Business destinations

According to Augustin Bonniol, CEO of ABC Expat, the pandemic has led to Kenya "catching up in terms of digital transformation". We take a look at the economic activity and potential of the market with the founder of this company, which helps businesses set up in Africa.

A symbol of Kenya's high-tech ambitions, the Konza technology park is now taking shape. A Pharaonic project for a smart city in the heart of the savannah.

As a key economic and diplomatic hub for East Africa, Nairobi has positioned itself as an innovative high-tech centre. Will the pandemic put the brakes on this boom?

Austria is one of the very first countries in the European Union to apply the measures advocated by the EU to reopen its borders. Wednesday 19 May is the date for a return to a certain normality. This is a matter of urgency for a country where tourism is of vital importance. We take a look at the situation in this country on the eve of its reopening to the world.

How has the health crisis affected business travel in Africa? What has been the response from the continent's business destinations, and from the major business travel players on the ground? Find out in this survey from Abidjan to Cape Town, from Nairobi to Casablanca.

As a logical - and global - consequence of the crisis, African airlines have been suffering for the past year. And they are impatiently awaiting the return of business travellers, perhaps thanks to the health pass, or risk seeing further bankruptcies...

Daniel Karbownik, Regional Director for West and Central Africa for the Accor Group's brands, takes stock of developments in the hotel industry on the continent in the face of the crisis, and the new offers and services that can provide a response to business travellers, such as hybrid meetings and health labels.

The appearance of the 501Y.V2 variant has virtually halted business travel to South Africa, exacerbating the already precarious situation of local players. The trend towards "digital nomads" could perhaps enable them to limit the damage.

Cécile Caplin, Regional Security Manager at International SOS, reports on the demand from companies for security for business travellers, expatriates and local teams in Africa in the wake of the Covid crisis.

As Southeast Asia's leading international destination, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million international travellers before the Covid crisis. It is now trying to revive its economy by planning the gradual return of tourists, who are vital to its growth. It's an uphill battle as the country is hit by a new wave of contaminations...

On 24 April this year, Singapore will loosen the restrictions on holding congresses, conferences and meetings, giving the MICE industry some hope. The maximum capacity will now be 750 people per event. However, we are still a long way from a return to the pre-Covid situation...

In North-East Asia, the two main business destinations - China and Japan - are in perfect harmony in their isolation. They will remain out of reach for international travellers throughout 2021. But for very different reasons.

The ten member countries of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will be reopening their borders to the international community in a scattered fashion. Unfortunately, ASEAN has had no influence on a coordinated response. However, the association is trying to find a common response for the region through a vaccination passport for its ten member states. To be continued...

Voyages d'Affaires analyses the reopening of Asia to international tourism. This first article focuses on Sri Lanka, a model in these times of pandemic. The country is welcoming back international visitors by transforming hotel complexes into health bubbles, known as "bio bubbles".

The city of Berlin has just introduced sanitary protocols that will once again enable it to host conferences. A full-scale test was carried out on 25 March at the Estrel Hotel.

Singapore is positioning itself as a pioneering destination for the recovery of MICE and international business travel. The Singapore Tourism Board is launching SingapoReimagine, both to embody THE post-Covid destination par excellence, and to initiate a global co-creation dynamic around the travel of tomorrow.

The Circle opened at Zurich airport at the end of last year. A new business district that must now find its feet in one of the most uncertain times for both airports and the financial metropolis that is Zurich.

Hong Kong will have lost its status as a "tourism hub" in Asia due to a drop in its domestic visitors (mainland China) and the deterioration of its international image elsewhere. In 2020, the territory will have had its worst year for thirty years.

On 1 January, the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin became the new Collectivité Européenne d'Alsace. The merger will create a new Alsatian regional entity within the Grand Est region, with wider economic, cultural and tourist powers. 

Singapore and Thailand are beginning to relax the rules governing entry to their respective countries. This is a first step, although much remains to be done to normalise the movement of travellers.