Forgetting Hong Kong's international role...
Even stricter confinement rules have just been approved by Hong Kong's executive. This confirms the desire of the local government - and therefore of Beijing - to disconnect the city even further from the outside world. And to reduce its autonomy.
Thailand finally opens its doors to visitors
Bangkok is once again accessible to vaccinated travellers, with no quarantine and minimal restrictions compared with other destinations in South-East Asia. Pragmatism has finally won the day...
The United States confirms the date of 8 November for the opening of its borders
The United States has finally confirmed the date on which its borders will reopen to vaccinated travellers. The date will be November 8. The announcement of the date had been pending since the previous announcement in September of the end of the ban on non-essential travel for vaccinated travellers.
Oceania's carriers open Pandora's box on vaccination
The airline industry had promised that there would be no discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated passengers who tested negative for covid. The good resolution is cracking: Qantas and Air New Zealand only want to carry vaccinated travellers. A breach in the legality of the process? In any case, Pandora's box has been opened: AirAsia has just followed suit, and other airlines are sure to follow...
Asia begins to reopen its doors to international visitors
Asian countries are realising that it is finally time to reopen up to the outside world. All the more so as their economies are increasingly suffering from forced isolation, which has more to do with a collective popular psychosis than with any real Cartesian reasoning... A turning point?
Australia finally gives up on "open borders
Australia is finally backtracking on its desire to remain isolated from the rest of the planet until 2022. The inflexible Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally seems to be relenting, while Qantas is working on the resumption of some international routes, including London to Europe.
Bangkok ready to reopen soon?
After repeatedly announcing and then delaying the reopening of Bangkok and the rest of Thailand, it seems that the kingdom is finally ready to welcome foreign visitors once again. This time, the month of November should mark Bangkok's return to the international stage.
Russia continues to simplify visa formalities
Russia is continuing to encourage travellers to return to the country. Since August, it has been offering a tourist visa valid for six months and authorising more entry points for visitors.
Will business travel to the UK soon be less complex?
Vaccinated French business travellers will no longer have to undergo a PCR test when travelling to the UK from October. But the rest of the UK - and Scotland in particular - may not follow suit. The desire for simplification would be spoiled, to say the least...
United States: opening up at last!
The US government has confirmed that the country will once again be welcoming non-essential foreign travellers from 1 November. There is one absolute rule: only people vaccinated against Covid-19 will be admitted...
Japanese business community implores government to reopen borders
For a country as dependent on exports as Japan, the closure of the Japanese archipelago for a year and a half now - with the notable exception of the Olympic Games in Tokyo - is a disaster for the business community.
Business travel at IFTM Top Resa: time for business!
Held from 5 to 8 October at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, IFTM Top Resa is a key event for all those involved in business travel. Register free of charge for the show!
Amex GBT and Cvent partner in CSR-based hotel sourcing
American Express GBT and Cvent have joined forces to strengthen the CSR aspect of hotel sourcing through an enriched and more efficient information-gathering process.
Increasingly sustainable travel policies?
A new study published by the Business Travel Show Europe estimates that a comfortable majority of travel buyers are incorporating sustainable development into their travel management policy. The crisis is thought to have accelerated this trend.
Over 25% of business trips replaced by online meetings according to Morgan...
While there is a real need among business people to return to face-to-face meetings, video-conferencing has a bright future ahead of it. According to a survey carried out by the investment bank Morgan Stanley among a hundred or so travel managers, video-conferencing is set to replace more than a quarter of business trips...
French travellers: the UK is finally accessible
French travellers can once again visit the United Kingdom without having to undergo a prohibitive and costly quarantine. From 8 August, France will be included in the UK's 'amber' list, along with the majority of EU countries. And the United States could also soon ease travel restrictions.
Asian hotel prices at their lowest in 2021
With the exception of China and Australia, where the average price of a room has risen between 2020 and 2021, hotels in the major cities of Asia-Pacific continue to suffer from the pandemic. It's a shame that European travellers can hardly take advantage of this...
Antilles and Réunion in curfew mode
Travel protocols between France and the French overseas departments are being tightened, while containment measures are restricting domestic travel.
French still quarantined in the UK
The British government has just announced that all vaccinated travellers from the European Union and the United States will no longer have to undergo quarantine from 2 August. They will, however, have to undergo a PCR test on day 2 of their arrival. However, this measure does not yet apply to France.
Canada lifts restrictions on Europeans
Canada has announced that it will finally lift its restrictions on so-called "non-essential" travel by foreign visitors. The reopening will begin with the United States on 9 August. Europe will follow on 7 September. This is particularly good news for Air Canada, which is resuming flights on the Paris-Toronto and Geneva-Montreal routes.
