TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

The Maldives archipelago, a traditional luxury destination - particularly for MICE - is inventing the concept of a vaccination holiday. It's a strategy that could prove particularly attractive to nomadic digital workers.

The mandatory 10-day quarantine imposed by France on travellers arriving from Brazil, Chile, Argentina, French Guiana and South Africa is like a Pandora's box. There is no longer any argument against adopting similar measures for other destinations. Here's an overview of the countries that could fall under this rule.

Vietnam is tentatively, very tentatively, opening up to the rest of the world. The country has just authorised its first international airline flights.

The vast majority of French travellers (81%) say they are inclined to use health passes, according to a study published on 8 April by Amadeus.

Chile went into lockdown for a full month on 5 April. The country is facing a resurgence in cases of Covid, with more than a million cases. As a result, many international airlines have been suspended, particularly those operated by LATAM, Santiago's main carrier.

The United Kingdom is reopening its pubs, while hotels and other public places are waiting to open, and domestic travel is picking up rapidly in the United States: the effects of the vaccination are being felt in the tourism sector.

Although international travel to and from the UK will not resume until mid-May, it will then be governed by a three-tier classification of countries: green, amber and red.

Already well advanced in the airline industry, the development of digital passes to certify covid-negative tests and vaccinations is gathering pace around the world.

The study by the UK charity Possible wants to impose a tax on the most frequent passengers. It shows, with figures to back it up, that the majority of flights are made by a small elite of frequent flyers. One more stone in the garden of air transport?

PCR tests in Spain, a five-day quarantine in Italy, tighter controls in Germany: travellers from France face new requirements.

The need expressed by the Biden administration to break the isolation of the United States and reconnect the country with its natural allies in Europe should result in the country reopening to international travellers in the near future.

In view of the high circulation of the virus in France, Germany and the UK are expected to tighten the screws and introduce new restrictions on entry to their territory.

On Wednesday, American Express GBT organised the EVP 2021. Yorick Charveriat, recently appointed Vice-Chairman and Managing Director France of the TMC, talks about the event's hybrid format and, above all, its core theme: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The Conseil d'Etat has lifted the compelling reasons requirement for French nationals living outside the European Union or the EEA who wish to return to France. This measure came into force on 12 March.

By the summer, the Digital Green Certificate should enable citizens in the European Union to travel freely thanks to a digital document that will enable each country to check their immunity to covid. According to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, it should be available within two to three months.

Japan has banned foreign visitors from entering the country since 12 March. No exemptions are accepted. For the few foreign "happy few" and Japanese nationals, a PCR test and a certificate are now required from 19 March. 

IATA has published an encouraging survey on the level of confidence among travellers, who are calling for a better balance between health safety and international mobility.

HRS Managing Director for Western Europe, Emmanuel Ebray, talks about the recent launch of the Green Stay initiative, dedicated to CSR, as well as other new developments such as the Clean&Safe label, crisis management at HRS and a booking solution for long stays.

At the launch of its new visual identity, FCM announced the imminent arrival of a new technological solution for business travel.

According to a study published by AirPlus, the health crisis has prompted business travellers to favour car hire in various European markets, including France.