It’s a day of mixed messages when it comes to world travel. Here’s a roundup of some of today’s headlines.
JAPAN SHUTS DOORS THROUGH FEBRUARY
Japan will maintain its tight entry restrictions to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 until the end of February, the prime minister said on Tuesday, though some exceptions for humanitarian reasons may be considered, Reuters reports.
“Japan adopted some of the strictest border controls in the world when the Omicron variant emerged late last year, banning all new entry by non-Japanese people, including students and foreign family members of Japanese or permanent residents, except in exceptional circumstances,” the agency said in a report today.
THAILAND GOES THE OTHER WAY
Bloomberg News says Thailand added three popular beach destinations to a visa program that allows foreign visitors to bypass a mandatory isolation, throwing a lifeline to its Covid-hit tourism industry seen as key to a nascent economic recovery.
Starting Tuesday, vaccinated foreign tourists can enter Krabi, Phang Nga, and Koh Samui in addition to Phuket under the so-called sandbox program that won’t require them to go through quarantine, provided they spend at least a week in these destinations.
AMERICAN TRAVEL CONFIDENCE DROPS
According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, the dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant is taking its toll on travel intentions and perceptions of health and safety at the start of 2022.
The percentage of travelers planning a trip in the next month has slipped significantly from 23 percent in October to 15 percent in January. Conversely, travelers are planning trips further out as the percentage of those planning trips in six months or later has increased from 19 percent in October to 23 percent in the latest survey.
“Uncertainty about the current Omicron wave of infection has travelers postponing trips,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “As with previous waves of coronavirus, the current state of the pandemic directly impacts both the planning and purchase of travel.”
The percentage of travelers who feel safe traveling outside their community fell from 70 percent in November to 61 percent in January, while confidence in shopping in local stores and dining at local restaurants experienced similar declines. And support by travelers for opening up their local communities to visitors dropped from 61 percent in November to 53 percent in the most recent data.
The New York Post reports that Jefferies Financial Group has alerted employees to cancel all work-related travel plans as the Omicron variant continues to spread.
The New York-based boutique investment bank — headed by chief executive Richard Handler — had encouraged employees to cancel most travel last month, but had not gone so far as to mandate it, The Post said.
Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise cruise ship. Photo Courtesy Margaritaville at Sea.
CRUISE SHIPS KEEP COMING
According to data from the January edition of the Cruise Ships in Service Report by Cruise Industry News, nearly 20 more cruise ships are entering service this month. From small expedition vessels to large mainstream ships, the vessels are adding another 20,000 berths (beds) in the market.
Times are tough now, but that says a lot about the confidence the cruise industry has in the near future.
UNCRUISE WAVE SEASON DEALS
Uncruise Adventures has a great deal for trips booked by April 15, 2022. All cruises booked during this period are good through 2022, based on availability.
UnCruise Adventures operates boutique yachts and small boats carrying 22-86 guests on adventure expeditions in Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Columbia & Snake Rivers, coastal Washington, Galápagos, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Colombia.
With eco-focused, small group and sustainable travel, expedition/adventure cruising and a focus on culture and community vs over-tourism continuing to trend as the pandemic makes some travelers wary of larger ship and group travel, UnCruise is an ideal way to sail in 2022.
In addition to the deals below, here are savings and deals if booked by February 15, 2022;
· Save $300 per person when booking destinations in 2023
· Save $500 per person on April 2022 Alaska departures
· Save $500 on new adult-only select departures in the Sea of Cortez, Costa Rica and Panama
EMERALD CRUISE SAVINGS
Just in time for wave season, Emerald Cruises has announced a New Year Sale with savings up to 30% off select 2022 European River cruises. For those looking further ahead, the small ship cruise line is also offering flight deals on their collection of 2023 river sailings.
Guests booking their 2022 European river cruise on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhône and Saône rivers can save up to 30% when booking a balcony suite and paying in full six months prior to departure. This offer is good on some of Emerald Cruises’ most popular sailings including the 15-day Splendours of Europe between Amsterdam and Budapest, and the eight-day Sensations of Lyon and Provence. Deadline for booking this offer is March 31, 2022.
Travellers looking to get a jump on 2023 vacation planning can take advantage of an array of flight offers on 2023 departures up to free flights on sailings of 15 days and longer. Those who pay 12 months prior to sailing will also receive an additional 10% off. This offer is good through January 31, 2022 and represents the best pricing on 2023 European river sailings.
To help travellers with peace of mind, all bookings come with the line’s Flexible Booking Policy allowing guests to defer travel plans and transfer to an alternate departure date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to departure with no Emerald Cruises fees.
Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia is considered one of the world’s best golf courses. – JIM BYERS PHOTO
CABOT GOLF HEADS TO FLORIDA
Cabot, the developer and operator of master-planned golf resort communities, announces the acquisition and reimagination of World Woods Golf Club in Central West Florida. The picturesque property, soon to be known as Cabot Citrus Farms, is set across 1,200 acres of sandy soil and rolling hills canopied by towering sand pines, palmetto trees and century-old moss-covered oaks.
“It is the perfect addition to Cabot’s existing collection of properties best known for breathtaking natural settings, world-class golf and exceptional service,” officials said. “Cabot’s growing portfolio includes the award-winning Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, the highly anticipated Cabot Saint Lucia resort community set to open in late 2022 and Cabot Revelstoke in progress in British Columbia.”
“I couldn’t wish for a better location for our first U.S. development,” said Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and Co-founder of Cabot. “The property is a nature lover’s paradise that rivals the most spectacular sites I’ve seen across the world. We are excited to build upon the amazing legacy established at World Woods and forge a new path for Cabot Citrus Farms as a vibrant golf and residential community that showcases the Sunshine State’s abundant natural offerings.”
I’ve played at Cabot Links in Nova Scotia, and it’s truly spectacular. I also teed it up at World Woods a few years ago, and thought it was a great test of golf.
