As of midnight on May 20, 2022, testing is no longer required for anyone traveling to Israel.  The requirement to present a negative RT-PCR test prior to departure, complete RT-PCR test upon arrival followed by isolation has also been removed.  Travellers are still required to complete an entry statement (https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/) within the 48 hours from departure to Israel. In addition to the removal of testing requirements, as of today (May 23), the mask mandate for international flights to/from Israel has been lifted as well. Regarding the changes in entry protocols, Sammy Yahia, Director of Tourism to India & Philippines said, “This new development in Israel’s entry requirements is great step in being able to welcome visitors back to Israel.  This will make traveling to Israel simpler and more relaxing, and your vacation will begin the moment you step off the plane.  I for one am thrilled to have visitors enjoy my home country.” The revised regulations can be found here: https://corona.health.gov.il/en/abroad/arriving-foreign-nationals/ All this, against the background of a slow and consistent rise in incoming tourism to Israel post-pandemic.  207,400 tourist entries were recorded in April of this year, compared with 30,200 in April 2021 and 405,000 in April 2019. This points to a continuation of the recovery trend for incoming tourism to Israel, with a significant increase in relation to April 2021 and a decrease of about 49% in relation to April 2019. The pace of tourist entries to date represents the basis for a forecast assessment of 1.5 to 2 million tourist entries in 2022.

Thailand is now open and restrictions have eased for Indian visitors! To update the travel fraternity on the SOPs for travel to Thailand, Akbar Holidays along with Tourism Thailand, will conduct an exclusive webinar today at 3PM IST. The session will also focus on Thailand packages. To sign up, contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Thailand is now open and restrictions have eased for Indian visitors! To update the travel fraternity on the SOPs for travel to Thailand, Akbar Holidays along with Tourism Thailand, will conduct an exclusive webinar on Monday, May 23 at 3PM IST. The session will also focus on Thailand packages. To sign up, contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

India has been focusing on confidence-building strategies post-pandemic to intensify its tourism sector in the Middle East region that has been one of its major targeted markets. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism said that India is focusing to ease the difficulties that were created for the tourists due to the spread of the coronavirus which impacted the world economy severely. “The Ministry has also been focusing on confidence-building strategies post- pandemic,” she said.

Resorts World Cruises, a new Asian luxury and lifestyle cruise brand will have its global debut in Singapore on 15 June 2022 with the Genting Dream. With its inception, Resorts World Cruises aims to position itself as the leading and best cruise line in the region for Asian and internationally sourced passengers, providing diverse international experiences, which can also be customised by the passengers. The 18-deck 150,695 gross tons Genting Dream can accommodate 3,352 passengers, with a generous space ratio of 45 gross tons per passenger, the most spacious ship in Asia. And with 1,600 crew, she will have the best service with the most crew per passenger compared with any other ship in the region. “The Palace” is a ‘luxury ship-within-a-ship’ at the top deck with 142 suites, including its own exclusive restaurant, bar, sundeck, spa, gym and other facilities with butler service. Genting Dream will cater to a wide Asian demographic that will provide an international cruise experience exceeding its peers. Resorts World Cruises is a brand extension of Resorts World, a global brand with 46 properties in 8 countries spanning 4 continents, welcoming over 80 million visitors a year and served by more than 30,000 employees. The latest Resorts World property, the US $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas opened in June 2021, the newest integrated resort and the only one to be built on the Las Vegas Strip after more than 10 years and features a 26,000 sq. feet Singapore-inspired Zouk Nightclub, the latest and most exciting nightlife attraction in Las Vegas. Resorts World Cruises is supported by a management with over 5 decades of international hospitality experience and close to 3 decades of global cruise …

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announces the new PATA Executive Board. Peter Semone has been formally endorsed as the Chair of the Association’s Executive Board. PATA also elected 6 new members: Benjamin Liao, Forte Hotel Group; Suman Pandey, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure; Tunku Iskandar, Mitra Malaysia Sdn. Bhd; SanJeet, DDP Publications; Luzi Matzig, Asian Trails, and Dr Fanny Vong, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM).

Union Tourism Minister, G. Kishan Reddy has said that river cruise industry could become a new tourism avenue in India in the coming years. He stressed the vast potential of the river cruise industry in the country. Aligning in the direction, he also invited domestic and international tourists to ‘Come, Cruise in India.’ According to him, the Government is currently working towards a comprehensive Indian National Tourism Policy and cruise tourism will be a priority sector. With Government initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, tourism-related infrastructure is also being developed with a focus on shipping, river tourism, and forest and wildlife tourism.

With an aim to highlight the potential that the Indian outbound traveller poses for destinations post-Covid, TravTalk will organise a discussion titled ‘The Indian Traveller: Writing the global recovery sequel’. On the panel will be stalwarts from the Indian outbound sector such as MakeMyTrip, Travel Designer and InterGlobe Technology Quotient who will highlight new trends and redefine the evolved Indian traveller.

Speaking to International media on day two of ATM in Dubai, ADG Rupinder Brar said that the Middle East has been the major target market for Indian tourism and that large number of tourists from there visit India for MICE, medical, wellness, and luxury tourism. She added that her ministry has already undertaken ‘NamasteIndia’ campaign to encourage international visitors to travel to India.

Face masks will not have to be worn in airports and on flights in Europe from May 16, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said. From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport. Italy, France, Bulgaria and other European countries been relaxing or ending many or all of their measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.