MALAYSIA: Country restricts entry for long-term visa holders from nine further countries

The government of Malaysia yesterday, 3 September, added at least nine more countries to its list of those from which long-term immigration pass holders will be barred entry to the country. From 7 September, entry will be restricted for those with the aforementioned visas from countries including the UK, United States, France, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
France
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
United Kingdom
United States of America
Borders
Business

RUSSIA: Country resumes international flights with three additional countries

The country has resumed international flights with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives according to a Russian government order published today. Three flights per week are reportedly authorised to Cairo, as well as two flights per week to Dubai and the Maldives.
Egypt
Maldives
Middle East
Russia
Borders
Business
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GREECE: Country to increase restrictions on arrivals from Russia from 7-21 September 2020

The government of Greece has announced that it will require visitors from Russia to present a negative COVID-19 test before entering the country between 7-21 September. Under the new advisory, Russian citizens will need to obtain the test result a maximum of 72 hours prior to their arrival. Greece also said that a maximum 500 people from Russia will be allowed to land at the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion per week during the period in question.
Greece
Russia
Borders
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VIETNAM: Country plans to resume flights to six Asian cities from September 2020

The country’s government has said that it plans to resume international commercial flights to and from six Asian cities from mid-September; the destinations proposed are Guangzhou, Seoul, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Taipei and Tokyo. Arriving passengers to Vietnam will still be required to undergo two weeks of quarantine.
Japan
Laos
Mainland China
South Korea
Taiwan
Vietnam
Borders
Business
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INDIGO: Indian low-cost airline commences flights between the Maldives and India from 3 September 2020

Indian low-cost airline IndiGo will from today, 3 September, commence flights between the capital of the Maldives, Male and India's Kochi under a bilateral air bubble agreement. Initially this new service will operate twice per week.
India
Maldives
Airline
Borders
Indigo
Business
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ONEFINESTAY: Housekeeping & guest safety commitment update

Onefinestay provides high-end home and villa rentals worldwide, offering personal and professional service to guests and homeowners alike. Since launching in 2010, Onefinestay has been committed to the highest hospitality standards. They have recently enhanced these standards with stringent new guidelines around housekeeping and hygiene, so that you can continue feeling safe and reassured when staying in any of their homes or villas.
Australia
Indonesia
Mexico
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States of America
Hotel
Accor
Business
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline to add five additional routes in September 2020

The airline has announced further route resumptions with five additional services being added for September; Virgin are resuming flying from London Heathrow to New Delhi, Tel Aviv, Atlanta, Mumbai and Lagos. Further routes are also set to be resumed throughout the remainder of 2020.
India
Nigeria
United Kingdom
Airline
Virgin Atlantic
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CHINA: Country to allow resumption of direct flights to Beijing from eight countries

The country’s civil aviation regulator has said today that direct flights to Beijing from eight countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Canada will be able to resume from tomorrow, 3 September.
Canada
Denmark
Greece
Mainland China
Sweden
Thailand
Borders
Business
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POLAND: Country's government suspends direct flights from 44 countries

The country’s government has announced that from today, 2 September, it is banning direct flights from 44 countries including Spain, Israel and Romania in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The United States, Malta, Montenegro, Mexico, Brasil, Argentina and India are also on the list of countries.
Argentina
Brazil
India
Malta
Mexico
Montenegro
Poland
Romania
Spain
United States of America
Borders
Business
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INDIA: Country moves into 'Unlock 4.0' stage of COVID-19 lockdown re-opening

The Indian government has released information on it’s ‘Unlock 4.0’ - the fourth stage of the country’s post-COVID-19 re-opening. Within September a number of transport, sporting and entertainment services will be permitted to resume, and inter-state movement of people and goods can no longer be restricted.
India
Borders
Business
Leisure

EMIRATES: Airline resumes flights to Bangkok from 1 September 2020

The Dubai-based airline has from today, 1 September, resumed passenger flights to Bangkok, Thailand; this resumption has expanded Emirates’ current network to 78 cities in September, offering travellers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific convenient connections via Dubai to the popular Thai destination. Flights between Dubai and Bangkok will be operated with an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering seats in first, business and economy class.
Middle East
Thailand
Airline
Emirates
Business
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SINGAPORE: Visitors from Brunei and New Zealand to be permitted from 8 September 2020

Singapore Airlines have released an update on entry requirements for Singapore, whereby it's reported that from 1 September visitors from Brunei and New Zealand will be able to apply for a single-entry Air Travel Pass (ATP) for arrival from 8 September onwards. Visitors must apply between 7-30 days prior to travel, and will also be subjected to a COVID-19 test on arrival in Singapore.
New Zealand
Singapore
Borders
Singapore Airlines
Business
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HONG KONG: Region to ease some COVID-19 restrictions from 28 August 2020

The government of Hong Kong has said that it will ease some COVID-19 restrictions from 28 August, allowing venues like cinemas to re-open to restaurants to extend dining hours. Outdoor sports centres will also re-open and the wearing of masks in some settings, including sport, will no longer be required.
Hong Kong
Borders
Business
Leisure

RUSSIA: Country due to announce the resumption of international flights to some countries

A newspaper in the country has reported that an announcement could be made this week in relation to the resumption of international flights to France, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus, Jordan, Egypt and China’s Shanghai. Russia grounded international commercial flights during the COVID-19 lockdown earlier this year and has so far only resumed flights to London, Turkey, Tanzania and Switzerland.
Cyprus
Egypt
France
Hungary
Mainland China
Malta
Russia
Borders
Business
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INDONESIA: Country delays re-opening of Bali to international tourism

The governor of the Indonesian island of Bali has confirmed that plans to re-open to international tourism on 11 September have been postponed indefinitely, following an increase in COVID-19 cases. A decision on when foreign tourism can resume will depend on the assessment of the situation in and outside of the country, according to a government statement.
Indonesia
Borders
Leisure

JAPAN: Country to ease entry restrictions for resident foreign nationals from September 2020

Japanese public broadcaster NHK has reported that the country's government is planning to ease its COVID-19 entry restrictions on foreign nationals with resident visas starting next month. Re-entry will be permitted for visa holders, including permanent residents and exchange students, on condition that they undergo COVID-19 testing and quarantine for 14 days - the same policy that applies to Japanese citizens re-entering the country. The government is yet to officially confirm these measures and their start date.
Japan
Borders
Business
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PHILIPPINE AIRLINES: Selected Middle East flights from 20-28 August to be diverted to Cebu

The airline has said that select Middle East flights from 20-28 August will transit at Cebu's Mactan-Cebu International Airport rather than Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. This will include departures from Dubai, Qatar's Doha and Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Information on what these means for passengers, and requirements for pre-registering with Cebu Airport for those on affected flights, can be found on the airline's website.
Middle East
Philippines
Airline
Philippine Airlines
Business

FINLAND: Country to reinstate travel restrictions for a number of countries from 24 August 2020

The country's government has announced today, 19 August, that it will bring back restrictions for several countries which had previously been considered safe, due to rises in cases of COVID-19. Travel to Iceland, Greece, Malta, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, San Marino and Japan for citizens will be limited to essential trips starting on 24 August, with people returning or visiting from those countries required to self-quarantine for two weeks.
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Japan
Malta
Norway
Borders
Business
Leisure

VICTORIA CRUISE LINES: U.S. cruise operator returns to China's Yangtze River

U.S. managed operator Victoria Cruise Lines has launched its first sailing on China's Yangtze River since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the renovated 'Victoria Katarina' having set sail on 17 August; two further vessels are also set to depart in September on weekly sailings between Chongqing and Yichang. The ships will be sailing at 50% capacity, and included among a number of adaptive measures installed are hospital grade particle filtration units in the air conditioning.
Mainland China
Cruise
Victoria Cruise Lines
Leisure