of the new COVID-19 variants in that country, the Republic of Ireland revoked visa-free travel privileges to several high-risk nations including South Africa.

Having made significant progress in their vaccination campaigns and the arrival of the peak summer tourism season in Europe, several countries have begun to reopen their borders for tourism purposes.

While most of Europe is still off-limits to South African travellers, the Republic of Ireland will soon permit South Africans to travel to that country without the need to apply for a visa before departure.

Travelnews reports that the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria has confirmed that South African passport holders shortly be able to enter that country without requiring a visa prior in advance.

QUARANTINE REQUIREMENT TO REMAIN

Since South Africa and other countries in the region including Botswana, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe are designated as Category 2 risk level countries, according to Ireland’s Department of Health, a 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine will apply to South Africans travelling to Ireland.

Quarantine accommodation must be pre-booked and prepaid before commencing travel to Ireland. These mandatory hotel quarantines are undertaken in designated quarantine facilities.

COVID-19 TEST REQUIRED FOR ENTRY

Travellers entering the Republic of Ireland also have to present a negative COVID-19 test result. Only COVID-19 PCR tests are accepted. These must have been obtained no more than 72 hours before arrival.

As there are no direct flights between South Africa and Ireland, South Africans wishing to travel to Ireland would need to travel via a third country. Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines allow South African nationals on their flights from South Africa.

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A new campaign has been launched by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) calling on governments around the world to restart international travel and enable the world to ‘Reunite’ once again.

After more than a year of lockdowns around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new campaign will showcase the importance international travel has for individuals and businesses.

This new campaign comes after WTTC’s drive to responsibly rekindle the wanderlust of travellers through its recent 'Together in Travel' campaign, despite the multiple global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President, said: “For the past year WTTC has been hugely invested in advocating for the social and mental benefits of travel and tourism. Through this campaign, we are hoping to help kick start the recovery of our sector through a truly worthwhile experience: reuniting with those who matter most to us.

“With the immense pressures being faced by the global travel and tourism sector due to the current restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now more important than ever that we remind everyone, how travelling can make all the difference, not only to the world, but to us as individuals.”

Travel and tourism is one of the world’s largest and most important sectors, in which around 80% of all businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

As a powerful driver for socio-economic development and job creation, the sector plays an important role in driving prosperity, empowering women, youth, and other societal groups.

It is also one of the most diverse sectors, employing people from all socio-economic backgrounds, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, and includes 54% women and 30% youth.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday that Indian visa or the stay stipulation period of foreign nationals stranded in the country due to the Covid-19:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday that Indian visa or the stay stipulation period of foreign nationals stranded in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be valid till August 31. Accordingly, these foreign nationals will not be required to submit any application to the FRRO/FRO concerned for the extension of their visa till that period or until further orders. Visa Extension for stranded Foreign Citizens Also Read - ISRO to Assist Development Projects in Northeast India

Through Space Technology The MHA said that due to the non-functioning of normal commercial flight operations on account of the pandemic since March 2020, a number of foreign nationals, who came to India prior to March 2020 on valid Indian visa, have got stranded in India. Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by such foreign nationals in getting their visas extended in India due to the lockdowns, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued an order on June 29, 2020, conveying that Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals expiring post June 30, 2020 shall be deemed to be valid until 30 more days from the date of resumption of normal international flight operations, on gratis basis. Also Read –

However, such foreign nationals have been applying for extension of their visas or stay stipulation period on a monthly basis. "The matter has now been reconsidered by the MHA in the light of non-resumption of normal commercial flight operations, and it has accordingly been decided that the Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals stranded in India will be considered as deemed to be valid till August 31, 2021 on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty," the MHA said.

Such foreign nationals may apply for exit permission to the FRRO/FRO concerned before exiting the country, which would be granted on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty. (IANS)

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The home affairs ministry has urged the public to delay application for national documents – due to rising Covid-19 cases – that are not urgent.

The ministry has over the past three weeks recorded 10 positive Covid-19 cases among its staff at different offices countrywide. 

Therefore, the ministry implored the public who want services but which are not urgent, to stay at home until the situation normalises.

The ministry’s executive director, Etienne Maritz, yesterday said new measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of staff and the public due to the increasing number of new positive Covid-19 cases within the ministry and countrywide.

“The ministry is trying to minimise the number of people queuing at our offices. However, those who are in urgent need of national documents are still welcome and they will be assisted as usual,” Maritz said.

Asked for clarity as to what is referred to as urgent national document applications, commissioner for refugees Likius Valombola explained urgent applications will be processed in case of death and urgent travel documents.

Others include documents needed for social grant purposes for orphans and vulnerable children, documents for academic purposes, as well as municipal services, among others. 

“We have taken Covid-19 seriously since March last year. We introduced a health guideline at all our offices, where we explained all about Covid-19 and its regulations. Issues of mandatory wearing of masks and hand sanitising are also emphasised. We also sent out a circular to strengthen new measures in view of cases of Covid-19,” Valombola stressed.

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