Holiday & Travel

Responding to strong demand for travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Frontier Airlines has announced new twice-weekly service between Miami and St. Thomas, on Sundays and Thursdays, beginning March 7, 2021.

USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte welcomed the announcement from the Denver-based carrier, which earlier signalled the start of service between Orlando and St. Thomas, with flights twice per week (on Mondays and Fridays), beginning February 19, 2021.

“We are once again thankful for this partnership with Frontier as the carrier works to meet existing and create new demand for travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands with affordable fares,” said Commissioner Boschulte, who along with Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe and other senior government officials, met with Frontier executives in Miami in March last year to explore airlift possibilities.

Daniel Shurz, Frontier Airlines’ senior vice president of commercial, cited the airline’s “exceptional growth at Miami’s convenient airport” to herald the new service, which starts in time for spring break travel. He said the new flights will maintain Frontier’s high health standards, including required wearing of face masks, temperature screenings and enhanced onboard cleaning.

Frontier requires all customers and crew members to wear a face covering throughout their travel journey. Plus, anyone flying with Frontier must complete a health acknowledgement prior to flying confirming that:

• Neither they nor anyone in their household has exhibited COVID-19-related symptoms in the last 14 days
• They will wash/sanitize their hands before boarding the flight
• They understand and acknowledge the airline’s face covering policy and pre-boarding temperature screening policies

During flight, main cabin air is a mix of fresh air drawn from outside and air that has been passed through an air filtration system that features HEPA filters capable of capturing respiratory virus particles at more than 99.9% efficiency – similar to those used in hospital environments. Frontier’s modern all-Airbus fleet is among the youngest in the world; all aircraft currently in operation are less than four years old.

Every traveller aged five or older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands, by air or sea, including anyone in-transit to another destination, is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and submit a COVID-19 test result prior to travel at: usvitravelportal.com.

Curiosity never goes out of style and this year ToursByLocals has introduced a selection of new tours to explore. In a year where connection is more important than ever, allow exceptional guides to help you uncover local stories and destination secrets, travelling like an ‘insider’ for a truly authentic experience.

The world's leading online marketplace for private tours, ToursByLocals provides highly curated, customisable, private tours for the discerning traveller, led by local guides in 188 countries. Pick from carefully tailored, hassle-free itineraries curated by expert local guides who know the destination inside and out, or work with a friendly, handpicked guide to co-create the exact experience and level of enrichment you require in 2021.

The half-day, full-day and multi-day private tours are continually awarded five-star ratings by the more than one million travellers who have discovered destinations with ToursByLocals since 2008. Enjoy immersing in a destination in the knowledge that every last detail will be taken care of, from the South of England, sunny Sierra Leone to South America’s smallest country. With no-risk refunds, with cancellation for any reason up to the day of the tour, these are some of the new tours to explore in 2021:

England

The Hound of the Baskervilles Tour: Uncover clues like detective Sherlock Holmes on this gripping tour that unravels the story behind the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, including the people, places and legends that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The tour is delivered by an award-winning guide who is a descendant of one of the people involved in the creation of the plot, making it completely unique with secrets in abundance. Explore fascinating Bronze Age villages and previously burned down churches with mysterious black magic associations; hear about the evil Squire Cabell and his pack of hounds, the coach driver whose name is now etched into fictional folklore and see the 200-year-old prison that Seldon escaped from in the story.

Plymouth Devon Private Walking Tour: Join local guide Chrissie in discovering Plymouth which has seen the departure of some of the world’s most famous voyages - namely the Mayflower, which set sail to America 400 years ago. Explore the old medieval town, take in sensational views across the water and learn about the city’s survival in wartime Britain. Reach the Mayflower Steps, which commemorate the sailing of the Pilgrims in September 1620 and imagine excited travellers setting sail for the New World.

Sierra Leone

Banana Island Leisure and Historical Tour: Explore the peninsular coast of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Set off with a guide brimming with local knowledge in the morning and marvel at views of a historic fishing village. Enjoy a boat ride and tour of Banana Island which is also referred to as ‘Banana Islands’ because of its combination of three smaller islands named Dublin, Ricketts and Mes-Meheux (not habited). Meet friendly locals and admire stunning natural scenery with Shekuba, a Sierra Leonean guide based in Freetown.

Suriname

Highlights of Paramaribo: Suriname’s beautiful, undiscovered capital offers a fusion of cultures and religions as well as fascinating heritage sites in this South American country. Let local guide Nelson lead the way on this walking tour through the historic city. Highlights include visiting vibrant markets, lush gardens and the elegant wooden cathedral in Paramaribo, located on the banks of the Suriname River and home of almost half of the small nation’s population.

Liberia

Monrovia Highlights and History - Half Day Tour: Explore the lesser-known glistening coast of Liberia with local guide, Nitto. Get an insider’s point of view on the best spots to visit in this vibrant coastal city. Learn about the tumultuous slave trade history, visit the National Museum of Liberia and enjoy a stop at the art stores at Mamba Point.

· Duration: Three hours, 30 minutes

· Price: £572 per tour (up to five people)

In response to the latest U.S. CDC travel requirements, AMResorts and Sandals Resorts are deploying Covid-19 testing programs at their properties. Beginning January 26, AMResorts guests will be able to schedule a test through their concierge. The tests will be administered by the Hospiten international network of private hospitals, and results will be available the same day.

Hospiten's testing program will be available at most AMResorts destinations, except in Costa Rica, Curaçao, San Martin and Acapulco, Ixtapa and Huatulco, Mexico. According to AMResorts, details of the test provider in those markets are "pending".

In addition, AMResorts is providing free and extended quarantine coverage for all guests traveling to the U.S., through March 31. Under this policy, a guest who receives a positive test result while on the property and is unable to leave will be covered for the cost of quarantining the property for up to 14 days.

Meanwhile, the all-inclusive Sandals and Beaches resorts are also offering free on-site Covid-19 testing through March 31. In a statement, Sandals Resorts International said all tests "will be conducted by approved and practicing medical professionals, with the utmost convenience of our guests in mind. Appointments for the tests will be scheduled by resort staff once guests arrive at the property.

Staycations are expected to boom in 2021 after lockdown ends, UK holiday firms have said.

Bosses at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said the lifting of restrictions would be like "a cork popping from a bottle". Director general Nick Lomas said although coronavirus had hit the industry hard, they were optimistic about the coming season. Other firms said they also expected more people to holiday in the UK.

Mr Lomas said: "2020 was a very difficult year for the tourism and hospitality sector and the Caravan and Motorhome Club had suffered significant financial losses." He did, however, add: "When our campsites were allowed to be open last year we actually saw record levels of bookings, with new memberships up by 14%. Sadly, this surge does not make up for the losses we suffered during nearly six months of lockdown."

But, despite the current restrictions, Mr Lomas said he had every reason to believe this year could finish as one of "the best and busiest yet", due to the appetite for outdoor UK holidays. "In fact, we think that 2021 is going to be like a cork popping from a bottle," he said.

Experience Freedom, which operates glamping holidays in the UK, said bookings for 2021 were already up as people looked to spend more time in the "great outdoors". Smaller operators such as Anne's Vans, based in Lincoln, are also expecting to benefit.

Owner Anne Davies said so far they had no bookings, saying "uncertainty over when lockdown will end" was putting people off at the moment. However, she said: "Based on last years’ experience we are expecting a bumper year in 2021... once this latest lockdown is over."

The chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, David Butterworth, said visitor numbers after the first lockdown ended were "unprecedented". He added: "The challenge for 2021 is to capitalise on this trend, and capture the hearts and minds of the people who have experienced the Dales for the first time to make sure they keep coming back."

Royal Caribbean has extended its suspension in the U.S. through April 2021, with the first sailings from the country now planned for May.

The new adjustments announced by Royal Caribbean Group on Tuesday morning impacts all owned cruise brands including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Azamara. 

Royal Caribbean International which is the leading operator was previously planning on returning in March but now that won’t be the case. The cruise line has canceled sailings through April 30, 2021. This means cruises will not resume until the start of May at the earliest.

The cruise company continues to focus on new health and safety protocols to make sure guests and crew remain safe. Royal Caribbean is working with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on the framework for the Conditional Sailing Order.

The appointment of British supermodel Naomi Campbell as Kenya's tourism ambassador has caused a Twitter storm in the East African nation. Many queried why it had not been given to a prominent Kenyan like Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong'o. Others leapt to her defence, saying the debate already justified her role. Kenya's tourism sector has been badly hit by coronavirus, with visitor numbers down by 72% between January and October last year.

Kenya's Tourism Research Institute reported: "The sector hence lost over 110bn Kenyan shillings [$1bn, £738m] of direct international tourists' revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic." The country is famous for its wildlife safaris and beach resorts. Kenyan Tourism Minister Najib Balala said the deal with Ms Campbell was done over the weekend after he met the model, who is currently on holiday in Kenya.

The 50-year-old style icon and philanthropist has been posting images of her stay on Instagram, where she has 10 million followers. Mr Balala said: "We welcome the exciting news that Naomi Campbell will advocate for tourism and travel internationally for the Magical Kenya brand." But the statement, posted on Twitter on Tuesday, prompted instant outrage from some, and the supermodel's name has since been trending in the country.

One tweeter cited other Kenyan celebrities better suited to the ambassadorial role, including models Ajuma Nasenyana and Debra Sanaipei, as well as Nyong'o. Another tweeter said the backlash revealed an unhealthy attitude in Kenya: "At the end of the day, it's all about who will get the job done. This mentality is what causes nepotism and tribalism in Kenyan institutions, it should be about the most suitable candidate not 'one of our own' thing."

Ms Campbell's defenders praised the Londoner for visiting Kenya several times and said it was not only the model's social media following that made her the perfect appointment. Her circle of friends was equally important as she would attract wealthy tourists willing to spend money. The tourism industry usually contributes about 8.8% to Kenya's annual Gross domestic product (GDP), according to Kenya's East African newspaper.

Qatar Airways has announced that it has achieved Diamond Standard in the Airline Passenger Experience Association’s (APEX) Health Safety Powered by the SimpliFlying audit. The ‘Diamond Standard’ status, which is the highest level attainable, was announced by APEX and global aviation marketing consultancy, SimpliFlying, following a meticulous assessment of the airline’s robust COVID-19 hygiene and safety standards.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As an industry leader, we welcome the further recognition of Qatar Airways’ commitment to providing the most rigorous and stringent virus monitoring, detection and COVID-19 safety programme throughout our end-to-end passenger experience, in existence within the global aviation community.

“The awarding of the APEX Health Safety ‘Diamond Standard’ was the result of a thorough and extensive independent audit of the airline’s comprehensive COVID-19 protection and prevention measures, both on board and at Hamad International Airport, and reinforces the fact that air travel does not need to be a source of concern to passengers.

“As commercial aviation continues to deal with the challenges and impact of the global pandemic, we welcome the introduction of this and other relevant COVID-related hygiene and safety reviews, and would encourage other airlines to continue to build passenger confidence and assist with the recovery of the industry by participating wherever possible.”

APEX Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joe Leader, said: “Qatar Airways’ COVID-19 protocols definitively met the highest marks for the Diamond certification level backed by their extraordinary steps for customer safety.  The actions taken by Qatar appear centered around a singular philosophy: how can we innovatively maximize both our customer service and passenger safety hand-in-hand.

“Having flown recently on Qatar Airways with my family to the Maldives after negative COVID-19 PCR tests, the level of health safe service both in-flight and on-the-ground surpassed my highest expectations and even surpassed our best-ever pre-pandemic experience on the airline.”

SimpliFlying Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shashank Nigam, said: "Qatar Airways has raised the bar for health safety standards in the industry by initiatives such as providing a face shield to all passengers, using Honeywell’s UV disinfection systems and advanced biosafety measures at its hub in Doha. Taking such hospital-grade in ensuring health safety will help bolster trust among travellers."

Qatar Airways’ onboard safety measures include the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew and a complimentary protective kit and disposable face shields for passengers. Business Class passengers on aircraft equipped with Qsuite can enjoy the enhanced privacy this award-winning business seat provides, including sliding privacy partitions and the option to use a ‘Do Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator. Qsuite is available on flights to more than 30 destinations including Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, London and New York. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented onboard and in HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.

In addition to this, the airline also uses the most advanced HEPA air filtration systems on board all aircraft, and recently introduced Honeywell’s state-of-the-art Ultraviolet Cabin System, operated by Qatar Aviation Services, as a further step in the cleaning of its aircraft.

Qatar Airways currently operates more than 800 weekly flights to over 110 destinations across the globe. By the end of March 2021, Qatar Airways plans to rebuild its network to 129. Many cities will be served with a strong schedule with daily or more frequencies.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times. 

The world travel and holiday industry are still in mourning following the announcement of the death of one of the industry’s greatest figures. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, the founder and chair of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), died in Miami, in the United States, after suffering from an undisclosed illness. A native of Jamaica, he is best known for creating his all-inclusive world-renowned Sandals Resorts International – which, in turn, ‘houses’ one of the pearls of his homeland, Sandals Resorts, as well as the equally loved and respected Beaches Resorts, Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, Fowl Cay Resort as well as several private villas.

Stewart, who lived in Kingston and Montego Bay, initially bought two derelict hotels in Mo Bay, in 1981 before spending some $4 million in renovation and reopening it as the Sandals Resort Beach Club - later to be known as Sandals Montego Bay. It would become the first to popularise the sale of all-inclusive holidays in the Caribbean. And, as such Sandals Resorts was born. Many travel experts credit Sandals for making the all-inclusive market in the Caribbean as lucrative and successful as it has been.

Credited with several innovations in the hospitality industry, most notably building the Caribbean's first swim-up bar, at Sandals Montego Bay Resort, under his creative stewardship, the amiable Butch is responsible for resort development, and is now known for creating SRI properties throughout the Caribbean, which also includes; The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Turks & Caicos, and most recently Barbados, and Grenada with sixteen Sandals Resorts, three Beaches Resorts, one Grand Pineapple Beach Resort, one Fowl Cay private island resort and four villa properties in Jamaica. A region-wide powerhouse, his brands include Sandals and Beaches.

Married to wife, Cheryl, he had eight children including; Brian Jardim, who sat on the board of The Jamaica Observer and was the owner of Rainforest Seafoods, daughter Jamie Stewart-McConnell co-founded the Orijin of Jamaica juice company, son Bobby held various leadership positions at Sandals including running the company's online division and UK operations, Adam was deputy chair of Sandals, CEO of The ATL Group and founded the Sandals Foundation while serving as CEO of Sandals Resorts from 2006 to 2012. Another one of his sons, Jonathan, was killed in a car crash in 1990. His younger three children include twins, Kelly and Gordon, and a daughter, Sabrina.

In a statement, Adam said: “Our father was a singular personality; an unstoppable force who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations and whose passion for his family was matched only by the people and possibility of the Caribbean, for whom he was a fierce champion. Almost nothing, perhaps, except maybe a great fishing day, could come before family to my dad. And while the world understood him to be a phenomenal businessman – which he was, his first and most important devotion was always to us. We will miss him terribly forever.”

Despite his illness, Mr. Stewart had continued to work long hours until the end of his life, his son said. Only recently he (Butch) created the Sandals Refused, which was set up to refund patrons who were scheduled to arrive just as the resort shutdown due to the prevalence of the coronavirus pandemic. Adam said his father’s death was related to a recent medical diagnosis that he kept private because he did not want to “be anyone else’s burden. He didn’t even want his closest friends to worry for him.”

Butch was 79 - Adam Stewart has since become chair of Sandals Resorts International.

According to a survey of 1,500 people, commissioned by AccuraCast, 41.5 percent of respondents said they did not plan to travel in 2021. The survey asked consumers what was the most important aspect of a travel insurance policy and the majority of respondents said they did not plan to travel in 2021, so wouldn’t have any need for travel insurance.

While this is good news for health officials, it spells continued trouble for the travel industry, which has globally suffered a loss of 75 million jobs and $2.1 trillion in revenue, according to estimates from the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The top priority for travel insurance – for those who were planning to travel – was ‘cancellation due to Covid restrictions’ (21 percent), followed closely by ‘medical cover, including Covid cover’ (11.5 percent). It would seem that delays were no longer such a worry for consumers, with only 3 percent of respondents stating it was the most important aspect of a travel insurance policy.

Those in the 65 year plus age group were most likely to say they would not travel in 2021, (50.5 percent). In contrast, only 36 percent of 18 to 24 year olds surveyed said they would not travel – making this group the most likely to travel in 2021. Respondents aged between 35 and 44 years were most likely to rank ‘cancellations due to Covid restrictions’ as their priority. Respondents aged 45 and over weren’t as worried about cancellation cover, presumably because health concerns take priority for travellers in this age group.

With the travel industry already taking a massive hit in 2020, the results of the survey show that 2021 isn’t going to be an easy ride back to normality for the industry. Marketeers in both the travel and insurance industries need to continue conserving resources, improving the experience for current customers, and focusing on the unique service proposition that differentiates the business from competitors.

Jamaica has this week reported its highest seven-day cumulative arrival figures since reopening borders on June 15th.

Preliminary statistics from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) show that for the period December 22nd-28th, just over 21,000 passengers arrived on the island.

Jamaica has this week reported its highest seven-day cumulative arrival figures since reopening borders on June 15th. Preliminary statistics from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) show that for the period December 22nd-28th, just over 21,000 passengers arrived on the island.

The Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay welcomed 16,841 and 4,203 additional passengers arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. Between December 1st-28th, Jamaica welcomed over 98,000 visitors, an increase of more than 30,000 compared to the previous month. Sangster International Airport continues to account for the majority of arrivals. Between June 15th and December 28th, a total of 376,044 passengers arrived on the island.

The JTB recently announced tourism sales and marketing strategies that will deliver on the Destination Assurance promise of a safe, secure and seamless visit.

Destination Assurance prioritizes health and safety, while positioning Jamaica as the premiere holiday choice for GEN-C, the generation that transcends demographics and reflects the shared psychographic of living through the pandemic.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is welcoming new flights from Minneapolis to St. Thomas this winter from Delta Air Lines and Sun Country Airlines.

Delta is offering thrice weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while
Minneapolis-based carrier Sun Country is operating weekly Saturday service between
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Cyril E. King Airport.

“Airlift expansion continues to be a major priority for the Department of Tourism and we are pleased that our efforts over the last couple of years are paying dividends,” said Joseph Boschulte, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism.

“With the new Delta flights and the return of Sun Country’s service between
Minneapolis and St. Thomas, we are able to provide a gateway for visitors
from the midwestern market to experience and enjoy all the U.S. Virgin Islands
has to offer.

"The timing of these flights, during the peak winter season, will help to fuel economic activity as we focus our efforts on protecting and promoting the bread and butter tourism industry," Commissioner Boschulte affirmed.

The Department of Tourism continues to focus its attention on increasing airlift capacity to St. Croix and St. Thomas in 2021. St. Thomas has recently welcomed new service from New York on JetBlue Airways, and Frontier Airlines will inaugurate new
flights from Orlando in February. Both islands have recently experienced an
uptick in American Airlines traffic from several gateways.

Pandemic-related guidelines for traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands include the requirement for every traveler aged five or older to submit a COVID-19 test result through the secure online USVI Travel Screening Portal.

The traveling public is encouraged to stay abreast of the Territory’s COVID-19 travel protocols by visiting www.usviupdate.com.

Qatar Airways continues to expand its portfolio of strong, globally strategic partnerships by signing an expanded code-share agreement with Oman Air that will boost connectivity and provide more flexible travel options for both airline’s customers. The expanded code-share agreement is the first step in further strengthening strategic cooperation between the two airlines that first began in 2000. Sales of the additional destinations will commence in 2021.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are pleased to further expand our code-share cooperation with Oman Air, one of the leading airlines in the Gulf region. Now more than ever, it is important to strengthen strategic partnerships across the industry to optimise our operations and provide seamless connectivity to hundreds of destinations across the globe for our passengers. Since 2000, both airlines have seen the benefits that commercial cooperation has brought, providing our passengers with unrivalled service and more flexibility to travel when they want. I look forward to further strengthening our commercial cooperation with Oman Air to provide even more benefits to our customers.”

Oman Air Chief Executive Officer Mr. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, said: “We are delighted to expand our commercial cooperation with Qatar Airways, which will streamline flying for leisure travellers from around the world to enjoy Oman's culture, scenic beauty and hospitality, and facilitate travel for those who visit the Sultanate of Oman for abundant, fast-growing business opportunities across a diverse range of sectors. The expansion of our code-share agreement is just the first step, and we look forward to working with Qatar Airways to further strengthen our strategic partnership to enhance the business and leisure travel experience for our customers in Oman and throughout the world.”

The code-share expansion will significantly increase the number of destinations available to Oman Air passengers from three to 65* on the Qatar Airways’ network across Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, India, and the Middle East. Qatar Airways passengers will also benefit from additional connectivity, with the ability to book travel on an additional six destinations across Africa and Asia in Oman Air’s network. Both airlines will also explore a number of joint commercial and operational initiatives to further optimise their partnership.

Qatar Airways’ strategic investment in a variety of fuel-efficient, twin-engine aircraft, including the largest fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft, has enabled it to continue flying throughout this crisis and perfectly positions it to lead the sustainable recovery of international travel.

The airline recently took delivery of three new state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, increasing its total A350 fleet to 52 with an average age of just 2.6 years. Due to COVID-19’s impact on travel demand, the airline has grounded its fleet of Airbus A380s as it is not environmentally justifiable to operate such a large, four-engine aircraft in the current market.

Qatar Airways has also recently launched a new programme that enables passengers to voluntarily offset the carbon emissions associated with their journey at the point of booking.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 110 destinations with plans to increase to 129 by the end of March 2021. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite.

The Qsuite seat layout is a 1-2-1 configuration, providing passengers with the most spacious, fully private, comfortable and social distanced Business Class product in the sky. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.

Jamaica has welcomed the arrival of the first direct flight from Nigeria, opening up new tourism opportunities for the Caribbean destination.

Onboard, Nigeria minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Jamaica could be “the next big thing” for travellers from the African country. Around 140 passengers were on board the first flight, which touched down at Sangster International Airport.

“We really expect to see tourism take off in a big way,” said Onyeama, “we believe that Jamaica is the next big thing for us as far as tourism is concerned.”

In turn, Jamaica minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, lauded the historic arrival of the flight.

In stressing its significance, he said: “Historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Jamaica date back to the days of slavery and many Jamaicans today have their ancestral roots in that African country.”

He added: “We have been working together to bring this to fruition for some time and I am pleased that we have opened yet another gateway, which provides scope for the added growth of our tourism sector and the forging of greater bonds between both countries.”

The U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism has cautioned that while a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is on the horizon, protocols and guidelines implemented to protect lives and livelihoods in the Territory should not slacken. Speaking on a recent Condé Nast Traveler virtual panel discussion, Commissioner Joseph Boschulte said while he understood the real effects of pandemic fatigue, “we're getting closer to the finish line with a vaccine and we've done so well for nine months; we don't want to mess it up in the last three or four months.”

Maintaining a heightened state of vigilance is essential since the lion’s share of the Territory’s visitors arrive from the United States mainland, where the number of daily new COVID-19 cases continues to rise in many states. Addressing participants during the “New Standards in Safety and Health” online session, the tourism leader highlighted a recent partnership with American Airlines which enables travelers to be tested before boarding, allowing them to comply with the Territory’s five-day window for being tested, receiving test results and submitting results through an online portal.

The pre-flight testing option, which is conducted via an at-home sample collection kit, is critical because it was increasingly difficult for travelers to get test results back on time: “So any way that we can allow the testing to happen and happen quickly is important.” COVID-19 testing requirements for traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands require that prospective travelers aged five or older submit travel details, contact information and coronavirus test results to a secure, online Travel Screening Portal. “It's all about making sure we have the data to ensure that if there is an unfortunate situation, when somebody is positive, we can reach out to them, contact trace, and isolate anybody that is positive so that we avoid community contamination,” the Commissioner commented.

Ensuring the health and safety not only of visitors, but also of the Territory’s residents remains one of the highest priorities for the Department of Tourism. Commissioner Boschulte believes that especially in times of crisis, being responsible for one another is crucial. “Everybody has to make sure that everybody is being personally responsible to not only themselves, but to everybody around them,” he noted. As the pandemic has progressed over the past months, the Department of Tourism has observed that, increasingly, visitors want to vacation privately. “One of the biggest trends we've seen with people is that they really want to stay away from other people, and they are willing to pay a premium for that.

“So instead of going on a catamaran with 25 other people, they'll go on their own smaller excursion on a powerboat with just their family,” said Commissioner Boschulte.

The increasing prevalence of remote work and tighter social distancing measures has created a new travel trend; instead of working from home, wellness enthusiasts are taking holidays abroad where they can work remotely while pursuing healthy activities. Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists, has seen an increase in new bookings for clients who want to leave the living room and carry on working remotely from a luxury destination.

The rise in popularity is with good reason as studies suggest that productivity is enhanced; many destinations like St Lucia and Madeira are safer havens from COVID-19; both work and personal life become more flexible. As the winter intensifies and recent lockdowns mean those that can are once more working from home, with this we can only expect the work wellnesscation trend to continue to grow. The lead up to Christmas and January in particular is likely to be popular as remote working from holiday can be supplemented with annual leave for an even better getaway experience.

Out of the many possible retreats for remote work, Mindful Triathlon™ holidays are particularly popular with health-conscious, remote workers as they offer an entirely flexible programme which covers all aspects of health: activeness, mindfulness and wellness.

Clients can engage with their health and fitness programme which is built around their work schedule with these super flexible holidays. They can attend morning or evening activities, spa treatments and personal training scheduled around their working day. Mindful Triathlon holidays provide the variety and flexibility necessary for a work wellnesscation.

St Lucia, Turks & Caicos and other Caribbean destinations are popular for their sparce population, secluded luxury resorts and sunny winter climates. Dubai, Croatia, Estonia and Barbados are also attracting remote workers as they offer ‘digital nomad visas’. These new visas allow people to spend up to a year at a holiday destination while working remotely. Within these countries, resorts which offer villas are the most popular as this style of accommodation is ideal for those looking to work remotely and maintain their social distance from others. Work Wellnesscations are not exclusively to these destinations as they can be taken anywhere visa and restriction permitting with strong Wi-fi and a good phone signal.

The phenomenon is likely to have a lasting impact on a variety of industries, not just travel. With a higher number of remote workers, demand for office space will be smaller. Public transport may suffer a substantially reduced revenue due to a lack of commuting. Air pollution and congestion in major cities may decrease substantially with fewer people working in urban centres. Work Wellnesscations may be a much-needed revitalisation of the wellness travel industry with a post-lockdown boom in the length of average stay and a rise in the number of guests. All of this is indicative of a radical change in the UK’s work and holiday culture. As more people leave the office and begin remote work, there will be a substantially large group looking abroad, a season at a time, for new healthier lifestyles.

As the pandemic continues on around the globe and many borders remain tight or completely closed to foreign travellers, tourism industries are feeling the pinch—but two of its major players have found a way to navigate through this tough time.

Back in April, home-sharing giant Airbnb pivoted slightly during the pandemic and began virtual versions of its Experiences portfolio with their new Online Experiences offerings, a move that aimed to give hungry travellers a taste of travel while also helping to support struggling tourism providers large and small around the globe. In August, Airbnb partnered with NYC's famous Broadway theatre district to help create a collection of virtual experiences that bring the theatre to fans through cast meet-and-greets, sing-a-longs, story times, and more.

Now, Airbnb has teamed up with the Singapore Tourism Board to help travelers immerse themselves in the Lion City's unique culture and tourism offerings without ever leaving their homes.

This new partnership, which was announced on Oct. 21, highlights Singapore as a top Online Experiences destination, giving the country a first-of-its-kind dedicated Singapore Virtual Trips page on Airbnb's website, where guests can easily book affordable “trips” to Singapore and experience everything “from Michelin-starred heritage fusion to crazy rich experiences” hosted by top-notch Singaporean tourism operators. 

“I have personally enjoyed Airbnb’s Singaporean cooking Experiences and know that such Experiences unlock new ways to discover Singapore through its greatest natural resource—its people,” Chris Lehane, Airbnb's Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications, in a statement. “And it is through using the Airbnb platform to showcase the incredible people of Singapore to the world that, working in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, we can help support the recovery of international tourism.” 

Current virtual offerings include a bingo-themed exploration through Singapore, a visit to one of the city's unique Peranakan homes, cocktail and cooking classes, a guided sound bath meditation, and a sustainability-focused tour at the Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay.

“This is an exciting new way for Gardens by the Bay to continue to delight people, enabling us to connect with friends and fans around the world,” said Online Experience host Chad Davis, who is also Deputy Director of the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay. “I look forward to sharing my passion for our Cloud Forest and helping virtual visitors rediscover the region’s most extraordinary cooled conservatory through this unique virtual format.”   

The two organizations are planning to expand the partnership to include in-person Airbnb Experiences that will immerse travellers in local dining, nature, wellness, and arts experiences. The hope is that more and more local tourism businesses will be able to take their businesses online and offer virtual visits, ideally getting people psyched on visiting Singapore in the flesh—and maybe taking a ride on the world’s longest flight to get there—once borders reopen.