Airlines Refund Warning

Paris’s Charles De Gaulle airport has overtaking London Heathrow as Europe’s busiest airport. Heathrow is also reporting big losses. 19 million passengers travelled through Heathrow from January to September 2020, compared with 19.3 million who used Charles de Gaulle airport. Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt are also seeing similar numbers with good coronavirus testing regimes in place at the 3 continental rivals.

Heathrow recorded a loss of UK£1.5 billion in the first 9 months of the year. Passenger numbers between July and September were down by 84% compared with the same period in 2019. Revenue for the 3rd quarter fell by 72% year on year to UK£239 million.

Airport management believes it is vital to get a good Covid test system in place in order to bring business back through the airport and place ahead of its European rivals. Self-isolation rules are also inhibiting arrivals into the country.

Overall, European airports are all still suffering and many could close in the coming months if travel does not pick up soon.

QATAR AIRWAYS HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE FOR FEMALE EXAMINATIONS

Female passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Sydney recently were ordered by Qatar Authorities to be intimately examined before being allowed back on the plane. This horrific experience of passengers was due to a baby being discovered in a waste bin at Hamad International Airport. The airline later apologised to the passengers for their treatment after the news went viral around the world.

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS 1ST SUSTAINABLE FUEL AIRLINE IN ASIA

Neste and All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest 5-Star airline, are entering a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply agreement. This ground breaking partnership means that ANA will be the 1st airline to use SAF on flights departing from Japan and also represents Neste’s first SAF supply to an Asian airline. From October 2020 ANA plans SAFfuelled flights from both Haneda International airport and Narita International Airport.

ANA and Neste plan to expand the collaboration after 2023 based on a multi-year agreement. Neste currently has an annual capacity of 100,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel. With the Singapore refinery expansion on the way, and with possible additional investment into the Rotterdam refinery, Neste will have the capacity to produce some 1.5 million tons of SAF annually by 2023.

MOST SPECTACULAR LANDING IN THE WORLD –IRELAND

Ireland’s Donegal airport, in the north of the island, has taken the top position for the most breath taking views on landing. The region is known for its unspoiled natural landscapes, its maritime environment, an important fishing industry and unique fairy-tale islands. Donegal is also famous for its rich Irish heritage of folklore and traditional music and dance.

The Philosopher of Civilisations by Dimitri Laspas

He was born in the city of Kanazawa and he taught for 20 years at the University of Kyoto, until his death. There are 23 volumes in the latest edition of his complete works.

Nishida Kitarō was the most significant and influential Japanese philosopher of the 20th century. His work demonstrated the attempt by the Japanese to integrate Western philosophy into the Oriental spiritual tradition. Nishida obtained his basic insights from his dedicated practice of Zen.

Nishida’s fame began to spread in the 1920s and he taught many of the later significant Japanese Philosophers. He developed his signature theory of place (basho) in the mid-1920s.

In the early 1930s his interests turned to the nature of human actions and interactions in the historical and social world, and eventually to the meaning of culture and nationhood.

Nishida’s Philosophy Of Nothingness: After a year as professor at Gakushūin University (Tokyo) in 1909, he was appointed Associate Professor of ethics at Kyōto Imperial University. In 1913 he was appointed Professor of Philosophy of Religion and in 1914 Professor of Philosophy, a post he held until he retired in 1928. At the end of his time at Kyōto Imperial University, Nishida’s philosophy was defined as ‘the philosophy of the topos (place) of Nothingness.’

Nishida expressed his logic of place to counter Neo-Kantian theory that took knowledge to be the subject’s form-ruled construction of an objective world. He sought not only to undermine the distinctions between subjective and objective but also to place both sides within a more comprehensive and concrete conception.

Nishida’s philosophy was criticised by the nationalists and militarists during World War II because of the Western way of his philosophical thinking. Since then he has been criticised for his loyalty to his nation too.

The Stages Of Nishida’s Thought: Nishida says in his memoirs that he thought of his life in terms of a change of position with the blackboard as an axis: in the first half of his life he sat at a desk facing the blackboard, while in the latter half he sat with the blackboard behind him. Continuing this metaphor, the 3rd stage is represented by his philosophy of the topos (place) of Nothingness, he wished to relinquish both positions, so that he and his logic became chalk on the blackboard of the historical world.

1890, Tokyo, Japan

Nishida’s investigations inspired later interpretations of Mahayana Buddhism, just as his thought was influenced by Buddhist ideas.

For many, his explanation of pure experience and self-awareness re-interprets Zen awakening; his intertwining of self and world develops the Buddhist teaching of co-dependent origin; and his philosophy of nothingness speaks of the notion of emptiness and the experience of ‘mu’ (nothing).

His philosophy has also shown his Buddhist and Christian readers challenges, such as a notion of a non-dual relation between God and man, and an emphasis, unusual in Buddhism, on the personified self in the historical world.

An Interview with… Ms. Tatiana Harajdova

CEO and Managing Director of Worldwide Travel Destination Management Ltd Prague, Czech Republic

Worldwide Travel Destination Management Ltd – (WWTDM) is a one of a kind Business to Business Wholesale Tour Operator based in London, United Kingdom with a subsidiary in Prague, Czech Republic offering of luxury tours, dedicated customer service and support 24 hrs basis. Over the years, WWTDM has become one of the fastest growing wholesalers, specialised in to Europe, Asia, Russia and North America, allowing their customers discover the secret beauties of the destinations.

With years of experience, WWTDM has a distinguished, creative and qualified team making it one of the best tour operators in Europe.

In an interview with Ms. Tatiana Harajdova, CEO and Managing Director, with Dimitri Laspas - founder of MICE and TOURISM around the World e-Magazine, Ms. Harajdova reflects on the 2020 syndrome and experiences during the ‘’health’’ crises and the progress through it. In addition, her opinion and expertise on how the industry of travel, tourism and M.I.C.E will be in the future and what she believes needs to be done to overcome the unprecedented situation that humanity and businesses face.

What makes WWTDM a successful company?

A passion for the travel sector from the very beginning; remembering the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, and working through various challenges with an attitude of not giving up made WWTDM reach 12 successful years.

What is your comparative advantage over your competition?

The WWTDM team - resourceful, innovative and with mountains of willpower and belief that is powering through stronger than ever with the simple concept “All for one and one for All”, that makes WWTDM different since its establishment.

Does WWTDM offer something different to their clients?

The WWTDM team - resourceful, innovative and with mountains of willpower and belief that is powering through stronger than ever with the simple concept “All for one and one for All”, that makes WWTDM different since its establishment.

What do you see as the biggest challenges and changes facing the travel sector today?

Economic uncertainty is the biggest challenge currently facing the travel industry, also the constant ad-hoc GOV announcements, forcing us to cancel confirmed bookings, even 48-72 hrs prior to check in at desired destinations.

Based on the effects the health crisis is having on businesses, what do you consider the biggest problem for tourism and in particular luxury tourism in your business?

10 months without bookings, almost zero materialisation and uncertainty is leaving us with a big question mark, coming closer to the new year of 2021. Many of us wonder how travel will look like in this upcoming year. The global Covid-19 has changed our lives in so many ways, and none more so than the restrictions that have been placed on both domestic and international travel.

What have you found to be the hardest aspect of this global ‘health’ crisis situation?

Tourism is one of the most directly affected sectors in this crisis that WWTDM has been part of since 2008. Finding out that after 12 successful years of building and “connecting bridges together with the MICE & leisure segment”, step by step, Y-O-Y is disappearing. It is heart -breaking and devastating from both points of view economically and emotionally.

What impact do you expect this crisis will have on the global tourism/M.I.C.E jobs market?

Considering that full recovery of the MICE sector seems unlikely before 2023 - 2024, we are left with the only option of absorbing the direct negative impact on the jobs market globally, same for the lost GDP.

How would you advise and encourage holidaymakers to keep enjoying travelling?

Exclude and skip from your mind the words such as ‘fear’ and ‘worry’ that is transmitted daily to us through various media. Think of joy, smile and happiness and being grateful for waking up in the morning and seeing yourself at a desired destination.

What would be your advice to the younger generation working in the tourism and MICE industry, seeing that the crisis has harmed the tourism and MICE industry the most?

Don’t give up if your heart is beating for the travel sector, courage and can-do attitude! The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely left a mark on our lives, but that doesn't mean that tourism won't kick back up in the years to come. Nowadays changes are in effect, business leaders can craft strategies and plan to capitalise on the new trends and adapt business models to facilitate growth and success in the “new normal”.

Finally, there are currently a number of digital platforms being used to keep businesses alive and running and also offering a digital face-to-face aspect. Do you believe that if successful, this could be the new norm for exhibitions and MICE events? OR do you still believe in the importance of human contact; the face to face greetings, the building of trust in person, which we are much more used to?

Well, confidence for international conventions is unlikely until fears, applied obstacles starting with testing, quarantine, etc are in place. Open borders alone will not restore confidence for the international MICE consumers for a while, therefore as a temporary solution the digital platforms in place as a quick tool at least, are helping travel professionals to exchange know-how and search for solutions but without human “touch”, personal “face to face” meetings, the building of trust in person which is key for travel business in my opinion, would be difficult. No digital tools/no technology can replace a human handshake, just as for a human’s heart.

www.wwtdm.com

Tourism News Europe, Americas, Asia & Africa

Ydra island, Greece

From January-September 2020, 5 million international arrivals were recorded compared to 18.8 million in the same period in 2019, a decrease of -73.4% / - 13.8 million arrivals. For this period, 5 airports recorded a decrease of more than 1 million international arrivals. Just 1.7 million international arrivals were recorded at Athens International Airport, a decrease of -3.5 million / -67.3%.

Heraklion Airport on Crete Island saw 757,000 international air arrivals, showed a decrease of -2.2 million / 74.6%.

At Rhodes, 455.000 international arrivals showed a decrease of -1.7 million / -78.7%, while at Thessaloniki, 621,000 international arrivals were recorded; a decrease of -1.3 million / -66, 9%.

At Corfu saw a decrease of -1 million/- 74.3% with international arrivals reaching just 351,000. At Kos and Zakynthos islands, 254,000 and 191,000 passengers arrived, a drop of -827,000 / 76.5% and -639,000 / 77.7% respectively.

For the period January-September 2020, 2.7 million domestic arrivals were recorded compared to 6.4 million in the period January-September 2019; a decrease of -58.4% / - 3.8 million arrivals. Due to the 2020 crisis, tourism has been hit badly in Greece as well as the rest of the world. How will the industry will hold up, only time will tell, but for sure the webinar and online platforms, are providing a way to keep in touch only; tourism is not a virtual product, and professionals in the industry must realise that unless they plan to end the sector as we know it.

JAPAN TO REOPEN TO INTERNATIONAL TOURISM IN SPRING 2021

Although select travel is now allowed to Japan, it is considering a wider reopening of tourism to international tourists in the spring of 2021 before the postponed Tokyo Olympics. The country is working on health and safety protocols, for participating athletes, but also for spectators traveling from abroad, which would mean that the strict entry ban is maintained until April 2021. Foreign tourists may be asked to purchase private health insurance before their trip and a mandatory covid test before and after arrival would be compulsory for all travelers.

Yokohama, Japan

PERU'S MACHU PICCHU REOPENS

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, and top tourist site has now reopened. However, only 675 tourists will be able to access the visitors pre-pandemic.

site per day, just 30% of the number of

The number of coronavirus cases has been steadily decreasing in Peru, and tourists will be expected to maintain social distancing.

Lots of hotels, restaurants and tourismrelated businesses throughout the country closed for good.

Before the pandemic there were 80 hotels of various types in Ollantaytambo, a town with an imposing Inca stone fortress located at the end of the road from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Half of them are now bankrupt.