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One out of five destinations continue to have their borders completely closed as new surges of Covid-19 impact the restart of international tourism. The latest research shows that 98 per cent of all destinations still have some kind of travel restrictions in place. According to the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report, 46 destinations (21 per cent of all destinations worldwide) currently have their borders completely closed to tourists. Of these, 26 destinations have had their borders completely closed since at least the end of April last year. A further 55 (25 per cent of all global destinations) continue to have their borders partially closed to international tourism, and 112 destinations (52 per cent of all destinations) require international tourists to present a PCR or antigen test upon arrival. The research also shows how destinations are opening up to vaccinated international tourists: 85 destinations have eased restrictions for fully vaccinated international tourists, while 20 destinations have made a full Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for entering a destination for tourism purposes. However, just four destinations have so far lifted all Covid-19-related restrictions completely (Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Mexico).

Air Astana will resume flights from Almaty to New Delhi, the capital of India, on December 16th, with three services a week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. Departure from Almaty on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays is scheduled for 07:50 and arrival in New Delhi at 11:10, with return flight at 12:20 and arrival in Almaty at 16:40. All times local, with a flight time of three hours and 50 minutes in each direction. Air Astana offers convenient connections for passengers travelling from Kyiv, Bishkek, Istanbul, Tbilisi and Baku.

Various countries, as listed below, have issued new travel restrictions on traffic originating from Southern African countries, including South Africa, due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 (these may include but are not limited to quarantine upon arrival, additional testing, vaccination requirements or a complete travel ban). The affected countries currently are listed as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Mauritius, Seychelles, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Croatia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Belgium, France, Spain, Malta, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Guatemala, Cyprus, Canada, the US, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Egypt, India, Japan, the Maldives, Morocco, Qatar, Thailand, Pakistan, Israel, New Zealand, Angola. The situation is extremely fluid and changing constantly. Travel into a great number of the countries that imposed a travel ban or travel halt, is restricted to travel being allowed for citizens and permanent residents, with limited exemptions being allowed.

Due to the newly-discovered SA variant of COVID-19, Israel has banned entry of travellers from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Eswatini, according to News18. Israeli citizens returning from these countries must stay in a designated quarantine motel for seven days, even if they are fully vaccinated. They will be released after two negative PCR tests. Those who refuse to be tested must stay in quarantine for 12 days, PM Naftali Bennett has confirmed.

Avianca has confirmed the resumption of flights on the London to Bogotá route. Daily departures will begin on March 27th next year. The carrier said the decision to relaunch the route follows the lifting of restrictions for travellers arriving from Latin America in to the UK. “We are pleased to resume direct flights between the United Kingdom and Colombia, offering more and better options to our customers traveling between Europe and Latin America.

Following the recent reopening of US borders for Brits, British Airways’ first transatlantic flight from Gatwick took off earlier bound for Tampa, Florida. The airline’s services to Tampa will operate three times a week. British Airways will also resume flights from Gatwick to popular family holiday-hotspot Orlando on Friday. This is the first time the airline has operated to these destinations, and to the US from Gatwick, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year. British Airways is planning on operating to 23 US airports this winter, more than any other transatlantic carrier, with 246 flights a week from January.

Finnair will start flying between Helsinki and Bergen and Tromsø in Norway on December 14th. The routes will be operated by Norwegian regional airline Widerøe, and the flights are sold and marketed by Finnair. “We are pleased to restart our services to Bergen and Tromsø,” said Ole Orvér, chief commercial officer at Finnair.

Emirates has confirmed it will retrofit 105 of its wide-body aircraft with its premium economy product, in addition to other cabin enhancements. The 18-month retrofit programme, scheduled to begin at the end of 2022, will be entirely conducted at Emirates’ engineering centre in Dubai. It will see 52 Emirates A380s and 53 Boeing 777s fitted with the new cabin class. The airline is also considering installing a brand-new business class product on its Boeing 777 aircraft, with customised seats in a one-two-one layout.

Emirates Airline has announced intentions to launch daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, with service beginning on December 6. Emirates will give more alternatives for travellers to and from Tel Aviv through Dubai with the launch of services in only a few weeks, according to Adnan Kazim, Emirates Airline’s Chief Commercial Officer. Emirates had already been operating in Israel through its low-cost flyDubai budget airline, which currently operates four weekly flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

On 8 November, the US will ease restrictions that effectively halted tourism and non-essential travel from 33 countries, including the UK, most of Europe and China. Now all visitors with a WHO-approved vaccination (which includes AstraZeneca) will be allowed to visit the US. Visitors with passports from any country where fewer than 10% of the country’s population has been vaccinated will also be allowed.

Canada will be reopening more airports to international fights starting on November 30, the same day that passengers and crews will have to prove that they are fully vaccinated if they want to depart from a Canadian airport. The eight airports that are reopening include: St. John’s International John C. Munro Hamilton International Region of Waterloo International Regina International Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Kelowna International Abbotsford International Victoria International

Starting from November 1, Israel will be reopened to tourists fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a plan jointly drafted by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office and the Ministries of Tourism and Health. Under the plan, individual tourists who are fully inoculated with vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Sinopharm will be allowed to enter the country

Starting from next Tuesday, October 19, travellers from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain can enter Sweden restriction-free, regardless of their vaccination status, the Swedish Ministry of Justice has announced. It also notes that in spite of the entry ban exemption, travellers from UAE and Bahrain are still required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry into Sweden.

UK Secretary of Transport, Grant Shapps, announced last night 7 October that only seven countries now remained on the red list, with Britons now able to travel to 47 more countries with no need to quarantine on their return to the UK. South Africa will be added to the list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination, effective 04h00 on 11 October, according to Tourism Update. The travel advisory states: “If you arrive in England before that date you must follow the rules for people who are not fully vaccinated. If you arrive after that, you can use a vaccine certificate to prove your vaccination status.”

South Africa will move to adjusted alert level one from Friday 1 October 2021. All COVID-19 health and safety protocols must be followed, including observance of guidelines for social distancing, sanitation, hygiene and use of appropriate personal protective equipment, like face masks. The following measures will be implemented: A curfew will be in place between midnight and 04h00 am. Should your travel to/from an airport fall outside of curfew hours, you will need to produce your ticket or travel itinerary to show your reason for travel. Gatherings are permitted however only a maximum of 750 people indoors and 2000 people outdoors will be allowed. Where a venue does not permit these numbers with appropriate social distancing, only 50% of the capacity of the venue will be permitted. Non-essential establishments such as restaurants, taverns, bars and fitness centers may open however will need to close by 23h00 pm in light of curfew. The sale of alcohol at retail outlets for off-site consumption is now permitted as per normal. The sale of alcohol for on-site consumption is permitted as per licensing conditions and up to 23h00pm. All international travellers arriving in South Africa must produce a negative PCR test, to be presented on arrival and not older than 72 hours from the date of departure from the country of origin.

Emirates will restart flights to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) from December 10, responding to the easing of international travel restrictions and an upsurge in passenger demand for winter sun. The airline will resume services to its second London gateway with a daily flight operated by a B777 aircraft, across First, Business and Economy class. By the end of December, the airline will offer 84 weekly flights to the UK, making it easier for UK customers to access Emirates' growing global network of over 120 destinations - close to 90 percent of Emirates' pre-pandemic network, and for international travellers to visit the UK.

Coronavirus-related restrictions on UK-UAE air travel routes will be eased further next month as part of an overhaul of Britain's controversial traffic light system. The UAE was initially put on the UK’s travel red list on January 29, meaning that all UK arrivals must quarantine in a government-mandated hotel for 10 days. But, in a further easing of travel rules, the UK removed the amber list altogether, enabling the UAE to move to its new non-red list.

The United Arab Emirates will allow vaccinated residents with valid visas, who were on the travel ban list, from countries like India to return starting from September 12, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Friday. The decision includes passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

Saudia will return to Manchester Airport in December for the first time in 21 months as it relaunches its direct service to Jeddah. The first flight is set to depart on Wednesday, December 15th from the recently reopened Terminal Two, which has been expanded and modernized as part of a £1 billion transformation program.

South Africa will move to adjusted alert level two from Monday 13 September 2021. The following measures will be implemented: A curfew will be in place between 11h00 pm and 04h00 am. All gatherings are permitted however only a minimum of 250 people indoors and 500 people outdoors will be allowed. Where a venue does not permit these numbers, only 50% of the capacity of the venue will be permitted. Non-essential establishments such as restaurants, taverns, bars and fitness centers may open however will need to close by 22h00 pm in light of curfew. The sale of alcohol at retail outlets for off-site consumption is only permitted Monday to Friday, between 10h00 am and 18h00 pm. The sale of alcohol for on-site consumption is permitted as per licensing conditions and up to 22h00pm. All international travellers arriving in South Africa must produce a negative PCR test, to be presented on arrival and not older than 72 hours from the date of departure from the country of origin. A person entering the Republic must be subjected to screening on arrival at the point of entry, including the completion of a traveller health questionnaire. A person who, during screening, is found to have had exposure to COVID-19 or is presenting with any signs and symptoms of COVID-19, must be subjected to a medical examination which may include testing and isolation. A person who is not in possession of a valid negative COVID-19 PCR rest will be subject to antigen testing at the point of entry and may be subject to quarantine at an approved facility at his or her own cost. South Africans are permitted to travel freely internationally as mentioned during the ministerial brief on 30 September 2020, however will be required to check the entry requirements of the country they wish to travel to. With the emergence of COVID-19 variants, some countries have decided to restrict entry from South Africa for a period of time. Some entry restrictions and border closures remain in effect globally. Any returning South African citizens and residents will be subject to entry regulations and protocols and may be required to enter quarantine.