Phillip Island Nature Parks in Australia has announced increased capacity at the Penguin Parade and the planned re-opening of the Nobbies Centre and Antarctic Journey, as it takes the last few steps towards COVID Normal and a COVIDSafe summer. This will bring all of the Nature Parks’ attractions back into operation seven days a week for the first time since March. Numbers of tickets to the Penguin Parade will increase from 50 to 500 per night with all venues operating under the organisation’s strict COVIDSafe Plan. Tickets for the Penguin Parade will be released in stages and are only available for purchase online. A new system of ticket holders being given a staggered entry time to the visitor centre is also being introduced to ensure physical distancing is maintained. All visitors will be at the beach before the penguins arrive. The reopening of the Nobbies Centre and Antarctic journey, planned for December 3, will bring the Nature Parks’ attraction offering whole again and also offers visitors the chance to enjoy the ocean views, café, exhibits and to do some Christmas shopping. The team has been busy treating the Nobbies Centre to a complete makeover to ensure it is fresh for the summer.

Passengers from countries not featured on the UK government’s travel corridor list arriving into England will be able to reduce the mandatory self-isolation by at least a week. This includes Indian arrivals as well. The government has launched a new strategy for testing international arrivals from 15 December 2020 whereby passengers will have the option to take a test after 5 days of self-isolation, and releasing them from the need to isolate if the test result is negative. Tests will be at the cost of the traveller.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has stated that nearly 25% of businesses will permanently shut down before the end of this financial year. “The industry anticipates poor business for at least another year. Until then, it needs working capital. If we are allowed to wind up, rebuilding it will prove to be an even bigger challenge,” says Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, its VP.  

According to a recent report by Amadeus, 70% of APAC travellers are ready to travel domestically. The average time spent on holidays will not change, with half of travellers seeking trip duration of 14 days or more. Reconnecting with family and friends is the predominant reason for 55% of these travellers. 34% travellers opt to explore unfamiliar destinations and 32% desire to ‘reconnect with the outdoors’.

KTM Virtual 2020 which was to be held from November 23-27 has been postponed to first quarter of next year due to the pandemic. The new dates will be announced later. Registrations will however remain open. KTM 2020 was originally supposed to be held in Kochi on Sept 24-27, 2020 before it announced its virtual version. The timings for the five-day virtual event will be from 12 noon to 12 midnight, in line with the different time zones of the buyers.

IATA has announced that Alexandre de Juniac, its Director General and CEO, will step down from his role at the association effective March 31, 2021. He made known his intention to step down several months ago. The IATA Board of Governors will recommend the appointment of Willie Walsh, former CEO of International Airlines Group to become IATA’s eighth Director General from April 1, 2021.

Concept Hospitality has announced the complete opening of its 45-room The Fern Residency, Noida in Uttar Pradesh. This is the third hotel the company is operating in both the state and in the NCR. The other operational properties in UP are in Agra and Sarnath. This takes the number of hotels managed by the company in India, Nepal and Seychelles to 74 operational hotels, with 6 more scheduled to open by the year-end.

The two-day Gulf Travel Show (GTS) concluded successfully with more than 2,500 buyers from 59 countries who met 40 exhibitors from across the world. The first-ever two-day virtual event of the region witnessed more than 3,000 one-to-one meetings between suppliers and travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines, hotels, TMCs and international agencies.

Sharing an update on the ongoing discussion with the GST Council, Pradip Lulla, Acting President and Vice President, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), has said, “We had requested the GST Council and the Finance Ministry to review the refund of GST on air ticket refunds, and extend the date applicable for refund GST till March 31, 2021 due to the delay in total refunds by airlines. However, we have received no update on this. In fact, we even took this matter up during the APJC meeting. Unfortunately, the airlines argued that the government is not abiding by that. So agents who have submitted refunds after October 1, 2020 will not receive any refunds and GST will be deducted, because the airline has to pay to the government. Those who have submitted before October 1, their GST will not be cut, and will be duly refunded. The government is not willing to extend any leniency in this matter; since its a liability to the government, they will not allow anything to agents.” As per rule, if tickets are not refunded till September 30, 2020, then GST will not be refunded and customers will end up losing 5% in the economy class ticket and 12% in business class of the ticket value. TAFI has also filed a case in Supreme Court for airline refunds.

Aloke Singh has taken charge as the new CEO of Air India Express with tenure of three years. The former Senior Advisor- Airline Consulting, CAPA South Asia who has also worked with Oman Air as Chief Officer Network Planning takes over from K Shyam Sundar, who was leading the airline since March 2014. The profitable low-cost arm of Air India reported its highest-ever net profit of Rs 412.77 cr in financial year ending March.