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Italy's main train operator, the state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, has announced from April they will begin operating 'COVID-free' train services, including to Italy's main tourist destinations, in time for the Summer season. As part of this initiative, passengers will have to arrive at the station an hour ahead of departure, before being subject to testing for COVID-19 prior to boarding - with train crew also undergoing the same procedure.

Collinson is the first private provider to offer the mandatory COVID-19 tests currently required for all arrivals into the UK. Travellers can now opt to take the first of their two required RT-PCR tests as soon as they arrive at London Heathrow, Manchester, London Stansted, London City, Luton or East Midlands airports.

The governments of the United Arab Emirates and Israel have reportedly entered formal talks to establish a quarantine-free travel corridor between the two countries to boost bilateral exchange, following a normalisation deal. The travel corridor, which will apply to passengers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will help facilitate travel for commercial, tourism and official purposes.

The country's foreign ministry announced today, 11 March, that France will ease some COVID-19 restrictions on international travel outside of Europe; passengers arriving to or from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Britain and Singapore will no longer need a compelling reason to travel. All other restrictions, such as a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test result obtained no more than 72 hours before travel, will remain in place. An official decree with further, confirmed information is due to be published on 12 March.

The country's government has announced a new plan as part of efforts to boost tourism, allowing visitors to undergo a COVID-19 quarantine period on board yachts located in the waters around Phuket, in Thailand's gulf. Members of the Royal Thai Navy will monitor and track the boats, and once visitors complete their 14-day quarantine they'll be permitted to moor at a dock in Phuket and enter the island. Qualifying visitors must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, and will also have their health and location monitored via a smart wristband.

The country's government has announced the launch of a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travels. In a statement issued on China's foreign ministry website, it's stated that the certificates hold details about the holder’s COVID-19 vaccination information and test results; however, it's not immediately clear with which countries China is forming an agreement with for the use of these certificates. Domestically, China has not yet announced any relaxation of quarantine restrictions for people arriving in China who are vaccinated against COVID-19.

The airline has announced that from 15 March it will begin testing the International Air Transport Association's 'Travel Pass' mobile health verification app on flights from Singapore to London; from this date, passengers on that route using Apple iOS-enabled phones will be able to download the app and create a digital identification with their photo and passport information. They also can submit flight information and book a COVID-19 test at one of seven participating clinics in Singapore, after which their test results can be viewed directly in the app. Check-in staff at Singapore's Changi airport can then verify their status via the app, which will speed up the check-in process.

The country's government has announced that from 'next month', it will reduce its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine period for international arrivals from 14 days to seven, for those arriving in the country having already been vaccinated against the virus. Vaccinations must have been administered within three months prior to arrival, and visitors will still be required to show negative COVID-19 test results obtained a maximum of three days prior to their departure.

The airline has announced that it has extended its COVID-19 global wellness insurance cover until 1 October 2021; the cover is included with every Etihad ticket, providing protection for the first 31 days of a passenger’s trip.

The Dominican Republic is fully open for tourism under its regular visa requirements. There are currently no restricted countries due to the pandemic. While visitors will face restrictions while on the island, entry requirements are relatively easy. There are currently no mandatory testing or quarantine requirements on arrival. Authorities, however, may randomly administer a quick Covid-19 breath test on selected travellers. All passengers must fill out an online E-ticket form before arriving.

The middle-eastern airline has announced that it is set to boost seat capacity on services to the Seychelles this summer, as the destination continues to gradually re-open to international visitors; the Seychelles will be permitting visitors with only need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72-hours prior to departure. There will be no quarantine requirement or restriction on movement on those arriving with Qatar Airways via Doha.

The hotel brand has announced that from this month, event planner partners who book or have booked an event at any U.S. property will gain access to the 'EventReady Playbook' - a manual including a list of third party partners that can provide a variety of COVID-19 testing and health screening options; among other options this will include same day, on-site COVID-19 testing.

The Dubai-based airline has published an update stating that Emirates’ flights from South Africa will remain suspended until 20 March, in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from South Africa, into the UAE. Daily passenger flights to Johannesburg will resume from 11 March and will operate as flight number EK763, however outbound passenger services on flight number EK764 remain suspended.

The Israeli airline today, 8 March, launched a pilot programme at its Tel Aviv airport check-in counters to test unvaccinated passengers for COVID-19, before allowing them to board a non-stop flight to New York. Further testing is due to be carried out by the airline in New York within the next week, before a decision is made on whether to expand the initiative to other flight routes.

The country's government has announced that visitors to Zimbabwe, regardless of citizenship, are now no longer required to quarantine after arrival; passengers must however produce a qualifying, negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

The country's government has announced an upcoming relaxation of COVID-19 alert levels in New Zealand from 7 March, following five days with no new community transmission of the virus. From 06.00 (local time) on 7 March, Auckland will move from alert level 'three' to 'two', and the rest of the country will move from alert level 'two' to 'one'.

The country's government has announced that from 25 March it will re-open its borders to tourism from all destinations, with the exception only of passengers arriving from South Africa. Arriving passengers will now only be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure; there will be also be no quarantine requirement nor restriction on movement upon entry into the Seychelles.

The government of the Portuguese island of Madeira has opened a ‘green corridor’ to admit tourists who have been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19; the destination previously already allows visitors to enter with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. To be eligible for the new travel corridor, tourists must prove their status through one of two documents – either proof of COVID-19 recovery in the last 90 days or an official vaccination certificate, which includes the date of the two doses taken and the immunisation period for each vaccine. Documentation in English must be submitted to the Madeirasafe.com app before the trip is taken.

The country's government has announced that from 3 March it is welcoming business travellers with the launch of the 'safe travel' portal, which contains information and advisory services for both short- and long-term business travellers. Short-term business travellers staying in the country for 14 days or less may now be considered for exemption from mandatory quarantine, subject to the approval. Business travellers must however obtain relevant visas, if applicable, from the respective embassy or high commission prior to departure for Malaysia.

The country's government has announced that all passengers entering Jamaica, both nationals and non-nationals, will now have to present a negative COVID-19 test result in order to enter the country. The test must be conducted a maximum of 72 hours prior to the date of travel, and the requirement will take effect from 4 March. Prior to this, only citizens of specific countries that Jamaica had classified as 'high-risk' for COVID-19 were required to provide a negative test result.