International Covid-19 test protocols for departing international passengers at airports, which could ease the slump in air travel, are expected to be ready within four weeks, according to the chief of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
Air corridors between London-Dubai and London-New York are ready for testing the international protocols, but still require government coordination, Gloria Manzo Guevara, WTTC president and chief executive, said on Monday during the Future Hospitality Summit held online.
"We need to have an international testing protocol which is doable but we need to do that ASAP," Ms Guevara said. "We hope that in four weeks we can have international protocols, actually we needed them for yesterday."
Lack of unified standards and coordination between countries on Covid-19 testing is complicating the travel and tourism industry's recovery. The WTTC's urgent call for common standards on testing comes as airlines face a bleak winter season that will stretch their cash reserves and test their survival amid a second and third waves of Covid-19 infections.
The International Air Transport Association, an industry body representing some 280 airlines, urged governments to adopt Covid-19 testing prior to flight departures and to lift travel restrictions such as quarantine measures that are hurting travel demand.
"We are safety maniacs in our industry, so if we propose a system, you can be sure it's safe," Alexandre de Juniac, Iata's director general, said during the summit.
Mr de Juniac reiterated the need for fresh government support for carriers to help them cope with the "catastrophic" magnitude of the Covid-19 crisis, warning of further airline bankruptcies in the future.
"The sector in the near term should be smaller with fewer number of players," he said.
The global tourism industry may recover as soon as 2022 or as late as 2025, depending on scenarios where the virus is contained or resurges, Alex Dichter, senior partner at McKinsey & Company, said during the event.
Earlier this month, the WTTC proposed a plan to restart international travel and tourism and restore100 million jobs globally. The plan was presented during the meeting of G20 tourism ministers, 45 company CEOs and members of WTTC.
The 100 million travel and tourism jobs can be recovered within 18 months if international travel resumes and governments work together, Ms Guevara said.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Hurricanes 31-31 Lions
Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett
British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
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Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
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Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
