New York City will launch a new “Neighborhood Getaways” campaign soon that will encourage New Yorkers and other visitors to visit all the five boroughs of Manhattan.The campaign was revealed by Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, speaking on a webinar organized by the Center for an Urban Future. He spoke on a panel of tourism leaders from multiple cities in an effort to share best practices and experiences on recovering from the pandemic. A second panel at the same event was comprised of leaders from New York’s visitor industry.Tourism representatives from San Francisco, Montreal, New York and London shared similar experiences and strategies. They all had to do a sharp pivot to focus on local travel and encourage residents of their own cities to visit attractions there – at a time when many people were fleeing cities to achieve “social distancing.” Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future, said the idea for the webinar was so that New York could benefit from hearing from other cities in how they are dealing with a tourism recovery. Trending Now As far as New York, Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, said the city “now has 67 million fewer consumers” – meaning tourists.The city, he said, has two goals: to restore confidence in New York, first among New Yorkers and then nearby residents; and to encourage New Yorkers to discover all five boroughs. He said the city sends more visitors around the country than any other place. “How can we redirect that to create NYC-cations?” Dixon also said New York State would be working with neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut on a joint campaign.Dixon said that with the coming of cooler weather, people who had been going to the beach will be seeking other outlets – like city diversions even as attractions like museums begin to open. He said that the recovery will be led by arts and culture, though he said it was unfortunate there was no government support for those institutions.Tracy Halliwell, director of tourism, conventions and major events, London & Partners, said that London shifted overnight from a focus on international travel to domestic travel and from live to virtual, recreating online “what London was all about.” “Our initial approach was resilience;” she said; “how can we keep things going when almost anything was closed. We wanted Londoners to spread the word that London is still there, a great destination waiting to open.”London, said Halliwell, created a “Because I’m a Londoner” campaign which was about getting residents themselves to promote and visit the city. The tourism office deployed influencers and other marketing tools to tell Londoners that it’s a great time to sightsee with fewer tourists in town. In addition, the mayor of London launched Pay it Forward campaign, which encouraged people to buy a cup of coffee, a manicure, a theater ticket, etc. in advance – just to provide money to merchants.Emmanuelle Legault, vice president of marketing and strategy, Tourisme Montreal, also said there was a focus on the hyper-local. She said Quebecers did not want to come to Montreal and Montrealer’s wanted to leave the city. “We wanted people in the city to stay and fall in love with Montreal again. We created a passport specific to Montrealers with incentives with visiting local attractions and are launching a new culinary one soon,” she said.In San Francisco, said Joe D’Alessandro, CEO, San Francisco Travel, international tourism accounted for 64% of visitor spending “and that is not coming back to 2019 levels until 2024 or even 2025.” He said the focus is on regional travel with 40 million people living within driving distance. “We have to be flexible and bold and do things differently,” said D’Alessandro.He said that San Francisco is working with other cities like Los Angeles and San Diego that are usually competitors, with northern California promoting southern California and vice versa. Visit California, he said, is doing in-state marketing for the first time.Legault said Montreal is also working with other cities – Toronto and Ottawa -- on a joint campaign to get their respective residents to travel to the other cities. New York City New York: Recovery Plan is NeededA second panel focused on New York and speakers were concerned about the outlook. Marcus Samuelsson, a celebrity chef and owner of the Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem among many others said, “this is a catastrophic situation, 100 times worse than 9/11.” He said that over 15,000 restaurants have closed with more threatened. And, he said, “as restaurants go, so go neighborhoods.”Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said the famed neighborhood is in dire straits with theaters closed and quality of life issues surging, like homeless people asleep in front of the “Good Morning America” TV show storefront broadcast studio. He said GMA is “our advertisement to the rest of the world. ““The whole user experience,” said Tompkins,” has to be part of the solution.”Tompkins said that NYC & Co. has a plan, but it needs support. He said that of 10 major cities sin the U.S., New York is one of two that doesn’t have dedicated funding for promotion – like a portion of hotel taxes. He said New York spends $4.50 per capita on tourism promotion while Denver spends $40.There were some bright notes. Alexandra Dagg, senior policy director for the northeast and Canada for Airbnb, said there has been a recent slight uptick in bookings in the city after months of growth in remote and rural areas. She said the company is doing things like partnerships with Broadway artists to perform online as a way of promoting the city and creating economy opportunity for performers. She said one option might to convince people to come to New York for longer stays – working from their rental apartments or hotels.Samuelson said that he is “extremely disappointed in the leadership of the city” because of policies like not allowing indoor dining (it has just been announced that limited indoor dining will begin Sept. 30.). He said the “engine and soul” of the city is small business “and we have to get it back.” Let's block ads! (Why?)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) designated St. Kitts & Nevis as a destination with no travel health notice and a “very low risk” of COVID-19 transmission. The dual-island nation is among 10 Caribbean countries that now have the designation.To date, the Federation has reported 17 coronavirus cases, all of whom have recovered. There are currently no active cases. Saint Kitts & Nevis is also among only 26 global countries designated as “very low” risk.Government officials announced the planned reopening of its borders earlier in August for October 2020. The reopening date and travel requirements and protocols for visitors will be announced, said officials. Trending Now St. Kitts & Nevis visitors will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours of arrival in the dual-island federation, said Timothy Harris, the country’s prime minister.“The recent assessment by the CDC is a testament to the success of our ‘All of Society Approach’ to combatting the threat of COVID-19,” said Lindsay F.P. Grant, Saint Kitts & Nevis’ minister of tourism & transport.Visitors will also be required to quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days, after which they will take another RT-PCR test. The traveler will be released from quarantine once a negative test result is received.The Nevis Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tourism have teamed to conduct Covid-19 safety protocol training sessions for tourism stakeholders across Nevis, the sister island of the dual-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations of increased animal abuse resulting from the accompanying economic downturn, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs today released an announcement of the country’s firm, zero-tolerance stance against animal abuse, cruelty or neglect.In March 2020, after the Thai government was forced to enact partial lockdown measures, and the tourism and services sectors saw business dry up, the financial situation for many animal-related attractions became dire.News emerged that captive elephants around the country were being held in inhumane conditions, with most facilities’ staff having been laid off, and the few that remained struggling to feed and care for the animals. Soon afterward, animal-welfare controversies were fueled by video footage and reports that alleged the abuse of monkeys involved in Thailand's coconut industry. Trending Now Thailand’s economic crisis was only compounded by the negative attention that accompanied these reports and subsequent campaigns to ban Thai products.Instead of improving the animals’ situations, local communities that are struggling to survive amid the pandemic are suffering due to these boycotts.The Thai government addressed the concerns in its statement, reporting that the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), through its network of provincial offices scattered throughout the country, was able to solve the food shortages for elephants that arose due to lack of tourism income.“It was able to distribute over eight tons of fresh grass and over 25 tons of hay to elephant camps all over the country, resolving the problem within weeks,” wrote the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The government also said that it recruited animal welfare organizations to the cause and, with their help, temporarily relocated the elephants to locations that have adequate food supplies.Thailand initially took a stand to protect animals in 2014 by introducing the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals Act and the DLD shortly thereafter. Within the DLD, the Division on Animal Welfare and Veterinary Service was also created, and official guidelines and regulations to enhance welfare standards for specific animal species were established, with a sub-regulation on elephant welfare management that reinforces the Five Freedoms and caters to the specific needs of elephants. PHOTO: Pig-tailed macaque in a Thai forest. (Photo via iStock/Getty Images Plus/cowboy5437) To raise awareness surrounding animal welfare and encourage public participation in stopping animal abuse, the DLD has established complaint channels so that any perceived mistreatment of animals can be reported directly to authorities or through the 'DLD 4.0' mobile app.Addressing the monkey abuse allegations, the government referred to its Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, in which macaque monkeys are identified as a protected species, with official registration required for ownership. And, while it’s true that, in some areas, monkeys are used to help collect coconuts in small-scale harvesting in communities that depend upon coconuts for their livelihoods,[embedded content]In fact, NPR reported that these pig-tailed macaques have been raised and trained to pick coconuts for around 400 years in Thailand.Far from being ill-used, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, these monkeys are widely known to be treated as members of the family—happy, healthy, well-fed and cared for within the household during their non-working hours. They are not trained through force or intimidation, but through repetition and reward, resulting in a cooperative effort that benefits both man and monkey.The Thai Food Processors' Association (TFPA) affirmed that monkeys are not used at an industrial scale and export firms, which sell to suppliers and retailers, report that no monkey are involved in their supply chains. There’s also an auditing system, including random inspection of coconut plantations, in place the ensure the rules are adhered to. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Leading online visa application and assistance processing firm Official-esta.com recently used the Google Keyword Planner tool to find the countries that people are most looking forward to traveling to for a post-lockdown getaway using terms such as “Flights to Destination X” and “Holidays in Destination X.” Here are the 10 garnering the most interest heading into the final third of 2020. Let's block ads! (Why?)

The Dominican Republic government will be ready to implement an earlier announced Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan on September 15, said David Collado, the country’s tourism minister.The plan will eliminate current protocols requiring travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival at Dominican airports to enter the country. Also beginning September 15, the country’s Ministry of Public Health will publish a report on “the situation of contagions and COVID-19” for tourist areas, Callado said. Trending Now The Tourism Ministry is also “working with the private sector and the authorities” to assess hospitals in tourist areas “in terms of availability of beds and conditions, to prepare all the logistics of handling those infected with symptoms” should an outbreak occur, Callado added.He said “non-invasive randomized tests” including a PCR breath test, will be utilized in lieu of the pre-arrival negative test requirement under the updated plan protocols short-stay travelers who enter the country between September 15 and December 31.Visitors will also be provided with a “traveler assistance plan” during their stay in a government-sanctioned hotel, with costs for the insurance covered by the Dominican government.The traveler assistance package is “exclusive to the Dominican Republic since it has not been applied by any other country in the region,” said Collado in a Resumen Turismo report.The policies will “guarantee the health and well-being of those who visit our destination,” he said, adding “We are prepared within the reality that the world lives to receive tourists in our country.”TravelPulse was recently on location on the DR. Watch this video to hear from travelers about their experience. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Beginning October 15, The Bahamas will reopen the territory’s beaches and major hotels as the archipelago enters Phase 3 of its Tourism Readiness & Recovery Plan, said Dionisio D’Aguilar, the country’s Minister of Tourism & Aviation, in a Monday address.Calling the plan a “strategic, phased reopening strategy to ensure a comfort level that The Bahamas is a safe and healthy destination for both visitors and residents to enjoy,” D’Aguilar said beaches and major hotels will reopen on all islands with Phase 3’s launch. Hotel guests will be subject to a 14-day “Vacation-In-Place” policy under which they will have access to amenities including hotel spas, gyms, and bars.Bahamas attractions, excursions and tours will commence on November 1 under Phase 3, D’Aguilar said. Trending Now Re-launching tourism activity is crucial to the country’s economy, said D’Aguilar, as international visitors contribute more than 50 percent of the nation’s GDP and 60 percent of its national employment.He called the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on global tourism as “unprecedented” adding, “The Bahamas’ economy has felt the impact, particularly following 2019’s record-breaking tourism numbers, where the country welcomed 7.2 million visitors.”The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is currently “working with airline partners to secure direct airlift from key markets where the curve has been flattened,” D’Aguilar said.The agency is also “ prepared to commence an agile marketing campaign, [featuring] authentic storytelling and aggressive PR and sales strategies” tied to “current travel trends, [including] the preference for vacations closer to home [and] options that afford seclusion and outdoor pursuits.”The “safe” completion of Phase 3 will lead to recommendations from the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, the Ministry of Health and other government agencies regarding “an appropriate date to enter Phase 4,” which will include “the reopening of vendors, select attractions, casinos, cruises and ferries,” D’Aguilar said.The Bahamas’ entry protocols as of September require visitors to obtain an approved Bahamas Health Visa and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than five days prior to arrival. Children under age 10 are not required to provide test data.The 14-day Vacation-In-Place policy applies to guests in hotels, private clubs and/or boats, or rented accommodations including home-stay options. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Eleven airlines have resumed service to the Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, which serves Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, said Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, the airport’s operator.The lion’s share of carriers increased both routes and frequencies, including AeroMexico, Volaris, TAR Aerolineas and Interjet Airlines, which unveiled a codeshare agreement with Aeromar, enabling to jointly market routes. Trending Now American Airlines is “maintaining its daily flights from Phoenix and Dallas/Ft. Worth and adding in a flight from Los Angeles,” Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico said. “Likewise, United Airlines reactivated their flights from Denver, Los Angeles, and Chicago, with one flight on Saturdays and Sundays.”In September, air connectivity has been reinstated to Tijuana, Mexico City, Leon, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Aguascalientes San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua and San Jose del Cabo.U.S. cities connecting with Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit include Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Chicago.In other air developments, American Airlines will debut the Airbus A321neo aircraft on its Los Angeles-Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit route to replace the smaller capacity A319 planes. PHOTO: Puerto Vallarta. (photo via Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board) “Despite the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand that the region is generating is reflected in the number of flights and in the growing arrival of passengers, both domestic and international,” said Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau.“Of course, the number of arrivals does not compare to what we had before the health crisis however, we are confident that with the promotional strategies we have implemented so far, we will have good numbers this winter.” Let's block ads! (Why?)

This year, fall travel may be the new summer vacation. If the number of new COVID-19 cases stays low, people will begin to feel more comfortable being out and about and may want to consider turning those canceled summer trips into a fall getaway. In the West, there are a number of excellent prospects for destinations that are often crowded in the summer that intrepid travelers can take advantage of visiting in autumn, where cool temperatures and tasty treats prevail. Let's block ads! (Why?)

The tangible proof is not in the numbers – neither the Automobile Association of America nor the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority predicted holiday travel numbers this year due to the coronavirus pandemic – but the anecdotal evidence was there.Las Vegas got a nice bump in the number of tourists for the Labor Day weekend. According to both Fox5 Vegas and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, people jammed the Strip on Friday and Saturday nights in a last summer fling (although with temperatures hitting 114 degrees at one point over the weekend, it didn’t look like summer was rushing out the door in Nevada).MORE Destination & Tourism Las Vegas had been struggling since reopening in early June, and air travel has been dramatically down. But as Fox5 noted, a combination of factors helped the city see an increase – closures and restrictions in nearby California, the ability to easily drive from Arizona, Utah and California and inexpensive gas prices.But the Review-Journal said the increase in crowds brings an increase in concern about the spread of the coronavirus. Very few people were observed wearing masks over the weekend, and proximity between people was far less than six feet.Terri Clark of San Tan Valley, Arizona, was wearing a mask while visiting the Strip for the first time but was surprised by the crowds, she told the newspaper.“I was expecting there to be way fewer people,” Clark said. “And I’m amazed at how many people are completely disregarding the masks and social distancing. I wear my mask everywhere, I social distance and I have like five bottles of hand sanitizer in my purse. I’m just shocked to see how many people aren’t taking it seriously.”Brian Labus, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of public health at UNLV, said the close proximity of the people and the lack of masks in tourist hot spots is concerning.“I’m not surprised to hear there are large crowds on the Strip and social distancing really isn’t being followed as well as it should,” Labus said. “Anytime you see crowds of people together that aren’t paying attention to the outbreak, I’m definitely going to be concerned. It is a situation where disease can spread, and that is the exact opposite of what we want to happen.” Let's block ads! (Why?)

Will the state of Hawaii have to push back the reopening of tourism a third time beyond the current Oct. 1 date?That’s the concern of many after the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that 25 hospitality companies filed legal notifications with the state in one day last week that they intend to have large layoffs or furloughs. The issue all along for Hawaii Gov. David Ige has been a reluctance to allow the normal influx of tourists to the island in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Thus, Ige has instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine on visitors the moment they arrive in the state. Trending Now Ige most recently extended the order in mid-August to an October 1 reopen.But the fear now is, if the quarantine order is lifted, will tourists have anything to do and any places to go?That became an important question when 25 businesses all filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice in one day on Thursday, Sept. 3. The legal requirement is for businesses that intend to have more than 2,500 layoffs or furloughs in the next 30 days. In total, 137 WARN letter notices from tourism-related businesses have been issued in Hawaii since March.But at least one stakeholder says the state needs to “keep pushing forward.”“The WARN notices today were depressing. Pages and pages,” Ben Rafter, CEO of OLS Hotels and Resorts, told the Star-Advertiser, Hawaii’s largest newspaper. “We’ve seen so many of these notices, but we can’t start becoming numb to them. In addition to the hundreds of millions that have been lost in the tourism industry, these are thousands of people’s lives. We need to keep pushing forward with reopening plans.”Hawaii intends to implement a pre-travel testing program starting Oct. 1 to boost tourism and eliminate the 14-day quarantine. Travelers who take a certified laboratory coronavirus test 72 hours prior to boarding their flight to Hawaii and get it confirmed prior to arriving, will not be subject to the state’s mandatory quarantine. It also says travelers of all ages must take the test and must pay for the test themselves.Anyone who doesn’t take the test or doesn’t get the results of the test back in time before arriving must quarantine.Lt. Gov. Josh Green said the pre-arrivals testing plan is ready to go once Ige approves it.“We have an agreement with CVS and Kaiser,” Green said. “People also can go to a private doctor, and if it’s an approved test, we’ll accept it. As we approach the date, the state Department of Health will consider additional tests that might be easier and cheaper. We’ll have a whole list available.”But will the program be implemented in time for tourism-related businesses from continuing to hemorrhage money? CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg said during a Facebook Live forum Thursday that Oct. 1 could be unrealistic. He’s not expecting the islands to open up until January.Jack Richards, CEO and president of Pleasant Holidays, a large Hawaii wholesale travel seller, told the newspaper, “We’re still in the process of canceling reservations to Hawaii for September and October and we’re even starting to get into November reservations. The cancellations will keep coming until Hawaii gets a definite tourism reopening date. There’s no doubt in my mind that if the governor says Oct.1 is a go that we’ll see demand coming back to Hawaii. There’s still time to save the festive holiday travel season, but we’ve got to act now.” Let's block ads! (Why?)