1. La dolce vita – 1960

Directed by Federico Fellini, La dolce vita is a cornerstone of Italian cinema and one of Fellini’s greatest masterpieces. The term paparazzo, now used worldwide, first appeared in this film. Shot in striking black and white, it offers a mesmerising portrait of Rome’s glamour, excesses and contradictions. If you want to experience the Eternal City through one of cinema’s most iconic lenses, this film is essential viewing.

2. A Room with a view – 1985

Adapted from E. M. Forster’s famous novel, this film takes viewers to Florence, where its protagonists discover a freer way of living, beyond social conventions. The magnificent shots of Florence are guaranteed to make you fall in love with the city and its timeless charm.

3. Cinema Paradiso – 1988

One of the most emotional Italian films ever made, Cinema Paradiso is Giuseppe Tornatore’s tribute to the magic of cinema. Through a series of flashbacks, the director recalls the protagonist’s childhood and a time when, in post-war Italy, cinema offered a precious escape from reality.

4. Il Postino – 1994

Set in the Gulf of Naples, Il Postino tells the story of a fisherman who becomes the personal postman of poet Pablo Neruda, exiled in Italy from Chile. His friendship with Neruda helps him find the words and confidence to pursue Beatrice, the woman he loves. The film is also a wonderful opportunity to admire the beauty of southern Italy.

5. The talented Mr. Ripley – 1999

Jude Law stars as the charismatic anti-hero in this stylish thriller that slowly builds towards a dramatic conclusion. Beyond its suspenseful plot, the film offers a visual journey through Italy, with scenes shot in Mongibello, along the Amalfi Coast, as well as in San Remo and Venice.

6. Roman Holiday – 1953

A true cinematic masterpiece, Roman Holiday stars Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck and famously helped popularise the Vespa. The iconic scene of the couple riding through Rome became legendary, while the film itself showcases some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks.

7. The Tourist – 2010

Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp star in this mystery thriller set in Venice. The city’s narrow streets, canals, gondolas and misty atmosphere are beautifully captured throughout the film, turning Venice itself into one of the main characters.

8. Eat pray love – 2010

From gelato in Rome to pizza in Naples, Julia Roberts fully embraces Italian pleasures in Eat Pray Love. Scenes filmed at the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, on Piazza Navona, and across the city provide the perfect backdrop for this introspective and reflective journey.

9. Stealing Beauty – 1996

Lucy, played by Liv Tyler, rediscovers her family roots during a summer spent in Tuscany, near Siena. The region’s rolling landscapes and breathtaking views create a poetic setting, while interior scenes were filmed in the Chianti area.

10. Malèna – 2000

Monica Bellucci stars as Malèna, the woman who captivates young Renato’s heart. Shot in Sicily, the film uses baroque architecture and dramatic landscapes as its backdrop. Key scenes were filmed in Syracuse, particularly in Piazza del Duomo in Ortigia, as well as Marina di Noto and Scala dei Turchi.

From the streets of Rome to the landscapes of Sicily and Tuscany, Italian cinema continues to offer a powerful invitation to travel. These films capture not only places, but also moods, memories and ways of life, reminding us that Italy is as much a feeling as it is a destination. Whether revisiting a classic or discovering a film for the first time, each of these stories offers a cin

L’article How Italian cinema can inspire your next journey est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. Reynisfjara Beach, Vik, Iceland

Ok, Iceland isn’t a tropical beach destination, but this place is still worht a visit. Vik Beach, also known as Reynisfjara Beach, on the South Coast of Iceland is probably the most famous black sand beach in the country, thanks to the appearance its epic shoreline and distant Reynisdrangar sea stacks in both Game of Thrones and Star Wars, along with many other films and television shows. Inky black sands and roaring waves give this beach an incredible atmosphere.

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2. Miho no Matsubara, Shizuoka, Japan

The black sand beach of Miho no Matsubara is part of Mount Fuji’s world heritage site in Japan and boasts incredible views of the famous mountain. The stunning beach is more than 4 miles long and there is a grove of more than 30,000 pine trees with a nicely-paved pathway through the forest.

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3. Lovina Beach, Bali, Indonesia

Lovina Beach sits on the northwestern side of Bali and, as with much of the area, is known for its calm waters and laid back vibe. The waters of this gorgeous beach are also home to several pods of dolphins so dolphin watching tours are very popular.

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4. Lafayette Beach, Tahiti

Tahiti is home to many black sand beaches, one of which is Lafayette Beach. Coal black sands and a lush green coastline, it really is beautiful, and the warm waters make it that much better.

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5. Ficogrande Beach, Aeolian Islands, Italy

Ficogrande Beach sits on the northeastern tip of Stromboli and is the most popular black sand beach on the islands. With plenty of amenities and calm waters perfect for swimming. The beach itself is mainly black rocks and sand, and it is recognised as a Blue Flag beach so is accessible with high environmental standards. A clean beach with clear waters, what’s not to love?

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6. Playa de Roque Bermejo, Tenerife, Spanish Canary Islands

Playa de Roque Bermejo is a gorgeous, quiet beach tucked away on the island of Tenerife. Only accessible by foot or boat, and the hike from the nearby Chamorga village at least two hours each way, it’s a challenge but surely worth it if you can. The crystal clear waters are lovely and when calm are ideal for snorkelling.

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7. Karekare Beach, Karekare, New Zealand

Karekare Beach is located in Karekare Regional Park and boasts incredible rocky cliffs and dramatic surf. Maybe not the serene tropical location, but the dark sand dunes make for some pretty impressive views.

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8. Kamari Beach, Greece

A classic beach destination, Santorini offers many beaches, but the black sands of Kamari Beach, contracting with its white-washed resort town, are lovely. It is one of the largest black sand beaches on this volcanic island and comes with many facilities, including water sport rental companies, restaurants, cafés, and shops. The blue waters are relatively calm and perfect for a refreshing swim.

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9. Black Sands Beach, California

Shelter Cove in California, known simply as “Black Sands Beach,” is not a beach you go to for swimming, which can be dangerous here, but it is undeniably beautiful. The beach sits on the south end of a 20-mile-long walkable coastline on the way to Mattole River Campground and is amazing.

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10. Anse Chastanet, Saint Lucia, Caribbean

Of course the Caribbean is the ultimate beach holiday destination, and Anse Chastanet in western Saint Lucia shows why. Although part of the Anse Chastanet Resort in Soufriere, it is open to the public and is a must-visit. Tall palms, hot sun and a backdrop of lush hills and mountains make it the most picturesque beach, whilst its locations within a marine reserve means it offers the island’s best snorkelling and scuba diving.

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L’article 10 of the world’s best black sand beaches est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since October 2007 Brussels Airport has organised the Aviation Awards to award airlines and partners for exceptional performance. In 2021 there was an adapted edition with only Cargo Awards as in 2020 the passenger airlines and partners were strongly affected by the Covid crisis. This year, once again, a complete edition of the Aviation Awards with winners in 12 different categories was held at the Brussels Airport Sheraton hotel on 27 April.

Performance and Punctuality Awards

The Performance and Punctuality Awards are presented to passenger and cargo airlines that excel in punctuality and performance. Punctuality is the best on-time performance, that is with an arrival or departure within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. The performance for cargo is calculated using the number of weekly flights, the number of destinations, the total quantity of cargo flown, cargo per flight and the growth in cargo tonnage.

1. Cargo Airline Performance Award: Qatar Airways Cargo

The airline that contributed most last year to the development of Brucargo was Qatar Airways Cargo and this for the third year in a row. They currently operate 11 scheduled flights a week between Brussels and Doha. Other nominees were Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Sichuan Airlines and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

2. Short Haul Airline Punctuality Award: Aer Lingus

The Punctuality Awards are for those airlines with the best on-time performance. For the Punctuality Award, Brussels Airport has selected the last six months of the past year, which better reflects the recovery of traffic. In 2021, Aer Lingus was the most punctual airline with an on-time performance of 93.5% for departures from the airport. Aer Lingus performed slightly better than the other airlines nominated in this category: Air Europa, Eurowings, airBaltic and Croatia Airlines.

3. Long Haul Airline Punctuality Award: Emirates

The Punctuality Award for long haul Airlines goes to Emirates. Last year the airline realised an on-time performance of 88.6%. Other nominees in this category were ANA, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Ethiopian.

Cargo Awards

There are two dedicated awards for cargo stakeholders and partners at the Brussels Airport area for innovation, growth and partnership.

1. Brucargo Award: dnata

The Brucargo Award was introduced in 2012 to honour Brussels Airport partners in the Brucargo area. This year the award goes to dnata. The handling company has proven to be a stable and trusted handling partner for Qatar Airways and a leading contributor to innovation projects within the Brucargo community. In the past year, it has obtained two IATA CEIV certifications, for pharma and live animals. Other nominees in this category were ACIC Operator, Aviapartner Cargo, Customs Brucargo, Flanders Investment & Trade and Swissport Cargo

2. Logistic Provider Award: DSV

In 2021, DSV has shown growth and a strong commitment to perishables and the transport of live animals, next to general cargo. They have introduced additional charter flights and contributed to the development of transport of pharmaceuticals and perishables at Brussels Airport. DHL Global Forwarding, Hongyuan Group and Ziegler were also nominated in this category.

Environment and Safety Awards

The Environment and Safety Awards are presented to airlines or partners that have made a special contribution to the environment and the ongoing improvement of safety standards and awareness.

1. Environment Award: DHL Aviation

The Environment Award went to DHL Aviation. This company has reduced its CO₂ impact through its investments in electric airside transport and has committed itself to implementing Sustainable Aviation Fuels. It also has a clearly defined sustainability strategy, which next to climate, also includes gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and further strengthening of cooperation with all stakeholders, including joining the Brussels Airport Stargate project.

2. Safety Award: Gate Gourmet

Gate Gourmet is well known for its excellent reactive attitude, a collaborative safety attitude, efficient communication and a follow-up of actions, which is why they are awarded the Safety Award. Other nominees were Skytanking and Mobility Masters.

Network Development Awards

The Network Development Awards go to airlines that have launched new routes or achieved significant growth in passenger or cargo volumes.

1. Cargo Airline Award: DHL Aviation

The award for Cargo Airline of 2021 goes to DHL Aviation. They have shown high volume growth in 2021 and introduced additional North America routes to strengthen their network from Brussels. DHL Aviation has also made a deliberate choice toward building a sustainable future together by joining the Brussels Airport Stargate project. Other nominees were Ethiopian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

2. Cargo Special Achievement Award: All Nippon Airways

In 2020 Brussels Airport introduced the Cargo Special Achievement Award for the organisation that contributed to the successful development of Brussels Airport as a gateway for the global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. This year the award goes to All Nippon Airways which successfully relaunched their operations at Brussels Airport with passenger freighters and played a vital role in the export of vaccines to Japan. ANA has a very dedicated local team that immaculately prepared the first vaccine flight to Tokyo. Other nominees were DHL Express, Pfizer, Pharma.aero and United Airlines.

3. Short Haul Airline Network Development Award: Royal Air Maroc & Turkish Airlines

A double win in this category with an award for both Royal Air Maroc and Turkish Airlines. Royal Air Maroc has operated a high-density flight schedule to serve the Belgian Moroccan community, despite being impacted by two consecutive travel bans of the Moroccan government. Turkish Airlines operated a busy flight schedule to serve the Belgian Turkish community, also introducing new flights to Antalya and this year Ankara.

Reconnecting friends and families was more important than ever after the lockdowns and travel bans. Other nominees were Nouvelair, SKY Express and SunExpress.

4. Long Haul Airline Network Development Award: Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is the one to take home the award for their successful recovery of the Africa network during the Covid crisis and for being a key component in the Lufthansa Group network. Other nominees in this category were Air Belgium, Ethiopian, TUI fly and United Airlines.

L’article Meet the 12 winners of the 15th Brussels Airport Aviation Awards est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Hotel managers, whose opinions were polled by the “Economic Statement” said that Ramadan offers this year come about easing the pandemic restrictions, and returning life to normal, which has contributed to providing more incentives, which is generally reflected. The tourist movement, especially in domestic tourism, which is the first source of hotel visitors during this period of each year, expecting the occupancy rate to increase during the current season, compared to the previous two seasons, which witnessed a state of closure of full. to the pandemic.

1. High demand 

Michael Koth, general manager and regional vice president for Middle East operations at the Emirates Palace Hotel, said that in the first two weeks of Ramadan, there was a large turnout and a positive response, from visitors and guests, especially after two years . of the restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic.

He added that “given the demand we have witnessed during the first two weeks of Ramadan, we are confident that the positive performance will continue throughout the rest of the holy month”.

Since the beginning of Ramadan, the hotel has witnessed tremendous attendance for restaurants, especially during the time of iftar and suhoor, and we are expected to witness more turnout in the coming days.

Ammar Hilal, Director of Sales and Marketing Department at Marriott Al Forsan Hotel Abu Dhabi

Hilal explained that “in terms of occupying rooms, we are witnessing a state of relative calm, as a result of the declining pace of travel for entertainment purposes, while Abu Dhabi maintains a constant rate of hotel bookings by businessmen, and those who come with the intention of working to pursue their projects, and we look forward to witnessing next May, a significant increase in Occupation rates during the week of Eid al-Fitr and the weekend, which coincides with the beginning of the summer of Abu Dhabi campaign, which is accompanied by many special offers, including hotel stays, shopping, dining and entertainment.”

2. Added value and high occupancy

Ismail Ibrahim, General Manager of Ramada Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, said the hotel has achieved a strong performance in the first days of Ramadan, with increased visitor attendance after easing pandemic restrictions, stressing that value-added offers always attract families and families, citizens and residents, to enjoy discounts on iftar and suhoor, that is why hotel restaurants are the most popular during the month. Ibrahimi expected the activity to continue throughout the month of Ramadan, with a significant increase “in momentum during the blessed feast of Eid al-Fitr, which we expect with an extraordinary activity of the tourism sector in the country, especially with the return of travel and traffic. of aviation in its earlier pre-pandemic era.”

L’article Record performance for UAE hotels within the first two weeks of Ramadan est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

SAF is a safe, proven, immediate solution that will help achieve our industry’s long-term commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Sheila Remes, Boeing vice president of Environmental Sustainability.

“Boeing has been a pioneer in making sustainable aviation fuels a reality. Through this agreement we will reduce our carbon footprint and have SAF available for customer deliveries as well as our own operations,” concluded says Remes.

Sustainably produced jet fuel, which reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 80% over the fuel’s life cycle with the potential to reach 100% in the future, is widely recognized as offering the most immediate and greatest potential to decarbonize aviation over the next 20 to 30 years. Made from several feedstocks, sustainable aviation fuel is certified for commercial use and can be blended with traditional jet fuel without modifications to airplanes, engines or fueling infrastructure. Approximately a year ago, Boeing committed to deliver its commercial airplanes capable and certified to fly on 100% SAF by 2030. 

The purchase agreement with EPIC Fuels includes a SAF product made from inedible agricultural waste, blending 30% neat SAF with 70% conventional jet fuel. The purchase will enable broader use of SAF for Boeing commercial production, test, ferry, Dreamlifter and customer flights at facilities in Everett, Renton and Seattle in Washington state and North Charleston, South Carolina. EPIC Fuels will also continue to supply customized blends from 50/50% up to 100% SAF for the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program, which accelerates innovation by taking promising technologies out of the lab and testing them in the air to solve real-world challenges for airlines and passengers. SAF is currently approved for a 50/50 blend with conventional jet fuel for commercial flights. 

“Our focus on environmental stewardship and safety is well known in the industry.” expressed Kyle O’Leary, VP and COO of EPIC Fuels, an independent aviation fuel supplier with primary operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. “EPIC and Boeing have been partners for decades and we are honored to be a part of this procurement. Working together, we are making sustainability more attainable for our customers.” 

The purchase builds on Boeing’s long-term industry leadership and investment to develop SAF around the world, partnering with airlines, fuel companies, governments and research institutions to expand SAF supply and reduce its cost. Boeing began SAF test flights in 2008, helped gain approval for commercial use in 2011 and enabled airplane delivery flights with SAF starting in 2012. The 2018 Boeing ecoDemonstrator conducted the industry’s first 100 percent SAF commercial airplane test flight on a 777 Freighter in partnership with FedEx. In 2019, Boeing began offering customers the option to power commercial delivery flights with SAF to demonstrate commitment to reducing CO₂ and further spur the use of cleaner fuels. 

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity. 

L’article Boeing buys two million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel for its commercial operations est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The awards, which were launched in 2021, recognise the marketing campaigns that best promoted rail travel as a sustainable tourism model throughout Europe. This new initiative was designed to put rail firmly in the spotlight throughout the European Year of Rail (EYR) 2021, to encourage the use of rail by citizens, travellers and businesses and to contribute to the EU Green Deal goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

ETC and Eurail received entries from national and local tourism authorities, rail organisations, marketing agencies and other entities with significant operations in the European tourism sector. The winners and runners-up were selected by an expert jury comprised of professionals from the tourism, rail and marketing sectors.

The award winners have done an outstanding job in promoting rail travel as a unique and sustainable travel experience. The creative campaigns will surely inspire travellers from around the world to go one step further and explore Europe by train.

Carlo Boselli, General Manager at Eurail

The awards ceremony took place during the ETC’s Annual Meeting in Engelberg, Switzerland. The event brings together the Research and Marketing Directors of national tourism authorities from all over Europe, providing an exceptional platform for the exchange of the latest trends, knowledge and best practices in tourism. This year’s meeting also focused on developing a strategic ETC’s agenda towards 2030, reflecting on how the organisation can contribute to a sustainable transition of tourism in Europe.

As travellers seek more sustainable modes of transport, it is imperative that Europe showcases its rail offers. ETC is proud of the work undertaken by travel and tourism sectors to promote rail tourism as both an environmentally friendly and desirable way to travel.

Luís Araújo, President of the European Travel Commission

1. Innovative ‘WunderlineGO app’ named Best New Promotional Initiative 2021

Ostfriesland Tourismus GmbH and the Provincie of Groningen were awarded the Best New Promotional Initiative EYR 2021 for their WunderlineGO app. The innovative app was designed to raise awareness of the Wunderline, an improved train connection between the Northern Netherlands and Northern Germany.

The WunderlineGO app combines mobility, public transport and sustainability to facilitate travellers exploring and having fun throughout the Netherlands and Germany. In addition to promoting the train as a sustainable means of transport, the app highlights the stops along the route as exciting tourist destinations and invites travellers to explore the region.

The jury was impressed by the app’s ability to promote a local train line while also encouraging people to explore lesser- known destinations in the region.

2. Viral sensation ‘Ideme Vlakom’ takes home Best Completed Rail Tourism Promotion award

Railways of the Slovak Republic, Železnicná spolocnost Slovensko a.s. (ZSSK), were awarded Best Completed Rail Tourism Promotion for its campaign entitled We Go by Train (Ideme Vlakom). At the centre of the advertisement campaign was a catchy song that used humour to reflect the benefits and realities of rail travel in Slovakia. The campaign was designed to showcase the rebrand of ZSSK, building awareness of the efforts to improve train travel throughout the country.

Shortly after the campaign launched, the song became the second most popular video played on Slovak YouTube. This viral success caused railway transport to become a topic of discussion throughout the country. Most importantly, the campaign served to convince Slovakians that rail travel can be a relaxing experience full of adventures, good food and quality service. The jury congratulated ZSSK on using the campaign to create a movement that reached the consciousness of the Slovakian public, successfully improving attitudes towards rail travel. 

3. Youth focused campaigns capture jury’s attention

For the Most Promising Campaigns category, the jury was tasked with selecting ongoing campaigns, or campaigns still in the planning phase, that demonstrated great potential. Two entrees, both designed to inspire the youth to embrace rail and cultivate sustainable travel practices in the long term, impressed the juries the most.

KILROY, a Nordic travel agency that specializes in tailor making individual travel experiences for young travellers won the award for its Impact Challenge campaign. The Impact Challenge is a slow travel race for the adventurous, curious, and everyday traveller. The challenge sees 12 teams travel via rail through unexplored Europe while racking up points by participating in pursuit of winning the grand prize at the finish line. The concept was born during the Covid-19 pandemic as a new and alternative way to travel in a new world, while sparking a movement of impactful travellers in the process. The jury was especially impressed by the competitive element of the campaign, as well as its ability to captivate the imaginations of young travellers throughout Europe.

Europe’s Famous Hostels, an association of independent hostels across Europe and Israel, took home the second Most Promising Campaign award for its Eco Wanderer campaign. The innovative campaign to be launched in 2022 promotes a loyalty program and reward system based on a CO2 emissions saving calculator which converts savings from rail users into points redeemable at the association’s hostels across Europe.

The campaign aims to educate, inspire and reward positive behaviours towards sustainability, as well as to give visibility to sustainable businesses. The jury congratulated Europe’s Famous Hostels for developing a campaign that could foster long- term behavioural change and create a generation of sustainable travellers. 

L’article These are the best 2021 European rail tourism campaigns est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Set to take place in Sorrento, Italy from 27^th June to 3^rd July, the Summit will bring children and youth from every global region together, giving them a platform to share their vision and hopes for the sector. In line with UNWTO’s commitment to youth empowerment, the initiative will also allow participants to network with leaders from the worlds of politics and business, making them a part of the decision-making process as tourism fulfils its potential as a driver of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNWTO is committed to finding and supporting the best young tourism talent – as the #GlobalYouthTourismSummit makes clear.

Tourism is a proven source of opportunity for young people, and we need to make sure young people have the skills and knowledge they need to be part of it. pic.twitter.com/fDfRSfSP2G

— Zurab Pololikashvili (@pololikashvili) February 2, 2022

Welcoming the first participants, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized that “tourism is a proven source of opportunity for young people – in cities and in rural communities, from every educational background and in every global region.”

Young people can play a major role in overcoming the crisis facing the tourism sector. They can also be an active agent of recovery and change and play a leading role in the transition to a more sustainable tourism, which is an essential if we want to achieve sustainable development.

Massimo Garavaglia, Italian Minister of Tourism

The young participants were also greeted by the UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism and celebrated football star Didier Drogba, who encouraged them to be the protagonists of tourism’s future and wished them all the best for the upcoming activities.

Online learning and sector-wide expertise

The launch of the Global Youth Tourism Summit coincides with the European Year of Youth. The GYTS series will include several webinars during which the participants will to learn about tourism and sustainability, culture and gastronomy, innovation and climate action, and other relevant topics.

The #GlobalYouthTourismSummit kickstarted with an exciting launch ceremony

Young delegates gathered to shape the future of tourism.

Sustainability, inclusivity, innovation, get inspired by the most promising solutions!

https://t.co/iLF9cVDREg
https://t.co/7YaTVBdet6 pic.twitter.com/e3oacnhd5r

— UN Tourism (@UNWTO) February 4, 2022

 
The Italian national tourism agency (ENIT) and the regionof  Campania joined forces with the Ministry to support the implementation of the first edition of the Global Youth Tourism Summit. Private stakeholders, including the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre and Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education, have also recognized the importance of the initiative.

L’article UNWTO launches the first Global Youth Tourism Summit est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The vaccinated traveler population adds no additional risks to the domestic US population. Increased immunity levels, the pervasiveness of COVID-19 in all 50 US states, rising vaccination rates and new therapeutics, all point to removing the testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers.

“The experience of Omicron has made it clear that travel restrictions have little to no impact in terms of preventing its spread. Moreover, as Omicron is already broadly present across the US, fully vaccinated travelers bring no extra risk to the local population. International travelers should face no additional screening requirements than what is applied to domestic travel. In fact, at this stage of the pandemic, travel should be managed in the same way as access to shopping malls, restaurants or offices,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

More than 74.3 million people — meaning at least 22% of the US population — have had COVID-19, and that is almost certainly an undercount owing to asymptomatic infections and limited testing early in the pandemic. When combined with an adult population that is 74% fully vaccinated, it is clear that the US is developing very high levels of population immunity.

The organizations also noted that the EU has recommended that its member states remove COVID-19 travel restrictions for travel within the EU, and the United Kingdom has announced the removal of COVID-19 pre-departure testing for vaccinated air travellers to enter the country. The UK concluded that the cost to both passengers and airlines of the testing mandate could no longer be justified as there was no evidence the regime protected the population from COVID-19.

Recent research by Oxera and Edge Health in Italy, Finland, and the UK all support the conclusion that travel measures do little to control the spread of COVID-19 when it is already broadly present in the local population. The studies found that, if implemented at a very early stage, travel restrictions may at best delay the peak of a new wave by a few days and marginally reduce the number of cases.  

Furthermore, IATA’s most recent air traveler survey showed that 62% of respondents support removing a testing requirement for those who are fully vaccinated.

“Removing the pre-departure testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers will greatly support the recovery of travel and aviation in the US and globally without increasing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in the US population. There is no use in closing the barn door after the horse has bolted,” said Walsh.

L’article IATA calls for the end of US pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travelers est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

New analysis produced by Oxera and Edge Health reveals that pre-departure testing requirements are likely to be ineffective at stopping or even limiting the spread of the Omicron variant. The analysis of testing restrictions imposed by Italy and Finland on 16 December and 28 December 2021 respectively on all incoming travellers made no distinguishable difference to transmission of Omicron cases in those countries. Conversely, the impact of these restrictions, and in particular the limitations to the free movement of people, resulted in significant and unnecessary economic hardship – not just for the travel and tourism sectors and their workforce, but for the whole European economy.  

The research is clear that the inevitable delay in identifying new variants means that transmission already occurs by the time travel restrictions are imposed. It’s the classic case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Keeping testing in place for vaccinated passengers therefore seems completely ineffective from the health point of view, but damages passenger confidence and national economies.

Conrad Clifford, IATA Deputy Director General.

Crucially, the report also shows that: 

• Maintaining pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated/recovered travellers further will have no impact whatsoever on the future spread of the Omicron variant in Italy and Finland.
   
• Imposing these restrictions earlier – i.e. on the very day the Omicron variant was identified as an issue by the WHO – would not have stopped its spread nor significantly limited it in Italy and Finland. This is inherent to the fact that variants circulate well ahead of the time by which they are identified, which is the reason why both the WHO and ECDC generally consider travel restrictions to be ineffective. 

The fact that both countries are now lifting their pre-departure testing requirements is very welcome. However, concerns remain that: 

• Both countries could have lifted them much earlier or altogether avoided imposing them in the first place – lessons must be learned to avoid repeated economic damage with no attendant public health benefit.
   
• While Finland has lifted restrictions for all incoming vaccinated/recovered travelers, Italy has done so only for incoming travelers from within the EU/EEA. This now needs to extend to all incoming travelers, as there is no health safety benefit in delaying this step any longer. 

With the coming into force today of the new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel, and in light of the robust data now made public, ACI EUROPE and IATA urge those countries which continue to deviate from the common EU framework to rapidly align with it. Specifically, we call upon the Governments of Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Malta to address this issue as a matter of urgency and abandon unnecessary and damaging restrictions.

In addition, there are no compelling reasons why vaccinated/recovered travellers should be subjected to a different regime whether they travel within the EU/EEA or come from other countries. It is now urgent that the EU Council aligns its outdated Recommendation for travel into the EU (from third countries) with the new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel that comes into force today. 

“The new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel is right to focus on a ‘person-based approach’ and to recognise that both vaccinated and recovered travellers should not be subjected to any restriction. But having common EU regimes has so far not prevented States from going their own way. This must stop. We now have further proof – travel restrictions do have a significant effect – but it’s not on public health, it’s on economic stability and livelihoods.  In short: they are causing more harm than good,” said Olivier Jankovec, ACI EUROPE Director General. 

L’article New research shows travel restrictions in the EU had little or no impact on the spread of omicron est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The WHO Global analysis of health care waste in the context of COVID-19: status, impacts and recommendations bases its estimates on the approximately 87,000 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) that was procured between March 2020- November 2021 and shipped to support countries’ urgent COVID-19 response needs through a joint UN emergency initiative. Most of this equipment is expected to have ended up as waste.

The authors note that this just provides an initial indication of the scale of the COVID-19 waste problem. It does not take into account any of the COVID-19 commodities procured outside of the initiative, nor waste generated by the public like disposable medical masks.

They point out that over 140 million test kits, with a potential to generate 2,600 tonnes of non-infectious waste (mainly plastic) and 731,000 litres of chemical waste (equivalent to one-third of an Olympic-size swimming pool) have been shipped, while over 8 billion doses of vaccine have been administered globally producing 144,000 tonnes of additional waste in the form of syringes, needles, and safety boxes.

As the UN and countries grappled with the immediate task of securing and quality-assuring supplies of PPE, less attention and resources were devoted to the safe and sustainable management of COVID-19 related health care waste.

It is absolutely vital to provide health workers with the right PPE. But it is also vital to ensure that it can be used safely without impacting on the surrounding environment.

Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme

This means having effective management systems in place, including guidance for health workers on what to do with PPE and health commodities after they have been used. Today, 30% of healthcare facilities (60% in the least developed countries) are not equipped to handle existing waste loads, let alone the additional COVID-19 load. This potentially exposes health workers to needle stick injuries, burns and pathogenic microorganisms, while also impacting communities living near poorly managed landfills and waste disposal sites through contaminated air from burning waste, poor water quality or disease carrying pests.

COVID-19 has forced the world to reckon with the gaps and neglected aspects of the waste stream and how we produce, use and discard of our health care resources, from cradle to grave

Dr Maria Neira, Director, Environment, Climate Change and Health at WHO

“Significant change at all levels, from the global to the hospital floor, in how we manage the health care waste stream is a basic requirement of climate-smart health care systems, which many countries committed to at the recent UN Climate Change Conference, and, of course, a healthy recovery from COVID-19 and preparedness for other health emergencies in the future.”

The report lays out a set of recommendations for integrating better, safer, and more environmentally sustainable waste practices into the current COVID-19 response and future pandemic preparedness efforts and highlights stories from countries and organizations that have put into practice in the spirit of “building back better”.

Recommendations include using eco-friendly packaging and shipping, safe and reusable PPE (e.g., gloves and medical masks), recyclable or biodegradable materials; investment in non-burn waste treatment technologies, such as autoclaves; reverse logistics to support centralized treatment and investments in the recycling sector to ensure materials, like plastics, can have a second life.

The COVID-19 waste challenge and increasing urgency to address environmental sustainability offer an opportunity to strengthen systems to safely and sustainably reduce and manage health care waste. This can be through strong national policies and regulations, regular monitoring and reporting and increased accountability, behaviour change support and workforce development, and increased budgets and financing.

“A systemic change in how health care manages its waste would include greater and systematic scrutiny and better procurement practices,” said Dr Anne Woolridge, Chair of the Health Care Waste Working Group, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).

“There is growing appreciation that health investments must consider environmental and climate implications, as well as a greater awareness of co-benefits of action. For example, safe and rational use of PPE will not only reduce environmental harm from waste, it will also save money, reduce potential supply shortages and further support infection prevention by changing behaviours.” The analysis comes at a time when the health sector is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize the amount of waste being sent to landfill — in part because of the great concern about the proliferation of plastic waste and its impacts on water, food systems and human and ecosystem health. 

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