Category: Government and Public Sector Tourism News
News and information on tourism boards, ministers of tourism and the public sector in the travel and tourism industry.
Stop the Ungrounding of Boeing 737 Max in Europe
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 24, 2021 20:29Families of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Crash in March 2019 are united to stop the re-certification of the Boeing Max 737. The US Parliament is now getting involved Read More
Attack on Saudi Arabia: US Issues Statement
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 24, 2021 20:13The United States strongly condemns the latest attack on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The State Department said in a press-release: "We are gathering more information, but it appears to have been ... Read More
The safest mask to wear is deadly upsetting to Americans
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 24, 2021 06:10The US Government has a good reason to mislead its 332 million citizens against wearing KN95 and N95 masks. Europe however is now coming out with the truth. Read More
Mask optional: New trend in Spain and for UNWTO?
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 23, 2021 07:52Only the Egyptian minister of tourism actually traveled Madrid to attend the 113th Executive Council and voted for Zurab Pololikashvili at the Secretary General Election. The rest of the delegates ... Read More
Portugal suspends all passenger flights with UK
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 23:59Portugal halts air service with Great Britain Read More
Cyprus re-opens borders for foreign tourists on March 1
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 23:33Tourists will be able to visit Cyprus without quarantine restrictions if upon arrival they do not have a positive test result for COVID-19 Read More
Minister Bartlett: Jamaica boosts COVID-19 testing capacity to meet increased demand
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 21:47All visitors who come to Jamaica will be able to access approved testing arrangements to enable them to fulfil the requirements of their respective countries for re-entry Read More
Coronavirus in Africa could reverse 30 years of Wildlife conservation gains
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 19:52Unless African governments can maintain strong networks of community conservation areas, supporting thousands of jobs dedicated to wildlife conservation, protected wildlife areas face a difficult road to recovery Read More
FlyersRights praises Biden’s air travel mask executive order
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 19:03Reasonable masking rules, social distancing, and COVID-19 testing measures are necessary for air travel Read More
National Plan for Vacation Day arrives not a moment too soon
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 18:37More than six in 10 Americans report that they “desperately” need a vacation after trauma of COVID-19 pandemic Read More
President Biden signs executive order mandating masks on airline flights
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 18:20Mandating masks during flights is an important first step to ensure airline passengers are protected from the risk of contracting COVID-19 Read More
President of Skål International Bangkok: An alternative to compulsory quarantine needed
Andrew J. Wood - eTN Thailand- January 22, 2021 16:14I am very optimistic for our industry and the future of SKÅL International’s role as a leader in both the business and friendship of hospitality Read More
US Travel praises President Biden’s executive orders on travel
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 15:55CDC testing requirement for international travelers should also pave the way to ease other travel restrictions, including those on the UK, the EU, and Brazil Read More
Tourism has a new Hero: Kornelia Ferizaj from Albania
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 22, 2021 07:53The Hall of International Tourism Heroes is open by nomination only to recognize those that have shown extraordinary leadership, innovation, and actions. Tourism Heroes go the extra step. The Tourism ... Read More
ARC congratulates President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris on their inauguration
Harry S. Johnson- January 22, 2021 00:20Air travel will play a vital role in the US economic recovery and ARC applauds the bi-partisan actions to-date providing much-needed assistance to the travel industry Read More
Jamaica Tourism Minister officially launches Kenya’s Global Tourism Resilience Satellite Centre
Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor- January 21, 2021 23:30Kenya’s Global Tourism Resilience Satellite Centre has been officially launched by founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre and Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. ... Read More
FAA declares Tampa Bay ‘No Drone Zone’ during Super Bowl LV
Harry S. Johnson- January 21, 2021 23:03FAA will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction on game day prohibiting drones within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude Read More
Sri Lanka ready to receive foreign tourists
Harry S. Johnson- January 21, 2021 22:00Sri Lanka tourism re-opening to foreign visitors Read More
Aviation Industry Leaders Unite in World Tourism Network Interest Group
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 21, 2021 19:38Aviation is a key factor in rebuilding the travel and tourism industry. The World Tourism Network had an initial brainstorming discussion with industry leaders to talk about a way forward. Read More
Professor Geoffrey Lipman knows this is a big day for Travel, Tourism, and Climate Change
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 21, 2021 07:31What the difference one day can make. With the inauguration in the United States of America and President Biden bringing the country back into the Paris Climate Agreement, it will ... Read More
The Official Acceptance by the White House on behalf of the United States to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 21, 2021 01:09The following press release was received today by the US White House. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2020 ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., President ... Read More
Seychelles Tourism Board appoints BRANDit as India Representative
Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor- January 21, 2021 00:38The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) appointed BRANDit as its official representative in India. Nominated to be the face of the beautiful 115-island destination in the Indian subcontinent, the BRANDit team ... Read More
Qatar participates in 113th Session of the Executive Council of UNWTO
Harry S. Johnson- January 20, 2021 22:23Qatar was represented at the UNWTO session by Qatar's ambassador to Spain Abdullah bin Ibrahim al-Hamar Read More
African Tourism Board Chairman is fighting COVID-19
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 20, 2021 22:09Africa stands behind Cuthbert Ncube, the Chairman of the African Tourism Board. The ATB chief was recently tested positive for the COVID-19 and is fighting to recover. Read More
American hotel industry congratulates President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
Harry S. Johnson- January 20, 2021 19:07US hoteliers look forward to working with President Biden and his Administration on key priorities, including comprehensive immigration reform, tax reform, and infrastructure investment Read More
US travel industry welcomes President Biden, Vice President Harris
Harry S. Johnson- January 20, 2021 18:26US Travel congratulates President Biden and Vice President Harris on their inauguration and welcomes their leadership in Washington Read More
3 people killed, 6 wounded in huge Madrid explosion
Harry S. Johnson- January 20, 2021 15:31The site of the explosion is not far from Puerta de Toledo, one of the city’s gates and a popular tourist attraction Read More
The UNWTO Election just killed any decency left in the UN System
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 20, 2021 05:30The UNWTO Executive Council extended the mandate for UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Zurab Pololikashvil until the end of 2025. This is a sad day, and not an evaluation of Mr. Zurab's ... Read More
Germany extends lockdown, makes masks mandatory, warns of border closures
Harry S. Johnson- January 20, 2021 00:00The government of Germany announced that the current coronavirus lockdown will be extended until the middle of next month due to a potential massive surge in new COVID-19 cases because ... Read More
Thailand introduces new tourist tax
Harry S. Johnson- January 19, 2021 23:21New tourist levy announced in Thailand Read More
EU Aviation Safety Agency to clear return of Boeing 737 MAX next week
Harry S. Johnson- January 19, 2021 19:54Boeing 737 MAX was universally banned from taking to the skies after two deadly accidents in late 2018 and early 2019 Read More
Dubai effective approach to beat the virus
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 19, 2021 19:41Dubai moved to be a model in countering the COVID-19 virus with vaccination centers, a massive stimulus package and comprehensive health insurance for all airline passengers. Read More
UNWTO Executive Council Election Result
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 19, 2021 17:50The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization re-elected Zurab Pololikashvili from Georgia.. Read More
IATA supports EU digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate
Harry S. Johnson- January 19, 2021 15:11Pan-European mutually recognized vaccination certificate would be an important step towards giving governments the confidence to safely open their borders Read More
Europeans want to travel again in Spring 2021
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 19, 2021 09:4932% of respondents indicated that they intend to take a trip during April-June 2021, a 20% rise compared to the previous research wave 52% of Europeans plan to travel in ... Read More
The Future of Travel to Thailand
Juergen T Steinmetz- January 19, 2021 09:41Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine this week for emergency use in the country. Read More