TRAV BUZZ NEWS MAGAZINE (JULY AUGUST 2020) by Mice Affairs Media Group India

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Monaco THE FUN IS COMING BACK TO MONACO

JULY - AUGUST 2020

Abu Dhabi

GEARS UP FOR A NEW ERA OF GLOBAL TOURISM

PHUKET

PLUTERPERFECT HOLIDAY SPOT

Phuket “The Pearl of Andaman” and the largest island in Thailand offering variety of products and experiences for all segments from beaches to nightlife, Old phuket down to cultural shows and private villa to boutique hostel”

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Mr. Vachirachai Sirisumpan, Director Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi Office

CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Monaco : The fun is coming back to Monaco Travbuzz speaks to Equifax Tourism Dubai to get a first hand Update on Dubai TAT launches â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020 Arts of the Kingdom Museum reopens from 16 July 2020 Certificate of entry from Thai embassy or consulate required for foreigners to enter Thailand Abu Dhabi Gears Up for a New Era of Global Tourism Thailand allows entry to several groups of foreigners from 1 July NUMEROZINDAGI BY DHIIRENDRA SIROHII Mice Affairs & Abovo Travels Join Hands to Prepare Young Travel Brigade with Empirical Virtual Sessions

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10 11

JULY 2020 TRAVEL INDUSTRY DASHBOARD Mice Club International Kicks off with support of Mice Professionals across the Globe

In Conversation with.. TAAI President- Ms Jyoti Maya

Safety preparations for UFCFight IslandTM underway on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

PHUKET PLUTERPERFECT HOLIDAY SPOT

TAT- UNDP team up to strengthen sustainable tourism in Thailand

Thailand approves domestictourism package worth 22.4 billion Baht

Sri Lanka Tourism ready to welcome tourists from 1st Aug 2020

EDITOR'S

N OT E Dear Friends

These are testing times for our industry. Pandemic has hit us really really hard. On one hand it's about sustaining the businesses and also managing the expenses. All these factors are hitting the employment , people who are in the industry since ages. Hope the sutuation is back to normalcy soon Moving ahead with our initiatives, we have started a platform for job seekers over telegram and in next step we are publishing those profiles in our magazine. A bit help from our side. If you know someone , do ask them to join the group. Maybe we can't help them immediately but I am sure in coming times it can be helpful. Moreover there are some positive news comig on from other countries, where activities have been started like Dubai, Thailand and some parts of Europe. Talking about domestic market, Goa , Uttrakhand and Himachal have joined the league by starting tourism in a controlled manner. A start is must , followed by guidelines as corona is here for sometime. So the ask is to live life differently. Earlier we were taking about New Normal but it was just in talks , now is the time to implement. Let's start living with it and start the process. Thats the only way out. Time calls for more responsibility along with new Norms of travel. Welcome to the new world.

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Sachin Manocha

WE ARE REOPENING: REOPENING OF HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, BARS AND CASINOS, THE LONG-AWAITED MOMENT TO REDISCOVER THE PLEASURE IN LIFE HAS STARTED IN MONACO ON 2 JUNE

After two months of lockdown, health prevention policies implemented by the authorities of the Principality of Monaco have allowed a gradual recovery of economic and touristic activities. The long-awaited moment to rediscover the pleasures in life is taking place. Step by step, many sectors are reviving their activities in close cooperation with professional and economic actors and in strict compliance with the safety measures against the pandemic. Everything has been rethought and implemented to ensure that the most exclusive destination in Europe is also the safest. H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, S.E.M. Serge Telle, Jean-Luc Biamonti and the princely family members

THE FUN IS COMING BACK TO MONACO

After several months of renovations, the Place du Casino has finally revealed its new lookâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a modern, open space entirely redesigned to accommodate visitors. On 02 June 2020, the inauguration of Place du Casino and re-opening of the iconic Brasserie du Cafe de Paris took place. The occasion was made exceptional by the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, S.E.M. Serge Telle, Jean-Luc Biamonti and the princely family members. Cafe de Paris Monte-Carlo enjoyed a double celebration as it is the first establishment in Monte-Carlo SBM Group to reopen its doors and also inaugurate its new embellished and extended terrace. The renovation of Place du Casino is a comprehensive project that had already made possible the spectacular metamorphosis of the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the creation of ONE Monte-Carlo, one of the brightest luxury brand hubs in the world, and the restructuring of the Boulingrins Gardens, which have rediscovered the landscaping aesthetics they enjoyed in the 1930s, before giving back to the prestigious Casino de Monte-Carlo its original appearance.

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Keeping up with the initiatives in large cities around the world while retaining its own unique characteristics, the new Place du Casino is structured around three objectives: to give pedestrians priority to stroll around in complete serenity; to preserve the race course of the famous Formula 1 Grand Prix and to please the Monte-Carlo SBM Group VIP customers, whose vehicles, which are often parked in the square, arousing the admiration of passers-by. This event reflected the tremendous enthusiasm that marks the Principality’s ‘return to life’. Starting from 2 June 2020, hotels, museums, bars and restaurants started reopening, a few days after the shops and joining a vast recovery moment. The Government of Monaco has always prioritized healthy safety, especially at the peak of the crisis, everything has been done to protect residents, day-trippers, and tourists, and therefore limit the impact of COVID-19. Today, Monaco's establishments are united around one objective: to welcome guests in the best possible conditions, with a special emphasis on health and safety with a calendar of “rediscovered pleasures” in phased manner. • During lockdown, the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort have remained open, albeit offering reduced services. • 1 June 2020: Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo • 2 June 2020: Brasserie of Cafe de Paris Monte-Carlo and its new terrace, Inauguration of the new Place du Casino & Mada One at One Monte-Carlo, Hotel Fairmont Monte-Carlo, Saphir24 at Hotel Fairmont • 3 June 2020: Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort - Orange Verte, Blue Gin, Spa Cinq Mondes (except sauna and steam room) and the boutique. The Blue Bay restaurant's reopening should be announced for the end of June. • 5 June 2020: Casino de Monte-Carlo reopening of the gaming rooms, terraces

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and Le Salon Rose restaurant & Casino Cafe de Paris – rooms and terrace, Nikki Beach at Hotel Fairmont • 12 June 2020: The Grill and the Bar Americain of Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo • 15 June 2020: Hotel Columbus Monte-Carlo • 16 June 2020: Hotel Port Palace & Buddha Bar Monte-Carlo • 19 June 2020: Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo • 24 June 2020: Coya Monte-Carlo • 26 June 2020: Hotel Meridien Beach Plaza • 3 July: Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel • 8 July: Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo (hotel & room service) 5

outh Africa has been globally lauded by key COVID-19 experts for handling the pandemic in an effective manner, slowing down infections and implementing various lockdown measures through a risk adjusted strategy aimed at easing restrictions and opening up the economy and other activities over 5 alert levels.

reopening of the sector, starting at Level 3. In his recent address to the nation, President Ramaphosa announced that the alert level for the whole country will be lowered from Level 4 to Level 3, with effect from 01 June 2020. Therefore, domestic tourism has opened for business travel and other limited activities, with partial domestic air travel for business purposes allowed. The movements across the levels (including duration & timelines) are dependent on the trajectory of the pandemic.

When the risk-adjusted strategy was initially introduced in April, the tourism sector was placed at alert level 1 with some operations permissible at alert level 2. However, over the last few weeks, a lot of consultative work and focus has been placed on both de-risking the sector and putting health & operational protocols in place for the safety of all tourists and employees. These have been said Dr benchmarked against Michael Ryan, Executive Director of measures being rolled the World Health Organization (WHO) out globally.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is interesting to me the manner in which South Africa is bringing the disease under control The strategy in South Africa was based on preparation, primary prevention, lockdown and enhanced surveillance,â&#x20AC;?

Along with global trends, it is expected that in South Africa, domestic tourism and business travel will lead the recovery followed by regional and international (long-haul) travel. We have noticed some during a press conference in April. global destinations Following industryare now assessing -wide engagements, entering the there has been a commitment by the regional phase of reopening through South African government, led by AirBridge/Travel Bubbles between President Ramaphosa and the private regional countries. sector, to work towards a phased

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Dubai Tourism reaffirms

support to stakeholders amid significant progress in second phase of industry revival

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) reaffirmed its strong commitment to support its stakeholders in the UAE and across the world through a series of virtual meetings to discuss the current and post-pandemic situation.

• Series of virtual meetings held with stakeholders to provide industry updates and address queries on current situation and post-pandemic phase • Health and safety of residents and visitors remain top priority across tourism activities • Dubai Tourism works with over 3,000 partners worldwide as part of its ‘Tourism Readiness’ strategy to encourage tourists to visit the city when it is safe for travel The meetings specifically reviewed the robust mechanism in place to safeguard the health of residents and visitors, and addressed a wide range of queries raised by participants on industry-related COVID-19 regulations, the phased reopening of economic sectors and various measures to kick-start the tourism sector. Separate meetings were held with hotel owners, CEOs of hotel operator groups and other senior representatives from the aviation and hospitality sectors. The meetings with stakeholders were held within the framework of regular industry engagements initiated by the Department to provide a first-hand insight into industry developments and for an exchange of views with the aim of ensuring that the needs and concerns of stakeholders are brought to the attention of key decision makers and dealt with as quickly as possible within the current

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constraints to ensure the sustainability of the tourism ecosystem and business continuity. Presided by the Director General of Dubai Tourism, the meetings were attended by hoteliers and top executives of hospitality groups including Jumeirah, Emaar Hospitality Group, Marriott International, Hilton, IHG, Millennium Group, Accor, Kerzner International, AAAGroup, Investment Corporation of Dubai, Nakheel, Majid Al Futtaim, Lakhraim, Abu Dhabi National Hotel, JA Resorts and Hotels, IHG, Shangri-La, Al Habtoor Group, Atlantis – The Palm, Hyatt International, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, Caesars Bluewaters Dubai, Wasl Hospitality and Rotana, in addition to Emirates. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, commented: “The series of meetings that we have initiated with industry leaders are crucial in ensuring that we are all aligned with the collective efforts being made under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai to restart the economy and for the effective implementation of our ‘Tourism Readiness’ strategy. As the continuous collaboration between the government and private sectors is key to reviving and maintaining tourism growth, it is encouraging to know that this unique model of public-private sector partnership combined with the comprehensive result-oriented citywide management of the COVID-19 7

pandemic, has already contributed towards achieving significant progress in the current and second phase of our recovery plan, which is the gradual reopening of economic sectors.” HE Helal Almarri added: “With travel behaviours remaining fluid and travellers set to become even more discerning and prudent in their travel choices, we welcome the commitment shown by our partners to work together to help prepare the ground for a meaningful tourism restart so that the industry is well positioned to capture growth when the situation improves. Throughout this unprecedented journey that is set to lead to a new normal, Dubai Tourism reaffirms its support to its stakeholders and partners to facilitate the gradual recovery of the sector, restore confidence and trust among travellers and eventually once again highlight Dubai’s position at the forefront, as one of the world’s leading travel destinations.” In addition to the extensive health and safety measures that have been implemented to minimise the impact of COVID-19 and safeguard the health of residents and visitors, the partners were also briefed on the progress made so far in the phased reopening of sectors including the travel and hospitality sectors and other infrastructure, attractions and facilities that could help boost demand for domestic tourism. The meeting highlighted the phased reopening of hotel beaches, restaurants and the resumption of other tourism activities and flights to certain destinations by Emirates. The participants were also provided an update on the marketing activities that are underway

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across key international markets to ensure the city continues to stay relevant and front of mind to both first-time and repeat visitors so that they choose to visit Dubai when it is safe to travel. They were given updates about the ongoing digital activation #Till We Meet Again and the recently launched #We Will See You Soon campaign; the provision of timely and accurate information in real-time about the situation in Dubai via the Department’s various digital platforms; and the constant communication with over 3,000 partners worldwide to be alert and ready to adapt to the changing realities. Dubai Tourism is also working with social media and technology partners to sustain interest in Dubai as a must-visit destination, as evident in the collaboration with Microsoft in launching ‘Dubai Virtual Backgrounds’ that allows users of web and video conferencing apps to download free images of iconic attractions in Dubai and use them as customised digital backdrops. As part of its #Till We Meet Again activation, Dubai Tourism also partnered Snapchat in a novel campaign that saw four augmented reality (AR) Snapchat Lenses being developed to transport users in the UK and France to Dubai to experience the city’s famous landmarks. During Q & A sessions at the virtual meetings, Dubai Tourism provided guidance on some aspects of the current situation related to the tourism industry. The queries pertained to COVID-19 regulations, testing procedures, resumption of air services, particularly by Emirates, wedding and business events and the wider MICE industry.

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Conversations.. Rohit Jain

Director Equifax Tourism

Travbuzz speaks to Equifax Tourism Dubai to get a first hand Update on Dubai of the highest testing rates in the world with over 3.00 million tests conducted and target to do the testing for all the residents which is approx. 9.9 million. Population-wide testing can help break the transmission patterns of the virus, reducing the number of cases when used in conjunction with a rapid public health response.

• Public transportation ( Taxi / Buses / Metro) • Public Parks. • Manufacturing, Constructions and logistics. • Water sports activities / boat rental / dinner cruise • Tourism attractions – Burj Khalifa / Dubai fountain / Dubai Frame / Ski Dubai / Desert Safari / Museum and many more attractions are operational.

UAE preparing to fully open border – latest update on 17 June 2020 – Report from Arabian Business!

Share key updates on present situation The first case of Covid-19 in the UAE was identified on January 29. As of June 20, there were 44,533 cases – out of which 31574 has recovered (72% recovery). For past 20 days cases are coming down and recoveries are more than double and we are expecting that based on current recoveries UAE will be Corona free in a month. This has happen due to the government stringent steps aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. Major actions were: • Residents across the UAE adhered to stay-home orders to help stem the spread of Covid-19 for more than two months. • A national sterilization drive to clean up streets and roads and boost public safety which is still going on even after 100% sterilization done. The sterilization drive is now in place every night from 11pm to 6am in all emirates. • Extensive testing - UAE’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management confirmed - The UAE has one

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Currently local residents are very

"Travellers will be welcomed to Dubai in a safe and secure environment ensuring seamless use of contactless technologies and advanced equipment for screening incoming and outgoing passengers to safeguard the city from any spread of infection. World-class cleaning and disinfection processes across all facilities, attractions and assets to ensure a risk-free experience for tourists in the city are being implemented.”

Initiatives Q Government to boost tourism

Government has come out with strict guidelines and instructions for all tourism related services. Let me share the list of tourism sector which are open & operation with precautionary measures: • Hotels & Private beaches • Public beaches • Vital sectors like healthcare services, food supply outlets, delivery services etc. • Private sector office are operating at 100% capacity. • Airports • Restaurants & Cafés (operating whilst adhering to social distancing procedures). • Shopping Malls / Retail sector operating with 100 capacity.

Travel Sentiments of the locals

positive as UAE govt has done great work to fight with Covid situation and has set up a example in the world. I have two real examples to show the travel sentiments of locals: • Huge increase in Staycation since end of May 2020 (Domestic Tourism). Currently most of the beach resorts / Luxury hotels has more than 50% occupancy during weekend which shows the confidence of locals coming out and traveling. • UAE govt. allows select categories of UAE citizens and residents will be permitted to travel abroad to certain destinations from June 23 2020.

Focus markets going forward

UAE is going to open its border very soon and will be targeting various market phase wise – which will be depending on bilateral agreement in various countries but just to give a idea on action plan •

Domestic Tourism

•

GCC markets

•

Far East and China

•

Europe market

TAT launches ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020 Non-Stop The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020 – Non-Stop Shopping’ from 15 July to 15 September, 2020, to stimulate tourism spending and help entrepreneurs in tourism-related industries.

From left to right: Ms. Virahya Pattarachokchai (Gina The Face Thailand) Mr. Surachet Sangchayosawat Strategy and Planning Director of Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited Mr. Kriangkrai Chongcharoen Director of the Office of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bangkok (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business Mr. Boonsong Koomboon TAT Executive Director, Tourism Investment Promotion Department Ms. Panwadee Putyangkool PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) Ms. Voralak Tulaphorn Chief Marketing Officer, The Mall Group and The EmQuartier

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Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn TAT Governor, said, The ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020 – ‘Non-Stop Shopping’ will continue to promote the image of Thailand as a shopping destination, while also helping all operators affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “It will offer products from the fashion, sports, communication technology, home decor, childcare, food and cuisine, hotel, spa, and various tourist industries at special prices. This along with gifts and many more privileges is intended to attract interest from Thai and foreign residents and create new experiences in shopping. TAT has invited over 10,000 establishments across the country to join the ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020 – Non-Stop Shopping’ project and give special privileges to Thai and foreign residents throughout the two-month period in the main tourism centres of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Hat Yai. The project will differ from the last three years, which formerly focussed on discounts from participating establishments, and event marketing in key areas and lucky draws. This year’s project will take an “O2O: Online to Offline approach” through online activities on the project’s LINE official account (online) that will offer gift vouchers for shoppers to redeem as discounts at participating establishments (offline). Weekly online sales promotions on different categories of products and services will be introduced to entice interest among Thai and foreign residents throughout the two-month period.

Week 1: Travel, hotels, airlines and vehicles. Week 2: Fashion, beauty, spa and kids. Week 3: 8.8 Flash Sale. Week 4: Food and beverages. Week 5: Entertainment and sport. Week 6: Property, home décor, and souvenirs. Week 7: IT, gadgets, and electronics. Week 8: 9.9 Flash Sale.

On two ‘lucky days’ within the two-month period, TAT is also planning online activities to stimulate

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spending under the ‘Non-Stop Shopping’ concept, with giveaways and lucky draws. The ‘8.8 Happy Moment’ campaign on 8 August offers 4,100 vouchers, worth 660,000 Baht, through online quiz games. The ‘9.9 Get Lucky Number 9’ campaign on 9 September offers 20 gift vouchers, worth 100,000 Baht, via online games on Facebook: Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020. TAT is also collaborating with the leading on-line shopping platform, Shopee, to organise a sales promotion campaign during 15 July – 31 August, 2020, to increase sales channels for participating entrepreneurs. The UTU application, a global bank-affiliated platform will also be used to offer special privileges to collect points, redeem points and give cash back to tourists using credit and debit cards from their affiliates. Shoppers who buy products and services from participating entrepreneurs during the two-month ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2020 – ‘Non-Stop Shopping’ will also be eligible to win 20 big prizes after the completion of the project including return tickets of a domestic flight from Thai AirAsia and THAI Smile, Mitsubishi All New Xpander car, accommodation package from Bandara Villas in Phuket, gadgets and more worth over 1,000,000 Baht. The lucky draw will take place at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel on 17 September, 2020. Last but not least, TAT is offering 2020 shopping bags under the “Responsible Tourism – Non Stop Giving Bags” campaign. Shoppers will be invited to snap their photos at participating establishments’ display areas and post on their personal social media channels with #amazingthailandgrandsale2020 and #nonstopshopping2020 for a chance to receive a shopping bag. TAT expects the project to generate 100 million Baht in direct spending on products and services in the various categories, and help enhance sales promotion for at least 10,000 entrepreneurs in the tourism and travel-related industries in Thailand.

Arts of the Kingdom Museum reopens from 16 July 2020 Discover Thailand’s jewellery box at this unique museum filled with the amazing artistry of Thai craftmanship

he Museum is currently closed to support the nationwide effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19).

During the current temporary closure period, tourists and art aficionados are invited to admire the amazing artistry of Thai craftsmanship via the Museum’s social media accounts – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: artsofthekingdom and Twitter: AOK_Museum. From 16 July, the Arts of the Kingdom will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10.0015.30 Hrs., with tickets available for purchase

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from 09.45-15.00 Hrs. Foreign visitors who purchase the 500 Baht entrance ticket to the Grand Palace in Bangkok will be entitled entry to the Arts of the Kingdom Museum. Otherwise, the ticket can be purchased directly at the Museum at 150 Baht per person. As Thailand is continuing its unprecedented effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infections, all visitors to the Museum are requested to wear protective face masks and observe social distancing rules for the safety and health for all.

Certificate of entry from Thai embassy or consulate required for foreigners to enter Thailand CAAT reiterates the ban on international commercial aircraft remain in place, while the exemption for 11 groups of Thai and non-Thai nationals to enter Thailand is under the conditions that they apply for necessary documents from the local Thai Embassies or consulates worldwide

lthough, Thailand allows entry to several groups of foreigners from 1 July, the eligible travellers must seek advance certificate of entry from local Thai embassies

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or consulates abroad as well as the relevant necessary documents as required under the order of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

With the ban on international commercial aircraft remaining in place, only the following types of aircraft can enter Thailand: • State or military aircraft • Emergency landing flights

other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pertaining to necessity, including their spouse, parents, or children. • Carriers of necessary goods, subject to immediate return after completion.

• Technical landing flights without disembarkation • Crew members who are required to • Humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights • Repatriation flights • Cargo flights • Passenger flights carrying the persons permitted to enter Thailand.

The entry into Thailand of the persons of any of the following types, by aircraft, shall be permitted, provided that they comply with the conditions, time limits and rules of the authorised persons under the Thai immigration law, communicable diseases law, air navigation law, and the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation, for the prevention of the spread of disease, and the organisation of the number of persons entering Thailand in accordance with the capability of the competent officers or the communicable disease control officers for the screening and arrangement of facilities for isolation, quarantine and control for observation:

• Thai nationals.

travel into the Kingdom on a mission, and have a specified date and time for return. • Non-Thai nationals who are a spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national. • Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of permanent residency in the Kingdom, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom. • Non-Thai nationals who have a work permit or have been granted permission from government agencies to work in the Kingdom, including their spouse or children. • Non-Thai nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students, except for students of non-formal educational institutions under the law on private schools and of other similar private educational institutions

• Persons with exemption or persons being considered, permitted or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving state of emergency issues to enter the Kingdom, pertaining to necessity. Such consideration, permission or invitation may be subject to specific conditions and time limits.

• Non-Thai nationals who are in need of medical treatment in Thailand, and their attendants. However, this shall not include medical treatment for COVID-19.

• Persons on diplomatic or consular missions or under international organisations, or representatives of foreign governments performing their duties in the Kingdom, or persons of

To enter the Kingdom, the persons as prescribed in the 11 aforementioned groups are required to comply with the relevant laws on disease prevention measures.

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• Non-Thai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country.

Abu Dhabi Gears Up for a New Era of Global Tourism Standardised hygiene programme introduced for all hotels and tourism attractions in the emirate

Abu Dhabi announces the launch of its strategy for the tourism sector, which has been created in anticipation for the return of tourists worldwide. The capital has been gradually easing stay-at-home measures after its proven success in curbing the spread of COVID-19. Hotels within the emirate have been undergoing rigorous sanitation from the beginning of March, leading to the reopening of the properties after they receive clearance and certification from DCT Abu Dhabi.

approach - one that puts consumer priorities and concerns at the forefront. We will be announcing other initiatives and programmes that were created with the help of the Abu Dhabi government to complement this strategy and ensure the safety of our visitors and residents alike. We would like to thank our partners for their extraordinary cooperation and support towards reopening our beautiful emirateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doors to the world once again."

Amongst the initiatives launched by DCT Abu Dhabi to address the need for elevated standards of health and safety is the Go Safe Certification, a unique programme that aims to enforce global standards of safety and cleanliness at hotels, attractions, and venues across the emirate.

Go Safe will focus on hotels and entertainment establishments to ensure that they are in the best shape to receive visitors. W Hotel is the first hotel in the emirate to be certified. The certification will move on to cover six additional hotels, four attractions, two theme parks, two malls and a public beach.

"Abu Dhabi is setting a new standard for best practices in tourism, following the high praise that the UAE has received for the proactive approach through which the government has addressed the current situation," said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. "As we look forward to reviving tourism in the capital, we aim to not only meet, but to exceed all existing international benchmarks through a strategy that promotes consumer safety in every step of the way; from the moment they land at our airports to their eventual departure. The launch of Go Safe goes hand-in-hand with the efforts of the Abu Dhabi government to combat the spread of diseases, which include widespread testing, city-wide sanitation, social distancing, and enhancing healthcare services. "Being the first of its kind in the region, the programme is the initial step in our new tourism

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Go Safe is then set to be rolled out across all attractions within the capital including malls, restaurants, theme parks and other public spaces. The first step of the programme is guided self-assessments which destinations will undergo as per guidelines and checklists provided by DCT Abu Dhabi, encouraging destinations to take responsibility for the cleanliness of their own facilities in order to carry out similar operations independently in the future. The self-assessments will then be verified through thorough site-inspections conducted by dedicated teams to ensure the compliance of destinations to the highest standard of cleanliness. Destinations that meet the requirements will be awarded the Go Safe Certificate, which signals to consumers its readiness to receive visitors and maintain hygiene throughout.

Thailand allows entry to several groups of foreigners from 1 July CAAT announces that several groups of foreigners will be allowed entry into the kingdom, including foreign travellers under special arrangements between Thailand and foreign governments. CAAT’s “Notification on Conditions for International Flight Permit to Thailand” dated yesterday, 29 June, 2020, referred to its previous notifications issued since 3 April, 2020, imposing a temporary ban on all international flights entering Thailand for the prevention and control of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID – 19) pandemic. According to CAAT, as the present situation of COVID–19 in many foreign countries remains severe, it is necessary to impose measures to restrict the travel to Thailand in accordance with the screening capability of the competent officers or the communicable disease control officers in order to efficiently control and prevent the new epidemic in the Kingdom. CAAT hereby issues the notification on the conditions for permitting aircrafts to fly over, fly into or out of, and take off or land in the Kingdom, from 1 July, 2020, onwards as follows: 1. The following aircraft will be allowed to fly over, fly into or out of, and take off from or land at an international airport in the Kingdom when permission is given by the CAAT: • • • • • •

State or military aircraft Emergency landing flights Technical landing flights without disembarkation Humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights Repatriation flights Cargo flights

2. Permission for passenger aircraft will be given by the CAAT for flying over, flying into or out of, and taking off or landing at an international airport in the Kingdom only if the passengers or persons on board are one of the following categories: • Thai nationals. • Persons with exemption or persons being considered, permitted, or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving state of emergency issues to enter the Kingdom, as necessary. Such consideration, permission or invitation may be

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subject to specified conditions and time limits. • Non-Thai nationals who are a spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national. • Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of residence, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom. • Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid work permit or are allowed to work in the Kingdom, including their spouse or children. • Carriers of necessary goods subject to immediate return after completion. • Crew members who are required to travel into the Kingdom on a mission, and have a specified date and time for return. • Non-Thai nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students. • Non-Thai nationals who are in need of medical treatment in Thailand, and their attendants. However, this shall not include medical treatment for COVID–19. • Individuals in diplomatic missions, consular affairs, international organizations, government representatives, foreign government agencies working in Thailand, or individual in other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including their spouse, parents, or children. • Non-Thai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country. 3. Aircraft and passengers or persons entering the Kingdom under Item No. 2 must comply with the conditions, time limits and rules of the authorised persons under the Thai immigration law, communicable diseases law, air navigation law, and the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation in force, for prevention of the disease and the organisation of the number of persons entering Thailand in accordance with the screening capability of the competent officers or the communicable disease control officers, and the arrangement of quarantine facilities.

NUMEROZINDAGI

DHIIRENDRA SIROHII

here are so many things in our lives that are predestined (Prarabdha) and are beyond our control.At the same time, there are several things that we create through our sheer “Karma” (Purushartha).We don’t decide our gender, parents, relatives, color of our skin, country, place & time of our birth etc. This is predestined. But we can certainly play a major role in shaping our destiny through our “Karma” i.e “Purusharth”. And therefore, “Purusharth” is given more importance than “Prarabdha”. What matters is the aligning of our Karma or efforts in the right direction enabling us to unleash our true potential leading us to a prosperous and harmonious life. There can be several ways of doing this. One of the easiest & beautiful ways is to understand & implement science of numbers in our lives. Our lives are governed by numbers from the time we take birth. Numerology or science of numbers is an ancient science practiced worldwide since thousands of years. By sheer study of your date of birth, one can quickly analyze your behavioral pattern, your strengths, weaknesses, areas of strengths, scope of improvement you have in reaching your true potential by minimizing obstacles & challenges you face in your day to day life. Many of us spend a large part of our lives without knowing about ourselves and finally realizing that we have been putting our efforts in a wrong direction that has added to our miseries. We don’t ever get answers to so many questions we may have and keep living our lives in utter confusion with no clarity. Such as

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1. Why do I behave in a certain manner? 2. Why don’t I get desired results despite putting good efforts? 3. Why do I often complain that people don’t understand me? 4. Why my relations with others are not harmonious? 5. Why am I temperamental and have frequent mood swings? 6. Why its challenging for me to trust people or vice versa why I trust everyone easily? 7. Why people don’t return my money? 8. Why do I often fight with my spouse? 9. Why don’t I get enough opportunities in my carrier? 10. Why I am not able to save despite earning well? 11. Why am I not getting desired growth? 12. Why I am not able to retain my clients or increase my network? 13. Why do I have to do all my work by myself and I don’t get efficient & loyal staff or helpingfriends? 14. Why am I too much worried about my kids unnecessarily? 15. Why I am not able to express myself properly to others? 16. Why my money is stuck in property investments and I am not getting returns? 17. Why its challenging for me to be disciplined or organized? 18. Can I settle abroad and become successful? 19. Why do I lack confidence & determination? 20. Why am I not able to plan well or I plan well but not able to execute? 21. Why do I often face delays in everything? We all may have hundreds of such other questions, and we may be looking for answers, looking for remedies or solutions enabling us to overcome them and lead a prosperous and harmonious life. Numerology can help identifying these and help navigate your life. Dhiirendra Sirohii 0091-9354245748

Mice Affairs & Abovo Travels Join Hands to Prepare Young Travel Brigade with Empirical Virtual Sessions Personalized Internship Program was launched last month by Abovo Travel where Mice Affairs Media joined hands to curate a special online session. Students from various universities joined for the personalized session

Kriti Sharma Govt college sec-9 Gurugram affiliated to MDU Rohtak Haryana

Nidhi sahu

Gayatri Gawde

Govt. P. G college sec-9 gurugram

Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism Amity University Maharashtra

Himangshu Gurung

Rhythm Ghanshala

Chirag Kisan Chaugule

Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism

Thomas Cook COL University of Mumbai

Deepshikha

Gauthami S.Nair

Adrija Shami

Sector - 9 Government College Gurugram, M. D. U Rohtak

Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies

Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism (Amity University Maharashtra)

Amity Universit Maharashtra

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Amity University, Noida

Ahona Majumdar

Sania Bhutani

Rinky Nayyar

Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism

Govt. college sec-9 Gurugram Affiliated to MDU Rohtak Haryana

Ambedkar University Delhi

Amity University , Noida

Wamika Sharma

Angeli Rajan

Nitesh Chadha

SHTM University of Jammu

Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism Management Amity University of Maharashtra

Amity Institute of Travel & Tourism

Shivani singh

Pranjal Dixit

Amandeep singh

Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism, Amity

Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Jammu

University Maharashtra

Ujwal Singh Rathore

Swathi s Nambiar

SHTM University of Jammu

Pazhassiraja College ,

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Wayanad , Kerala

Amity University, Noida

Samiksha Singh Govt College

Sec 9 Gurugram

Do not Skip a Year of Learning!!! Shiv Charan

Director Abovo Travels and Founder , Abovo Study Consultants and Mice Club Contributor

Imagine you wake up one day and you realised that you just skipped an entire year??? Metaphorically the same is happening with year 2020, in terms of Employment Opportunities, Businesses, Economy and Education. This year practically is gone due to the Pandemic Covid-19. No body in their lifetimes had neither witnessed such unprecedented times and nor will see. Since the beginning of Covid-19 cases in world since late January, travel industry was the first one to get affected by the same. I still remember that we had one confirm group to Thailand which got cancelled as there were news of Covid -19 Cases (That to 1-2 cases), so we had to shift the destination to Srilanka and operated the same in first week of February. So this all cancellation and change of destination happened when there were merely a handful cases which could be counted on your fingertips. And as of today we are counting more then 25,000 cases every day. Hence since the January 2020 all things, business, employment, education everything goes in halt totally stand still. In such unprecedented times we can not do much about our businesses or the employment as we have a very less control on external factors which are highly uncontrollable in nature, but we have

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control over our learning and education. Education industry such as any professional institutes, Colleges, Schools or any other training centres got affected badly due to CoronaVirus and affected the learning and education of many aspirants. So, as we have little control over when business will start again, and when this Coronavirus will be over but we have control over our leaning and education at some extent. Let me ask you one question; will you let one complete year skip without any sort of learning? Answer to this question will be “No” from most of you. It really is not a good idea even for a healthy brain to let one year pass by without any learning. And this learning can be of any sort to keep you engaged, to keep your mind healthy. It can be a language which you always desired to learn, it can be cooking, it can be any other skill set which may be handy to you when the job market will re-start. There are many online free and marginally paid courses available related to almost every skill, hobby or professional front. So, don’t let this year go in total waste, beside keeping yourself safe at home, you can learn so many things from comfort of your home. Because as they say learning is like an axe, you need to keep sharpen it. I am closing this article with the quote from Steve Jobs “Stay hungry, stay foolish”

TRAVEL INDUSTRY

DASHBOARD Ajay Hirve

Savio M Sarkari

Shariq Anzar

ajay.hirve@yahoo.com

savio_sarkari@yahoo.com

shariqanz@gmail.com

Bangalore

9986258591

Sr. Executive operations in MICE for 3.7 years

Mumbai

9619334440

9990338882

Delhi

Sales, Operations, Product Management, Mice, events and exhibition 7 years

Tour manager

Sumit Rana

Sumit sharma

Sanjay Bhalla

srcorporate90@gmail.com

sumit14apr@gmail.com

sanjay.bhalla75@gmail.com

Chandigarh

9654742464

6 years in ticketing and tour packages

Noida

9805826269

Fresher ,mice ,events ,tour leading

9873085531

Delhi

5 years plus experience in Sales, operations, customer support , BD in Mice and Leisure

Murtuza Dohadwala

Abhishek Tandon

Mandar Purav

murtuz_d@hotmail.com

abhishek.cnk@gmail.com

mandarpurav@gmail.com

Mumbai

9820062653

10 years Exp

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Delhi NCR

15 years Exp

9711994664

9619440720

Mumbai ,

Maharashtra

3 Years Experience as a Europe Operations Exec

Krunal Kayastha

Pankaj Devidan

Vijayant kataria

krunal.kayastha@gmail.com

ntpjalna@gmail.com

vijayant.dook@gmail.com

9099980462

Ahmedabad

Jalna Aurangabad

Overall Operations, Product Management, Customer Care

9028730000

8302227669

Jaipur

Outbound Sales & Operations

Ticketing Agent Since 2008

Bhushan Bagle

Deepti Deorukhkar

Aakash Sadadekar

bhushan.bagle297@gmail.com

deeptideorukhkar@gmail.com

sadadekaraakash19@gmail.com

Pune

8390593696

Mumbai

8652476677

11 years of experience in travel industry.

3+ yrs. Exp. In travel industry

1.2 yrs in Thomas Cook

Rahul Gelot

Preeti Singh

rahulpeace13@gmail.com

preeti_singh9584@rediffmail.com

Mumbai

7350824414

Mumbai

Worked in the contracting and operation team at Thomas cook. (Europe)

8879199748

Mumbai

9920460859

Leisure travel Outbound

Disclaimer Travel Industry Job Dashboard is a complimentary coverage so publisher disowns any sort of claims including data publishing. As data has been shared by consent of job seekers only.

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Mice Club International Kicks off with support of Mice Professionals across the Globe

In First Phase 15 + professionals join the Club

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Major Objectives of Club: 1. Connect to Network 2. Brainstorming 3. Experience & Idea Sharing 4. Community of like minded professionals 5. Global Cooperation

Join the Community

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In Conversation with.. TAAI PresidentMs Jyoti Mayal On The New Normal of Travel Business

he current times of Convid19 is something the travel tourism & hospitality industry could have ever envisaged. This pandemic has infected our industry to the true sense. Putting all of us in a lockdown is the least of the worry but the after-effects are something where it will take us a lot of time to reconstruct. We are currently on a negative growth & will be starting our business from ground zero. Whenever a calamity occurs the tourism & aviation industry is the first to be hit & last to revive. The only thing which I am hopeful is that people have reached the end of their patience & will overcome their scare & hesitance to venture out of course by putting best practices forward of social distancing, sanitization & hygiene. India is a country of youth & they do look at situations differently & are bold to take decisions. We will certainly come out of this slowly but surely. Now is the time to reinvent, reboot & restructure ourselves. TAAI is the oldest mother association of the travel & tourism industry & we have played a very important part in communicating to the government including all nodal ministries connected to business & travel including RBI & Niti Ayog. We are in constant dialogue with Airlines & IATA at all levels. We have been strongly voicing our concerns with the travel, social & electronic media. We have used all our resources to get reliefs & rebates from the government. We have also requested for best practices & procedures to be initiated by Airlines,

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IATA MOT & MOCA. I agree we have not been given the attention or the importance or even the reliefs by the ministry of finance which we were anxiously looking forward to. I fail to understand a country where approximately 10% of the GDP is Tourism driven & 12% is employment protected & also one of the highest Forex exchange earners, is not considered as an important aspect of the economical growth by our Hon. Prime Minister or Finance Minister. We have been shocked & disappointed by our government. We are aware that India is a huge country and not the best of economies & thus the Prime Minister has other priorities but he with his vision & emphasis on tourism I am sure understands, only if the industry, as ours sustains, will the economy grow. Travel & Tourism has a huge value chain attached which will play either a role of the downfall or building of the economy. The government needs to understand this and we at TAAI are still confident to get some bailout packages & stimulus so that our members especially the small agent survives & so does our staff. I very strongly believe that crisis creates opportunities & as the TAAI President & Vice Chairperson of FAITH. I would like to address all my members through this platform and will continue to say very loudly, THIS is the time to retrospect and look into our businesses, our contracts, our workings, our code of ethics & most importantly our commitment to each other - UNITY.

Let us all get together with one voice address our concerns, bring best practices into place, work towards building a robust industry where we as an integral part of Aviation, Tourism & Hospitality industry establish the norms & ways to conduct business with all our stake holders , corporates & customer. We need to establish this keeping in mind that it is of mutual interest as we are the important link to the value chain, depending on each other. This is also the time of cooperation & and consortiums. All this can only be achieved if we work TOGETHER in UNITY & I say it loud & clear it is NOW or NEVER. Let's us not look at short term goals but pave a path of thriving in our journey & create a healthy, self sufficient, self reliant industry. Working with the government is an ongoing process. We as industry leaders need to be in constant communications with the government bodies to establish our role & relevance. Somehow this connect has not been established . Even the role of communicating through the national & electronic media has not been there. Now that we have established both I am confident we will be heard and we will make ourselves heard. Rome was not built in a day & may be it will take little time to make this happen but we will make it happen. If intentions are there results will follow. We have to build a relationship of partnership with the government in a way that we both look out for each other & thus help in building the economy, resources & infrastructure of our country. Once this is established I am confident our seamless working with the government & other stakeholders will develop & we will all work together. Currently, our industry concerns are in abundance, the statutory commitments, cash crunch, refunds from airlines, no business transactions & to emerge with low sentiments & confidence of the traveler. A very big concern is we as agents are not protected for our services to the airlines, we are not protected by the government/land of the law against any airline defaults & neither is our & our customer's hard-earned tax paid money. The travel industry will revive & travel agents are here to stay, Yes, these are challenging times & survival is a challenge but as the President of TAAI I believe in our members & their capabilities. The demographic of the traveler will certainly change for the next few years. At the end of these couple of years it may be more like a habit. Things every traveler will focus on is social distancing, sanitization, hygiene & traveling in a new structured environment. To start with only domestic travel related to essential travel, moving to drive or short-haul travel with family or

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limited number of people & then it will start getting progressive and the confidence of a traveler will return. Business travel will start with a need basis as we have got used to technology working from home & slowly towards small conferences. We will move a lot towards technology & virtual experiences before we plan our holidays. New norms will be established. International travel will start once it is opened by the government. Different countries initially will have a different set of rules to comply with, variable visa norms including health certificates and quarantine rules in place. From a personal viewpoint, I feel human beings especially Indians forget easily, we are not scared, we are a youth country & we, after the lockdown opens will gasp for travel & tourism. Countries at this time should not look for containment but for cooperation amongst each other. Let the insurance be a must for both domestic & international travel. Let every state & country have the best medical procedures in place for visitors. Covid19 is a virus spread globally so you are as safe in your country as abroad, learn to live with it with proper habits inculcated & be sure the city, state or country you travel to is equipped to offer the best medical treatment. Till the time a drug or the vaccine is not invented learn to be safe. As the President of TAAI a couple of things I must state, which are very important to bring a change in this industry and work towards its betterment & towards a profitable industry. We should have a unified structured National Task Force at the Centre to structure the industry inclusive of aviation, tourism, railways, shipping (cruises both sea & river), transportation & commerce. The direction to every state for the growth should be filtered to the states. Most importantly we should get an Industry status to regulate the industry & there should be a control on sprouting of associations & diluting the voice. Regulating does not mean restricting people to come into the travel business. The taxes to promote tourism in a growing country specially after a pandemic should be waived. More taxes would come from indirectly related sources. Marketing support should be given to the tourism promoters & seamless travel & ease of business should be promoted. Use of credit cards should be mandated with charge less than 1 percent. The government should encourage outbound to create a larger inbound business. We all need to collectively help each other to re establish our business which is going to be a Herculean task as we will be building from ground zero but I am confident we will adapt the change, reinvent, restructure, reboot & reorganize our businesses, our lookout & ourselves.

Safety preparations for UFC Fight IslandTM underway on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Safety preparations for UFC Fight IslandT UFC 251® and three UFC® Fight Nights to be hosted on the iconic island starting July 11 Over 1,500 UAE event staff have now completed a 14-day protection and prevention period M underway on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Preparations are underway ahead of UFC FIGHT ISLANDÔ, set to take place on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island this summer from July 11 to 26. Over 1,500 event personnel and Yas Island employees have been stationed within Yas Island's ‘safe zone' to employ strict COVID-19 precautionary measures. To ensure the safety of UFC staff, event personnel, Yas Island employees and the wider Abu Dhabi community, all attendees of UFC Fight IslandTM have quarantined for 14 days at Yas Island hotels. This safety clearance serves as a precautionary measure that will ensure a risk-free safe zone and an enjoyable event for all. All UAE-based personnel and Yas Island support staff reported to Yas Island hotels in the past few weeks, following a complete and comprehensive sanitation of all hotels. Strict measures, including scheduled check-in times allowing for only four people at a time, were taken to ensure the utmost protection and security. Following a 14-day hotel quarantine and a negative test result, individuals are now permitted to leave the hotel and move around Yas Island's safe zone, now known as UFC Fight IslandTM. The zone sits within roughly 11 km on Yas Island and includes the venue, the hotels, the training facilities and the dining establishments. Only UFC athletes and their coaches, UFC staff and event personnel, along with Yas Island employees will be provided access to the safe zone. None of these individuals will mix with Abu Dhabi residents at any point during their stay. In addition to the more than two thousand COVID-19 tests taken over the past week, significant progress has also been made on the event site. A crew of 740 are working with 350 tons of steel and 18km of cable to turn the 640,000sqm area into a venue fit for the famous Octagon, where the best fights in the world will take place this year.

“DCT Abu Dhabi has taken extreme and

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outstanding preparatory measures for the much-anticipated UFC event, more rigorous than any event ever held in Abu Dhabi," said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). " Abu Dhabi has demonstrated significant expertise as far as hosting major sporting events in the past, but during these challenging times, it is important that we continue to set global standards for hosting major events and unite our governmental entities to create a new roadmap for sport and tourism, all whilst ensuring everyone's safety. "Our sincere thanks goes out to all event personnel and government employees that are now within the safe zone. They are a key element in the positioning the Emirate at the forefront of global sports tourism. We appreciate the dedication and patience they have demonstrated whilst preparing for this unique event." UFC will hold four events on Yas Island, including one Pay Per View-- UFC® 251-- and three Fight Nights. The action-packed schedule begins with UFC® 251 at 2:00am local time (18:00 ET) on Sunday, July 12, and will be followed with successive ESPN Fight Night events to be held on Thursday, July 16 from 3:00am local time (19:00 ET); Sunday, July 19 from 1:00am local time (17:00 ET); and Sunday, July 26 from 1:00am local time (17:00 ET). UFC events are broadcast in 175 countries in 40 different languages and reach approximately one billion TV households. In the UAE and throughout the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, UFC Fight IslandTM events will be broadcast on UFC Arabia, UFC's first Arabic-language subscription service in the region. ‘UFC Arabia' can be downloaded through Apple Store and Google Play and is available on web, smartphones, tablets and Smart TVs.

PHUKET PLUTERPERFECT HOLIDAY SPOT WITH – SKY ABOVE-SAND BELOW-PEACE WITHIN

Thailand, considered as Land of Smiles, has a lot to offer for variety of tourists. This article shall unveil the beauty of Phuket, what all shall be considered while planning a trip to the island, and more than what’s being offered in regular holiday itineraries. Phuket province located in Southern Thailand is the biggest island of Thailand and sits on the Andaman Sea. The nearest province to the north is Phang-nga and the nearest provinces to the east are Phang-nga and Krabi. Being a big island, Phuket is surrounded by many magnificent Beaches such as Rawai, Patong, Karon, Kamala, Kata Yai, Kata Noi, and Mai Khao. Laem Phromthep Viewpoint is said to feature the most beautiful sunsets in Thailand. It isn’t all just beaches though, there is also fantastic classical architecture such as the Old Phuket Town. That and the very welcome atmosphere and the famous Phuket nightlife, you can see why the island is a hotspot for tourists in Thailand.

Key Tips For Travelers visiting Phuket The beaches of the south coast are typically crowded, while the north is far more tranquil. All the major beaches (such as Patong beach, Kata beach, Karon Beach, Nai Han beach, Mai Khao beach, Nai Yang beach) offer instruction and equipment for diving, snorkling, wind surfing and sailing. Plenty of Indian Restaurants have presence in Phuket. So you may get your choice of Indian dishes as well.

Laem Phromthep Laem Phromthep , locally dubbed “Laem Chao”, is located on the southernmost point of the Island. With its breathtaking scenery and beautiful Sunset spot, the cape is one of the most favorite locations for photography among tourists in Phuket. From the edge of the cliff, a line of palm trees inclines downward to the cape’s end, which features rocky reefs where the island, Ko Kaeo Phitsadan, appears at the front. It is also a site of the Laem Phromthep Kanchanaphisek Lighthouse, built on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of King Rama IX’s accession to the throne. The light from the lighthouse can be seen as far as 39 kilometers. Inside the lighthouse is showcased the exhibition about the lighthouse’s construction, keeping standard time, and the calculation and display of the times of the sunrise and sunset. From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can view endless spectacular scenery.From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can view endless spectacular scenery.

So before you plan a trip to the island, have a look on Top 10 To Do Things in Phuket travbuzznews

Koh Racha and Koh Mai Thon

Located in southern Phuket, Koh Racha is composed of two Islands: Koh Racha Noi and Koh Racha Yai.

Old Phuket Town

Strolling around town is one of the favorite activities for tourists to explore the History of Phuket that comprisesa diversity of ethnicities and religions; such as, Chinese, Indian, European, and Muslim, who came to reside and made a living as merchants. They constructed houses in a row-house pattern, so-called Sino-Portuguese, along both sides of the streets. At present, some buildings have been preserved as museums; for example, the Phuket Thai Hua Museum and Peranakan Nithat Museum, while other buildings have been adapted to be restaurants, stylish coffee shops or accommodation. It is recommended for tourists to explore the lifestyle of the local people and Baba-Nyonya dressing Culture, taste the local food, as well as take pictures with more than 20 kinds of street art. Every Sunday, a market fair called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lat Yaiâ&#x20AC;? is held for visitors to enjoy and try local foods as well.

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Koh Racha Yai covers a white sandy Beach shoreline with crystal water. It is known as a paradise for tourists, especially,for those who are fond of diving. Equipped with full facilities, this island is ideal for staying over amidst the nature. Koh Racha Noi is a popular diving spot, which is suitable for professional divers only. Divers will also have a chance to meet Manta ray or great white shark here. Koh Mai Thon, a small Island located in the southeast of Phuket, is rich with nature and features beautiful Beaches. It is therefore, one of the destinations for tourists who have limited time since it does not take long to travel by a speedboat from a deep water port to get to this stunning island.

Wat Chalong (Wat Chai Tharam)

Wat Chalong (Wat Chai Tharam) is a Historical Temple that is a center of the powerful faith of the Phuket people carrying the important History of the legendary, Luangpho Chaem of Wat Chalong, a monk who mastered in Vipassana orinsightful meditation, magical power, and traditional medicine. During the time of the Ang Yi (Chinese Secret Society) rebellion, he gave Phra Prachiat, a good luck charm to those people who fought and defeated them. Luangpho Chaem was granted a title from King Rama V the Great as Phrakhru Wisutthi Wongsachan Yanmuni, holding an ecclesiastical rank of Sangkhapamok, a monk dean of Mueang Phuket. It is believed that his sacred objects are famous for providing charm, protection from danger, and good fortune. Location: Chao Fa Road, TambonChalong, Amphoe Mueang, Phuket province.

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Patong Beach

The Beach features a wide curvy bay enhanced by clear indigo Sea and beautiful white beach that is suitable for any kind of marine-based sports.It is also internationally well-known and a center of tourists around the world. Patong Beach is almost like a small developed town that is equipped with hospitals, large department stores, a wide range of accommodation, and restaurants, which offer from Seafood, Thai to International Food. To get there: the Beach is 15 kilometers from Phuket town. Take Highway No. 4019 or Wichit Songkhram Road for about 9 kilometers, then turn left along the Highway (following the signpost of Beach Patong) for about 6 kilometers. The road is quite meandering and sloping. 31

Nai Yang Beach Located in the Sirinath national park, the Beach comprises a pleasant pine Garden, which is ideal for relaxing and swimming. It also encompasses large coral reefs, a habitat of a variety of marine life species, particularly, Sea turtles that will lay their eggs during November to February. However,recently, the sea turtle population has been drastically decreased. To get there: Go out of Phuket town and follow Thep Kasat Tri Road. After passing Thalang town, turn left at the intersection that has traffic lights (with the signpost to beach Nai Yang). After that,follow the signpost to the entrance of the National Park and beach Na iYai will be on the left-hand side.

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Surin Beach

A peaceful Beach at the foothill is dotted with a line of pine trees which is located on the right on the north side of the beach. It used to be a golf course in the reign of King Rama VII. The beach is very steep. In the monsoon Season, there are strong waves and storms, so it is not recommended for swimming. To get there: the Beach is about 24 kilometers from Phuket town. Follow Thep Kasat Tri Road to the Monument of Thao Thep Kasat Tri and Thao Si Sunthon, then turn left for about 12 kilometers.

Laem Sing Beach Laem Sing is a tiny and tranquil Beach covered by clean sand with beautiful rock reefs and shady trees that is suitable for swimming and relaxing. The Beach is only 1 kilometer from Surin Beach towards the south. From Surin Beach, drive along the road leading to Kamala Beach, there will be a small signpost on the right hand to Laem Beach.

Traditional Festivals

Chinese New Year-The Old Phuket Festival is annually held after the Chinese New Year Festival with the aim of showing the local life and Culture of Phuket as well as publicizing for tourists to experience the attractions in Old Phuket Town. During the Festival, prominent roads in old Phuket town including Thalang, Krabi, Dibuk, Phang-nga, Thep Kasat Tri, and Phuket will turn into walking streets. Spectacular parades of local culture, dressing in traditional costumes in the Baba-Nyonya style, local food demonstrations and food stalls, ancient recreation and other interesting activities will be offered to the public. The last day of the Festival will be organised on the God Worshipping Day, which is an ancient tradition of Phuket.

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Phuket FantaSea

Located at Kamala beach area, the show is one of the famous attractions in Phuket and the world’s first Thai cultural theme park. The show’s highlight is the Performance called the “Amazing Kamala”, which is a combination between Thai arts and Culture and cutting-edge special effects of light and sound including over 10 Thai elephants and other animals on the stage of the grand theatre. The services also include dinner in an international Buffet style. Souvenir shops are available. Open daily except Thursday from 5.30-11.30 p.m.

AND YOU CAN'T MISS

BIG BUDDHA PHUKET Phuket Big Buddha (Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri or Ming Mongkol Buddha), is on the peak of mount Nagakerd, Subdistrict Karon. Big Buddha Statue width: 25.45 m. height: 45 m. Reinforced concrete structure adorned with white Burmese jade marble. The weight of the white jade marble is approximately 135 tons per 2,500 sq.m. You can even purchase a break or marble tile and sign your names to be places forever inside the Big Buddha. Phuket Big Buddha has the best 360 degree views of the southern part of Phuket island, sightseeing of Phuket Town, Kata beach, Karon beach, Chalong Bay. The Phuket Big Buddha is easily reachable by a six kilometre road leading from Phuket's Chaofa road West, just 2 km from Chalong Circle

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TAT- UNDP team up to strengthen sustainable tourism in Thailand The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teams up with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop a long-term sustainable tourism strategy. objective to strengthen confidence in the Thai tourism industry with a series of “Restore and Reform measures”, which include the following objectives: 1. To drive TAT’s operation in accordance with the SDGs. 2. Promote sustainable tourism in accordance with the SDGs across the Thai tourism industry. 3. Share experiences of sustainable tourism management in Thailand with other countries.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teams up with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop a long-term sustainable tourism strategy. The move will pave the way for the Thai tourism industry to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the post-COVID-19 crisis context and make sustainable, inclusive and community-based tourism the “new normal”. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between TAT and the UNDP is signed on the World Environment Day, 5 June 2020, by the UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand, Mr. Renaud Meyer and the TAT Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn. It is one of the highlights of a wider event marking TAT’s 60th anniversary this year.

4. Exchange knowledge and experts in the dissemination of knowledge of sustainable tourism. Mr. Yuthasak said, “TAT has always realised the importance of promoting sustainable tourism. Collaborating with the UNDP to align this objective with the SDGs will go a long way towards enhancing the overall quality of the tourism products and services nationwide. It will allow us to broaden our knowledge base and incorporate experiences in sustainable tourism from different angles at the national and international levels.” He noted that it was especially significant to be advancing this agenda in the year marking the 60th anniversary of TAT, which also marks the start of the “Decade of Action” set to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by all UN member states. “Thailand is known all over the world for its superb tourism products and services, and the friendliness and hospitality of its people. In future, however, we will have to better balance quantity versus quality, and marketing versus management. This will be our agenda going forward. It will send a strong positive signal right throughout the industry not to lose sight of the long-term objectives of tourism.” added Mr. Yuthasak.

The MOU provides a platform for collaboration to integrate sustainability as a fundamental principle for tourism in Thailand and share Thailand’s experience in sustainable tourism with other countries, building on UNDP’s presence in 170 countries and territories around the world. The MOU is in line with TAT’s over-arching

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Mr. Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand, said, “Tourism is a critical economic sector in Thailand that provides livelihoods for millions of people. Its value chain extends in many sectors, from virtual online booking platforms to people living in remote communities such as hill tribes in Northern Thailand and ethnic minority groups on the coast. But the COVID-19 crisis has reminded us of the vulnerability of this sector and the need to define a new normal for tourism that has to be based on sustainability, inclusion and ensuring more benefits for the local communities”.

Tourism industry is a key driver for development in Thailand, contributing 17 percent of GDP and providing jobs for 4.4 million people in 2019. Building on a previous collaboration around the promotion of community-based tourism and the “King’s Wisdom to Sustainable Tourism” project, that received a Grand Award from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), TAT and UNDP will renew their partnership to include a socio-economic impact assessment and recovery plan for the tourism sector from COVID-19 as well as work to promote biodiversity-based tourism.

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“Integrating SDGs in tourism will contribute to strengthening the resilience of this industry from external shock, build back better for long-term sustainability and most importantly, leave no one behind in its value chain”. TAT is undertaking a range of social and environmental initiatives in different industry and economic sectors as part of the strategy to promote ‘Responsible Tourism’. It is also focussing on the promotion of 55 emerging destinations to decongest the already well-known tourist spots, create jobs in the rural areas and reduce income disparities.

Thailand has ranked second best in the world out of 184 countries for its ongoing COVID-19 recovery effort, according to a study produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and top-level organisations in Malaysia. As of mid-June, it is probably fair to say that Thailand has emerged victorious in the fight against the first wave of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak with far fewer community spread infections and fatalities than expected. While there is no clear explanation for this, several theories have been floated: warmer weather, ethnic differences, cultural preference for not shaking hands and hugging, the prevalence of mask wearing in December 2019 and January 2010 because of high levels of PM 2.5 pollution around Thailand, and the effectiveness of the government’s response to the crisis. The Global COVID-19 Index (GCI) study was developed by PEMADU Associates in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MOSTI) in Malaysia using a large data analysis system. It created a system that scored an index and ranked 184 participating countries on how well each country had coped with containing and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The index places a 70% score that is calculated from two parts: The objective of the first parameter is to confirm the number of positive cases on a per capita basis in regard to the size of the country. The second criteria is the per capita death rate of each country in comparison to its population size.

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The remaining 30% consists of a fixed score derived from the World Health Security Index (GHS), initiated by the Johns Hopkins University, experts in global public health, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness have been at the forefront of the international response to COVID-19. GHS is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was developed to assess each country’s readiness to cope and deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. The Thai government credits Thailand’s robust health security system as largely responsible for the kingdom’s success. In particular, the willingness of politicians to let health experts call the shots; the coordination and cooperation between government departments, as well as provincial and local bodies across the country, and the clarity of communications to the public about how to avoid disease transmission. The government also highlighted the work of more than 1,000 epidemiological teams across the country, who were able to investigate every single case, trace every contact, and monitor them for 14 days. The number two worldwide ranking is even more remarkable considering that as of 18 January, 2020, there were a total of eight direct flights a day from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak, to Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi, as well as flights every other day to Chiang Mai.

Shruti Shibulal CEO and Director, Tamara Leisure Experiences Pvt. Ltd

O BY TAMARA UPLIFTS SAFETY AND HYGIENE PROTOCOLS WITH ‘RAKSHA INITIATIVE’ Redefining guest experience through responsible practices O by Tamara introduces ‘Raksha Initiative’, a comprehensive safety and hygiene measures in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The new guidelines are prepared in accordance with the directives by WHO, the Ministry of Health, Government of India and the State government. A whole new set of precautionary measures and policies are in place to enhance guest experience without compromising on the health and safety. It will be implemented in all the properties of Tamara Leisure Experiences which includes O by Tamara in Trivandrum, The Tamara Resorts in Coorg and Kodaikanal and two Lilac Hotels in Bangalore. As part of the initiative extensive cleaning, sanitation, hygiene and safety procedures are carried out with special emphasis on wearing masks and adhering to social distancing norms at all times. Specific guidelines are set for pre-arrival, check-in, in-house activities and

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facilities and check-out to maintain the highest standards of health and hygiene. Body temperature monitoring, provision of masks and sanitisers in all common areas and rooms, sanitation of vehicles & luggage, frequent disinfection and cleaning are also arranged. Commenting on the initiative Shruti Shibulal, CEO and Director, Tamara Leisure Experiences Pvt. Ltd said, “The pandemic has fundamentally changed every sector, especially hospitality where human interaction is the core. In this unprecedented time, wellbeing of our guests and staff are of utmost importance and we strive to deliver authentic and memorable experiences through responsible practices. The ‘Raksha Initiative’ redefines the extend of safety measures taken thereby creating unparalleled and stress-free experiences for our guests”.

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THAILAND APPROVES DOMESTICTOURISM PACKAGE WORTH 22.4 BILLION BAHT

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO STIMULATE TWO MILLION DOMESTIC TRIPS DURING

1 JULY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 31 OCTOBER, 2020

The Royal Thai Government today approved a domestic tourism stimulus package worth 22.4 billion Baht, proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Ministry of Finance as part of the efforts to mitigate the impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and accelerate recovery in the travel and tourism sector. The project is expected to stimulate two million domestic trips during 1 July â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 31 October, 2020, and help generate income for accommodation establishments, airlines, tour companies, restaurants, and related businesses. The package covers three campaigns: Rao Pai Thiao Kan, Thiao Pan Suk and Kamlangjai The Rao Pai Thiao Kan package is allocated 18 billion Baht to fund subsidies for accommodation and restaurants at destinations nationwide. The budget will benefit 24,700 accommodation establishments and 36,755 restaurants and related businesses. A total of five million nights of accommodation will be offered to domestic tourists, who will be responsible for 60% of the room rates. The

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subsidy will cover the other 40% but be limited at 3,000 Baht per night for up to five nights. Subsidies for food and attractions will be capped at 600 Baht per night for up to five nights. For these too, domestic tourists will pay 60% of the actual expenses and the subsidy will cover the remaining 40%. Another two million Baht for Thiao Pan Suk is to fund subsidies for two million air tickets aimed at stimulating two million domestic trips. The subsidy will cover 40% of the domestic flight fares but be capped at 1,000 Baht per tourist. Tourists must book accommodation establishments under the Rao Pai Thiao Kan package to be eligible for the flight subsidy. The remaining 2.4 million Baht for Kamlangjai is to fund domestic holiday travel for 1.2 million health volunteers and officials of sub-districts hospitals. They must use the services of tour companies for the subsidy that is limited to 2,000 Baht per tourist for a trip of at least two days and one night. This subsidy is expected to help 13,000 tour companies and generate 6.5 billion Baht for the local economy. 40

SRI LANKA TOURISM READY TO WELCOME TOURISTS FROM 1ST AUG 2020 Sri Lanka is readying to welcome travelers from across the world with safety guidelines and precautionary measures.

Frequently Asked Questions 1.Who can visit?

older than 72 hours prior to boarding. 7.On arrival in Sri Lanka The airport will have high intensity sanitation measures in place for all areas and staff. •

There is no quarantine on arrival unless symptoms are detected.

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A PCR test would be done on arrival at the airport. No charge.

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Currently it takes 24 hours to receive the test results. We are making changes to have results within 4-6 hours by August. In the event it is required to wait 24 hours for test results; you will be able to select a hotel for a one-night stay from Certified 4 or 5-star hotels in Colombo or Negombo until the test results are received.

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A further test will be done 4-5 days after arrival by a mobile unit in coordination with your Certified Accommodation provider.

All nationalities are welcome and all types of travellers

whether groups, families, individuals. 2.Which airports will operate?

Bandaranaike International Airport [BIA], Colombo Ratmalana Airport [RMA] and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport [MRIA] will be operating for tourist arrivals from Aug 1st 2020 3.What are the visa procedures? •

All travelers will require a valid visa; this will be issued for 30 days and extendable for up to 6 months after arrival.

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Further relaxation for long stay guests is currently under consideration, enabling tourist to be granted five-year multiple entry visas with maximum 6 months stay.

Travelers staying for more than 10 days will be required to take a third test during their stay. While this may be inconvenient it is essential to safeguard everybody and provide peace of mind.

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In case of a positive PCR result, quarantine in a designated hotel or hospitalisation will take place depending on the details of the case. Quarantine would usually be 14 to 21 days if symptoms are detected.

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Visa fee US$100

4.Information required for visa application

8.Moving around Sri Lanka

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Booking details at Certified Accommodation Itinerary in Sri Lanka

The airport will have high intensity sanitation measures in place for all areas and staff.

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Return ticket

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Proof of medical insurance

5.Where can I stay and is there a minimum duration? •

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A minimum 5-night stay in Sri Lanka is required.

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Independent professional audits will be done to certify accommodation providers who will be listed on the Sri Lanka tourism website. Details of bookings made with Certified Accommodation providers are required for the visa application 6.Pre departure Covid-19 PCR testing A negative PCR test is required prior to boarding your flight and on arrival in Sri Lanka. The test should be no

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•

To ensure your safety, please arrange transportation prior to your arrival, with your Certified Accommodation provider or travel agent. Public transport should not be used. All tourist sites will be open from the 1st August onwards with safety protocols and measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of our travelers. There will be no travel restrictions between districts for tourists.

9.What is Sri Lanka’s status with COVID-19? Being an island, and thanks to the proactive measures taken, Sri Lanka has been able to manage the spread of the virus. No active community clusters have been detected in the last 30 days within the country.

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