(Published 10th January 2022)
 MeetingsAfrica heralds return of Live Business Events in Africa The big announcement by South African Tourism in the middle of November 2021 on the return of the continent’s big two events after a year and a half hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic was received with excitement by the travel and tourism trade in the Africa region and beyond.As we have come to know and experienced the devastation of covid-19, the earlier we begin to learn how to live with the virus and go about our lives and save jobs, the better would it be for all of us and the entire world. Read more hereIFEMA MADRID reconfirms the holding of FITUR 2022 in JanuaryThe Government of Spain, the Madrid Regional Government, Madrid City Council, the World Tourism Organisation, and private sector organisations have unanimously endorsed the holding of the FITUR International Tourism Fair on the planned dates.IFEMA MADRID has reconfirmed the dates for the International Tourism Trade Fair: from 19th to 23rd January. Read here Why not to miss Meetings Africa 2022Africa’s premier Business event is back this year after canceling the 2021 event as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The foremost event celebrated its 15th year anniversary months before the declaration of covid 19 as a global pandemic and thereafter we saw its catalytic effects on the global and tourism industry. Register here Seychelles removes Southern African countries from restricted travel list Visitors from South Africa and other Southern African countries will once again be able to travel to the paradise islands of the Seychelles as of Thursday, 6 January 2022, the country’s Ministry of Health has announced, also advising the introduction of additional considerations for incoming travellers with proof of past recent infection with COVID-19. Read hereNamibia Hails Germany’s Travel Risk Status Decision As of 4 January, all countries which appeared on Germany’s “virus variant areas list” were moved to its high-risk list, that country’s Robert Koch Institute announced. Namibia is included among the lists of countries regarded as high-risk areas. Others are Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the UK. Read more Here  Register for FITUR 2022FITUR 2022 will be held from January 19 to 23, organized by IFEMA MADRID, under the slogan “Embracing the World” and will feature the Dominican Republic as a FITUR partner country.After the milestone of FITUR 2021, in its “Special Tourism Recovery” edition, and backed by the entire value chain of the international tourism industry, the Trade Fair dedicates all of its effort to its essential mission, to contribute to the recovery of tourism. Register here  UK: Pre-departure testing removed for vaccinated travellersFrom 4am on Sunday 9 January, eligible fully vaccinated travellers and over 5s will be able to take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR on or before day 2 of their arrival in England. Lateral flow tests for travel can be booked from Friday 7 January and taken upon arrival, by the end of day 2. Eligible fully vaccinated passengers and under 18s will no longer need to take a pre-departure test or self-isolate on arrival in England from 4am on Friday 7 January but must continue to take their post-arrival tests. Read more here  Podcast Alert: Talking Sports and Tourism in Africa In today’s episode, the founder of African Sports Tourism Week, Prince Deji Ajomale-McWord takes a look at the power of sports in driving tourism in Africa. He’s a sports tourism consultant. In his home country Nigeria, he served in the Sports Industry Thematic Group under the auspices of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, where he gave recommendations on how to drive local and international arrivals, using sport. Listen here   |
