World Briefs
Airlines are using the most potent disinfectants to eliminate the coronavirus (COVID-19) from its planes. Korean Air Lines Co., Qantas Airways Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s Scott unit were some of the airlines that helped in the evacuation of people in Wuhan, the Chinese city that’s the center of the epidemic, and from the cruise ship off the coast of Japan.
Many prospective travelers enduring the wintertime blues look forward to Spring Break to get away from the cold and snow. However, most people stay home because of the mistaken impression that spring break vacation costs too much to get away. Thankfully, this is a misconception. If you need to get away from the day-to-day busyness of your lifestyle and hit the beach, explore a new state or country, or you just want to stay near home for your next vacation, you can do it. And, you can do it without spending a lot of money with some left for that summer vacation you had been planning. Book The Spring Vacation Now The right time to book for Spring Break is far an advance for it. All spring dates are not the same. Since springtime is the most common time to fly, airline prices are increasing. In fact, they’ll rise significantly [...]
Although the rate of coronavirus infections has slowed, the effects the global epidemic has had on the tourism industry is rapidly increasing. The impacts of the coronavirus is already being seen and felt throughout Asia, which had a GDP of $884 billion in 2017. In China, inbound tourism netted $127.3 billion in 2019. However, with the rise in coronavirus diagnoses, travel agents, hoteliers and others in the travel industry are bracing for a months-long economic disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak. And, these long-term effects could spill over into 2021. Embark Beyond Managing Partner and Founder Jack Ezon said the number of canceled trips to China and all through Asia has increased every day. Some people are hesitant to go anywhere, afraid of what could happen. Many of them are waiting until next year to go. He said 75 percent of people canceled their February and March trips to Southeast [...]
As concerns about the coronavirus spread, people looking to enjoy the Lunar New Year season canceled trips, which hit China’s air, road and rail travel industry hard. Transport Ministry Vice Minister Liu Xiaoming said passenger travel would drop 45 percent during the 40-day travel season, ending Feb. 18. Airlines transported just an average of 470,000 people a day between Jan. 25 and Feb. 14, a quarter of 2019’s amount. Between Feb. 15 and Feb. 23, the amount of passengers was one-tenth of the peak period. The coronavirus outbreak has shaken up the country’s transportation industry, especially after officials shut down large swaths of the country and over 50 countries implementing travel restrictions to and from China. The crisis is taking place at a crucially busy time for the country – with the Lunar New Year season going. It was expected that hundreds of millions of Chinese would go on three [...]
China is not happy with Australia after its prime minister extended its travel ban of foreign nationals leaving the country for seven additional days in the wake of a deepening Coronavirus crisis. There will be a weekly review of the China Travel ban, and its decision is the result of businesses warning that it could add to the damage of the domestic economy thanks to the virus and the communist regime’s protests. According to a Chinese embassy spokesperson, since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has taken broad, strict prevention and control measures that have surpassed the WHO and International Health Regulations’ recommendations. The spokesperson said this is leading to positive results, and the epidemic will soon be over. WHO does not feel it is necessary to put travel and trade limitations on China. Australia and a handful of other countries have gone to extremes, which many consider to be an overreaction. [...]
After the 2013 release of the documentary Blackfish, SeaWorld made some significant changes. It terminated its orca breeding program. It ended all the whale dancing and kissing orca performances. The company also changed how people interacted with the animals, making it more educational rather than entertainment. The latest SeaWorld change includes ending “dolphin surfing tricks” park trainers would do in the shows. Dolphin surfing is where the trainers would ride on the backs or snouts of two swimming dolphins, standing up. The company said it sent its decision to eliminate the theatrics of the dolphin shows to the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the letter, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had asked its shareholders to vote in ending the dolphin shows at the park. PETA holds more than 160 shares of SeaWorld stock. The letter details the company’s plans in which it would no longer surf [...]
It was just a little over three years ago that the U.K. voted to exit the European Union. Now, the exit, called Brexit, is taking shape and it could affect how people travel around Europe. According to various reports, the U.K. may no longer be associated with Europe, but for the next year, there won’t be much change in how people move around. For instance, visa-free travel will be available within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. This area encompasses a majority of Western Europe and has no active borders between the borders. It was 2016 when the U.K first decided to break away from the EU, but the rules for travel were not agreed to until April 2019. And, through December 2020, things will remain the same. According to European Tourism Association Chief Executive Tom Jenkins, people will not need a visa or [...]
An expansion of the U.S. travel ban, issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, is targeting a large swath of immigrants from six countries, including Nigeria. The ban is said to affect thousands of people, and could, once again, spark discussions about the discriminatory nature of the policy.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has submitted a proposal that just specially-trained dogs designated as service animals be allowed on airplanes. This would mean emotional support animals – from dogs to cats to rabbits to snakes – would no longer be permitted on airlines.
With the rise in coronavirus numbers, the travel industry is bracing itself for the negative impact. According to Chinese officials, there are thousands of cases and over 30 deaths with confirmed cases in other countries: Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the U.S. China expanded its quarantine to 12 cities in and around Wuhan – the epicenter of the outbreak – which has 35 million people. The World Health Organization said precautions were needed, but no global emergency was being enacted just yet. How Will The Tourism Industry Be Affected By The Virus Outbreak The damage the coronavirus can cause on the tourism industry is just as bad as the virus’ timing. For instance, China’s Lunar New Year may have been impacted by the illness. It’s a time of year where 400 million Chinese travelers were expected to travel for a several-weeks long holiday vacation to other parts of the country [...]
Maui is the second largest island in Hawaii and undoubtedly is a paradise in a lot of aspects. Maui is not Disneyland so for best enjoyment and safety, a trip to this Hawaiian island requires some planning. This article offers some helpful tips to guide you to planning your trip of a lifetime to Maui.
Having a family is truly one of the best feelings in the world. Your family is there for you when things look bleak, they provide the best guidance and advice when needed, and they will support you like no one else will. But that support also goes both ways. Those who live in a developed country like the United States or England are often called on to support family members in developing countries like Africa. Not that a reason is needed to provide this support but here are four primary reasons for supporting family members in Africa.
