This brand new week, we bring you our fresh new weekly Top Ten (10) digest for the most important things in Uganda’s Tourism, the world of Aviation and Travel that have trending especially in this COVID-19 Era. As always, we will be giving you highlights that make News rounds all through from start of the week. Below is our Weekly Newsletter for your readership.
01. Qatar Airlines live up to your promises or stop the lies– Says Customer
When you scroll through the official Qatar Airways website, you will find this a reassuring statement: “As we continue our commitment to you, we guarantee the flexibility to suit all your travel needs, offering re-booking options so you can plan ahead, knowing we have you covered as the airline you can always rely on”.
One of the side effects of the Covid pandemic is travel uncertainty. So a promise like this is both comforting and reassuring to any nervous traveler, and even more so to a traveler on a budget who is nervous about committing precious savings to paying for a flight during these unpredictable times.
Qatar Airline goes on to promise: “With our extended and guaranteed flexibility on bookings until 31 December 2020, you can feel confident to plan your next trip to any of our remarkable destinations around the world. Book today, change if you need and travel when you are ready”.
But this promise is a dream that down not translate to reality. At least for one recent traveler.
02. KLM banned from operating commercial passenger flights to Hong Kong for 2 Weeks
The government of Hong Kong is imposing strict new rules on incoming flights. According to sources, any flight found with even a single COVID-19-positive passenger aboard will have a two-week ban if any other travelers on that same flight fail to comply with pandemic control measures. As a result, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has been banned from operating service from Amsterdam and Hong Kong for the two week period from December 4th through December 17th. It should be made clear that the airline is still allowed to operate flights from Hong Kong to Amsterdam.
Due to tight new Covid-19 measures, KLM is temporarily not allowed to take passengers to Hong Kong. KLM flies with cargo from Amsterdam to Hong Kong and with passengers and cargo back to Amsterdam. KLM is still discussing the length of the period to which this measure applies.”
03. G2U Travel Experience: Ethiopian Airlines A350 Economy Class Review – Addis Ababa To Toronto
It was the end of my holiday and time to return to chilly Canada, so I booked a flight on Ethiopian Airlines from ADD to YYZ, with a stop in Dublin. This 16-hour long-haul was something I have been looking forward to for some time. After hearing so much about this growing African aviation company, I was eager to try them myself.
The Centres for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) has cautioned all travelers contemplating taking a trip or visit to Uganda to take precaution as the Country’s Covid-19 cases have climaxed to Level 4 which is considered a complicated level.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) Covid-19 updates on their website, the centre warns travelers to avoid travel to the Country as this may catalyse the infection and spread rate as travel may increase risks of further spread. However, the centre also has tasked those that can’t forego travel to Uganda for various reasons that they should get tested to know their Covid-19 statuses and also carry with them their Negative Covid-19 PCR test results as testing lasts approximately 72 hours (Between 1 – 3 days).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 (MAMA) will be taking place for the very first time in Uganda’s Capital, Kampala in a virtual setting given the existence of the pandemic as few people including artists will access the venue while others will catch a glimpse of the biggest on land and on continental Awards for Africa.
Uganda Airlines commercial flights resumption reactivated in August 2019 after almost 18 years since close of flight operations in the region and across continents. The Inaugural flight for the CRJ-900 Bombadier series was destination Kenya where the Airlines embarked on its first regional route landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and welcomed with a water salute.
Few months down the road, Covid-19 spread across the globe and affected the Aviation industry as many Countries closed Airports although Passenger flights were temporarily halted but Uganda Airlines after several discussions with Government, Repartriation and Cargo flights continued even during lockdown not forgetting flights for medical emergencies.
Forget about all the Covid-19 lockdown and the worries about the hard hit sector – Tourism by the Coronavirus pandemic and all its related impacts on the industry.
Great news reaching our tourism and travel desk indicates that, the African Develepment Bank recently approved a lumpsum of approximately $71.5m (about sh262b loan facility towards the upgrade of vital tourism roads as this is intended to add a boost to livelihoods that sustain their living on tourism activities.
08. Civy Tumusiime takes over Association of Uganda Tour Operators Top seat
Civy Tumusiime on Wednesday this week was elected as the board chair for the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) on a fresh new executive board to serve the period 2020/2022.
AUTO merges registered and professional licensed companies operating tourism and travel activities in the Country.
Civy Tumusiime new board Chair for the Association of Uganda Tour Operators.
09. New Czech Republic consulate in Kampala set to strengthen relations with Uganda
In a bid to promote trade, investment, political, social and cultural relations, the government of Czech Republic has formally opened a new consulate in Uganda.
The new consul to Kampala is Mr. Stephen Mpuuga Kaboyo.
Earlier on last week, Mr. Stephen presented his credentials to the state minister for international affairs Hon. Henry Oryem Okello during a colorful ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala.
New Consul Mr. Stephen poses with state minister for international affairs Hon. Henry Oryem Okello and other antendees during a colorful ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala.
10. WTTC calls for International Air Travel to start over before Covid-19 Vaccine
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and other industry bodies have called for international travel to restart before a COVID-19 vaccine is introduced
A number of key bodies in the aviation and travel industries have called for international travel to resume before COVID-19 vaccines are fully rolled out, a process which could take months.
The WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council), ACI WEF and ICC have identified four key measures, which they believe can restore international travel without having to wait for vaccines.
The WTTC claimed that 174 million travel and tourism jobs are at risk and that getting international travel started again is the only remedy.
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