Breaking Travel News | Rebuilding Travel | Livestream | Trends | eTurboNews

Alain St. Ange was the former minister of tourism for Seychelles, is the president of the African Tourism Board, and was a candidate for the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization UNWTO. 

In this interview he shares his concern for the tourism industry and its future, and talks about fraud in the UNWTO - System.

Many people around the world are vaccinated against COVID-19. In some countries, such as the United States and Israel, people are taking off their masks and returning to pre-pandemic conditions. What will happen to the tourism industry in the post-corona era? The global tourism industry has virtually stopped for the past two years due to COVID-19. If cross-border travel resumes, will people travel around the world as they did before the pandemic? In this session, tourism experts such as Do Young-shim, former president of the UN World Tourism Organization (ST-EP) Foundation and World Travel & Tourism Council ambassador, will discuss the hotel and tourism industry in the post-corona era.

A global discussion by the World Tourism Network on Destination Weddings and comparing situations.

Discussion with Dr. Peter Tarlow, safety & security expert and co-founder of the World Tourism Network (WTN), Juergen Steinmetz, chairman WTN; Deepak Joshi, former CEO Nepal Tourism Board, and Cuthbert Ncube, Chairman African Tourism Board

Listen to leaders in the US travel and tourism industry and their plans to relaunch travel to America

Professor Geoffrey Lipman was the first CEO of the WTTC
He reflects on 30 years of the organization a day before the Cancun Summit April 26-27. 

Tessa Davy of Breeze Travel in St. Vincent will share her eyewitness report and update about the current state of the travel and tourism industry on this Caribbean Island after the volcanic eruption.  This is relative to the ongoing volcanic eruptions on the Island since last Friday, 9 April. Breeze Travel is affiliated with a group called East Kingston Response Team created to assist shelters in our neighborhood by reaching out and networking with the diaspora in an effort to raise awareness of our needs and request assistance.

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion convened a hearing today, April 13, 2021  titled, “The State of Travel and Tourism During COVID,” 

This hearing examined the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, with a particular focus on the hotels, conventions, and the broader hospitality industry. It will also review the regional impacts of COVID on tourist-heavy economies and those communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic's resulting economic downturn

. Witnesses had the opportunity to provide their insights surrounding these critical issues, as well as discuss solutions for supporting and revitalizing the travel and tourism industry moving forward.

Witnesses:

Hawaii Tourism was hit hard by COVID-19, but record numbers of visitors from US domestic markets are visiting the Aloha State again.  Hear from Patricia Herman, the VP of Marketing and Development of the State agency in charge of tourism.

Click to read the full story on eTurboNews 

Interview with the people behind the TUI Foundation. Learn more. 

Holger Timmreck grew up in Communist East Germany, known as the German Democratic Republic of DDR. His dream to see the world and escape became a bitter-sweet reality. Today Holger lives in Peru. Before he spent time in a maximum-security prison run by the German Secret Police Stasi after arrested trying to flee the country.

ICAO, the UN Special Agency for Aviation will have a new Secretary-General, Mr. Salazar. He will discuss his views on the New Normal Aviation is facing past COVID.

eTurboNews Update on March 22 | Dr. Peter Tarlow and Andrew Spencer from Jamaica are introducing their new book and travel and tourism safety and security in Jamaica and the Caribbean Region. 

eTurboNews Daily News goes to Brazil, Europe and Tanzania today followed by a tribute for one of the most controversial presidents in Africa. He was seen as a strong leader and died today. The circumstances of his death have an official version and even more inofficial versions around COVID-19, which was a no issue in Tanzania. 

Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz discuss the news that makes headlines in the travel and tourism industry on March 16, including cancellations in the cruise business.  Listen in on a news conference by Hawaii Health Authorities how the State handles equal distribution and discrimination against minorities in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in the Aloha State.

Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz summarize todays news headlines from Thailand to the US and Europe and talk to Bryan del Monte from the Aviation Agency on Vaccine Passports for International Travel

Hawaii today reported 3 cases of what is known as "after vaccination covid" Hawaii residents with no travel history got sick on COVID_19 after receiving both doses of the vaccine.  Officials in Hawaii were busy calming down residents in stating: “The really important thing is that being vaccinated prevents us from a serious illness, hospitalization, and death. 

That’s what we really need the vaccines to do for us,” Char said. Dr. Libby Char is Hawaii's health director  “We have seen cases where people are fully vaccinated, and we have some cases in Hawai‘i now where people got vaccinated…traveled to the mainland, and we think they got ill on the mainland. Thankfully, their symptoms were very mild, which is exactly the protection the vaccine affords, but you can get infected with COVID.”  “We will get to everybody. We are very happy that people want to get vaccinated. We look forward to vaccinating everyone who is interested,” Char said.

Today Juergen Steinmetz and Dr. Peter Tarlow discuss today's eTurboNews about the latest on developing stories on COVID-19 spanning from Hawaii to Texas, to Greece, Israel to Seychelles. Juergen Steinmetz reports from Honolulu Airport on the new first nonstop flight on Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu to Orlando. Witness a Hawaiian Blessing, so the flight can bring Aloha to the Sunshine State.  At the virtual ITB Richard Quest hears from the Hon Minister Bartlett from Jamaica about an expected good summer tourism season.

With a record number of COVID-19 cases in Italy and the import of a new variant, it was not a good day The same counts for Brazil.

Dr. Peter Tarlow knows Brazil well, speaks the language, and worked on tourism safety security issues before. He will share his thoughts together with Juergen Steinmetz 

Mask or no Mask. CDC is sending mixed messages to the American People. Who to believe, who to follow? Guidelines are confusing and dangerous. How should a vaccine certificate look like? What about a form of an electronic chip. Finally, meet the minister of tourism from Indonesia.  He is big in social media and fresh ideas.

In our eTurboNews Daily News with Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz we share today's headlines, talk about human trafficking, our upcoming one yuear rebuilding travel event and much more.

eTurboNews Livestream discussion on March 1 with Mark Baier from Aviation Manual. www.aviationmanuals.com catching up on the Boeing 777 incident on United Airlines after an engine was lost on a flight from Denver to Honolulu.

A  discussion with Nancy Barkley  World Tourism Network Interest Group

Newly launched Wedding and Honeymoon Interest Group to support one another by navigating new ideas, sharing information, and finding new ways to collectively bring the wedding and honeymoon tourism industry back stronger in this new reality.

Destination weddings and honeymoons encompass so many in the tourism industry, we need to reconnect, re-invent, and inspire each other during these unprecedented times.

Listen to the discussion on what is working, what is not, share tips and strategies, and support one another.

Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Safety, Making Buildings Safe During the Pandemic, and Air Purification Technology as it relates to Hotels and Resorts as well as Consumer Confidence.

Do you always make reservations at a Marriott, fly on Delta, spend holidays in Bermuda (at the same hotel) and drink Coke while chomping on a Big Mac? If you are buying the same products/services – all the time, corporations are likely to identify you as a loyal customer. The question is – are you really so satisfied with your selections that you do not stray or is just easier to acquire the same products, destinations and services?

Panel with Dr. Elinor Garely, eTN New York and  Dr. Robert Passikoff, Founder/President, BrandKey

In this daily news segment on Thursday, February 26, Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz will discuss the new anal COVID test in China, getting drunk for a holiday and other important news stories from today and in eTurboNews | Livestream.

Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz from eTurboNews in our daily news summary for Wednesday, February 24.

UK-native opera star Mary-Jess Leaverland first burst into the international music scene when she won the Chinese version of the singing competition X-Factor in 2009.  Since then she has released  four albums, has held concerts the world over, toured with the likes of Russell Watson and G4.    Mary-Jess has been singing to hundreds and even hundreds of thousands of people since 2009.  Most recently and arguably most notably, she made history in December 2020 when she held a concert in Taiwan amid the Covid-19 pandemic.    H

ow did Taiwan manage to pull such a stunt when the rest of the world is in lockdown?   Find out the answer in the inaugural episode of livestream.travel’s Nellification Show, hosted by Nell Alcantara.

by Dr. Elinor Garely, eTurboNews New York

Steve Vincent is a retired electrical engineer in Texas. He will be discussing what brought Texas into the current deadly situation. Moderated by Dr. Peter Tarlow

Meet tourist guides from all over the world celebrating World Tourist Guide Day.
A positive group of people sees a bright future for travel and tourism.

Go on a world tour with the best guides the world has to offer.

Family meetings are usually private, but the IIPT board decided to make last week's virtual meeting public. Peace Through Tourism after all is a Global Family of peace-loving members of the travel and tourism industry anywhere.

IPT family members attending included Dr. Taleb Rifai, former two-time secretary-general of the UNWTO, Ajay Prakash , VP & President of IIPT India, Kiran Yadov, VP and Co-founder IIPT India, Diana McIntyre, president of the Caribbean Chapter, Gail Parsonage, president IIPT Australia, Fabio Carbone, IIPT Ambassador at Large and President IIPT Iran, Philippe Francois, CEO World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education& Training, Juergen Steinmetz, Founder World Tourism Network and CEO of the Travel News Group, Maga Ramasamy, President IIPT Indian Ocean Islands, Ms. Mmatsatsi, President IIPT South Africa, Bea Broda, film-maker, Mohamed Raadih , IIPT Maldives Chapter President,  among others

Meet Ben Aneff, president US Wine Trade Alliance, 

interviewed by Dr. Elinor Garely, eTurboNews New York, and wines.travel 

Taxes on products we love and want are never popular. When it comes to increasing wine prices because of a tax, we are likely to become livid. Perhaps the imported wine industry became a tariff target during the last administration because the fellow who resided in the White House preferred Coke over sparkling wine or Riesling; had his beverage choice been different the taxes may have fallen on the water or soft drink industry instead.

Trade Dispute

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) imposed a 25 percent tariff on most wines imported from France, Germany, Spain and the UK starting in October 2019, in retaliation for a long-running aircraft subsidy dispute between the US and the European Union involving Boeing (Chicago) and Airbus (Leiden, Netherlands). Raising tariffs by 25 percent is estimated to increase US prices of wine grapes by an average of 2.6 percent, and producer prices of bottled still wines by 1.1. percent in the targeted countries. The tariff is currently operational.

The United States is the largest importer of French wines and the Trump-led US government had proposed an additional tariff of 100 percent on French Champagne and other sparkling wines. President Trump was a big fan of tariffs although economists view this form of taxation as a burden on importers that is passed down to consumers in the form of higher prices at the cash register. Fortunately for French wine fans, this tariff was not implemented; however, the 25 percent tariff already on European wines may be increased and currently being discussed in Washington.

Simon Mayle of Reed Expo is explaining the concept of the upcoming World Travel Market Latin America to restart the travel and tourism trade shows again.

With Reed leading in Dubai for the Arabian Travel Market, WTM Latin America is now confirmed for August 2021 in Sao Paulo.

Simon is discussing this trend with members of the World Tourism Network.

This eTurboNews editor went to a medical office in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was told to take off her KN95 mask and replace it with a regular surgical mask.

Misinformation, confusion, and intentional misleading - this is what the feedback is on the safest mask to wear.

Co-host Dr. Peter Tarlow received his second COVID-19 shot today. He is talking about how he feels after receiving it. 

Interview with Sanje Parker from South Korea.
Global Travel Trend News Broadcast by Dr. Taleb Rifai and Juergen Steinmetz

02 Feb 2021

www.eturbonews.com | www.livestream.travel

Meet Benjamin and Dustin from HIRO Systems & Solution in Honolulu. It really doesn't take much more than some vinegar, salt and tab water to sanitize the healthy way for COVID-19

Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz are sharing what makes news in the global travel and tourism world.

Hear from the Hon. Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett commenting on Canada closing its doors to allow citizens to travel to the Caribbean. Also hear from Kayode Sutton, who just returned from Jamaica to his home island country St. Kitts. He explains the procedure he had to go through. He is joining  from his place of quarantine, the Royals St. Kitts Hotel Moderated by Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz

Today's news trend on Thursday, January 28 includes a session about private jet travel, The Day of the Tree and global trends in travel and tourism 

Dr. Marianna Sigala, Professor, University of South Australia Business School

It is obvious that the tourism industry has been devasted by COVID-19. The harsh, but necessary stop to travel created an unparalleled number of job losses around the world and it is estimated that 100.8 million tourism workers have been removed from the workplace since 2019.

Mona Naffa, an American  Arab living in Jordan just flew back from Amman via Chicago to Palm Springs, California, isolating herself at a Marriott Resort. She will share her experience. Also an update on the riots in the Netherlands and the difference of an approach to reopening tourism by WTTC and WTN. 

Moderating: Juergen Steinmetz & Dr. Peter Tarlow

Juergen Steinmetz and Dr. Peter Tarlow are discussing the latest news updates on California, Israel, Washington DC, and the world.

The US Government has a good reason to mislead its 332 million citizens against wearing KN95 and N95 masks. Europe however is now coming out with the truth.

Vijay Poonoosamy, chairman of the World Tourism Network Aviation Interest Group is leading this second brainstorming discussion.

Dr. Peter Tarlow, and Juergen Steinmetz discuss the latest headlines relevant to the global travel and tourism industry on Thursday, January 21,2021

Today the United States rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement. The incoming US President Biden signed this on the day he took office today. 

Livestream interviewed Professor Geoffrey Lipman, a tourism expert on climate change and head of thesunprogram.com .

This is followed by our January 20, 2021 News Talk with Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz, analyzing imortant news issues from the day.

The UNWTO Secretary-General  was re-elected today, a new appointment at Sandals Resorts in Jamaica, Aviation, a new version of Coronavirus in Germany - and much more of discussed by Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz

US President Biden is about to be sworn in. Washington DC is a very different place to be, some say it's way too quiet.
An Inauguration in the midst of a national security crisis and Coronavirus - not an easy task.

The best of Washington DC tour guides give their story and share memories. A fascinating discussion.
Organized by the World Tourism Network.

Marisa Donato is a 30 year resident of Washington DC. Her apartment just steps away from the White House.  

 Maricar also has been a tour guide in the US Capital City, and an ambassador for the World Federation of Tour Guides. She recently was awarded the Hero Award by the World Tourism Network for helping a stranded tourist from Cameroon. She took some photos and videos in Washington DC three days before the inauguration.  She told eTurboNews : This is spooky. 

The town I love is a fortress.   Watch her report on how Washington DC is getting ready for a very different inauguration for President Biden just 3 days away.

A newly-formed global network of cruise port residents, civil society organizations, and labor & crime victim advocates came together during the COVID 19 pandemic to demand “no return to business-as-usual” for cruising.

The Global Cruise Activist Network provides a forum for building relationships and alliances, and taking collective action. Our focus is on organizing, sharing information, skills and resources, and building a “big tent” coalition.

For decades, the cruise industry’s business model has depended on burning huge volumes of highly polluting fuel, dumping in the ocean, underpaying its lowest-paid workers, and avoiding labor, tax, environmental and criminal laws. Cruise ships continue to put the social, cultural, economic, public health, and environmental health of port communities at risk. Cruise companies have failed to protect the health and safety of passengers and workers, and have contributed to climate change.

In response, advocates seeking justice both onboard and ashore have come together to form The Global Cruise Activist Network. As a global network, we are aligned around the values of health, safety, security, conservation, and equity. We want clean air, clean water, and healthy, resilient communities. We want fair and just wages and working conditions for workers. We want to protect wildlife and the climate.

Despite our common cause and our commitment to think globally and act locally, we are also diverse. Some are abolitionists, advocating degrowth and an end to the cruise industry. Some work to restrict cruise ships’ size and frequency. Others call for reform - for the cruise industry to act more responsibly. We support individuals’ and communities’ right to self-determination: to ban cruise ships entirely, restrict or limit them, or push for their reform. All are welcome.

Meet Karla Hart of Juneau Alaska started looking critically at the cruise industry when a job put her in close contact in 1984. She ran tourism businesses from 1987-1997, was a founding member of the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association after the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and served alongside cruise executives as a Governor’s Appointee to the Alaska Tourism Marketing Council in the mid-1990s. Her home is miles away from the cruise port in downtown Juneau, but it is under a shortcut flight route for helicopter tours to the Mendenhall Glacier. Relentless noise in August of 2019, coupled with explosive cruise growth, inspired her to start organizing an in-person global networking conference of cruise activists. Online searches quickly connected her with Ruth Starr in Maine, who was also interested in forming a broader cruise activist network. While the global pandemic inspired the two to change course from planning an in-person conference to coordinating online network — the Global Cruise Activist Network was born.

Panel discussion by Dr. Elinor Garely, eTurboNews New York

Livestream Travel Daily News 14 Jan 2020 :Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz will share today's news summary from eTurboNews and other sources .

A new virus version of COVID-19 prompted the UK to close its borders to Brazil, Portugal, Cape Verde, and Panama. A

A new Holocaust museum opened in Portugal. Learn about the best deal in a car wash in the U.S. and much more.

New airline regulations and much more today in travel and tourism on January 13, 2021
Dr. Peter Tarlow and Juergen Steinmetz discuss what is important today for travel and tourism.

More information on livestream.travel and eTurboNews.com

UNWTO Secretary-General Election: Lots of questions how fair this election is | Discussion on the power of social media like Twitter | New CDC Regulation in the US requiring a COVID-19 test for international arriving passengers | Traveling on an airline without a COVID-19 vaccine, WTTC rings the alarm bell.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Moderator: Juergen Steinmetz | Dr. Peter Tarlow

German authorities on Sunday issued an emergency order to ban all fights between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom as of immediately. 

The value of IIntel(II) and AI in your business

https://giis.co.za

by: Dr Manj Subiah, Johannesburg, South Africa

A presentation by Ghissou Rosala, Hawaii Smart Energy

www.Globalsitizenhawaii.com

A panel Discussion: Inclusive Tourism

for the World Tourism Network Launch

Moderator: Pankaj Pradhananga, Nepal

Panelists
1. Julie Kent – Australia 
2. Amrita Gyawali – Nepal
3. Sushil Adhikari

Unsafe at sea- and it's not Coronavirus. 

Dr. Elinor Garely is a Reporter with eturbonews.com

eTurboNews Reporter is based in New York City. Today she is interviewing Jamie Barnett, the President of the International Cruise Victims organization. ICV represents victims of crimes on cruise ships, their families and friends, as well as individuals concerned with the problems of victimization and disappearance on cruise ships.

The organization is an advocate for legislative reform that could protect cruise ship passengers from crimes and increase the rights of victims of crimes that take place on ships.

As a voice for the voiceless the organization focuses on bringing transparency to the cruise line industry in order for passengers and crew to travel and work in a safe and secure onboard environment.

The cruise industry is unencumbered by the accountability and consumer protection Americans expect from other industries. Because the ships do not carry the flag of the USA, they are not required to follow the labor laws and practices required by companies doing business in this country and they do not pay taxes in the United States.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian comprise nearly 80 percent of the cruise industry. For the millions of travelers who spend their holiday time and money aboard one of the big three cruise lines each year, it is likely that their fate will be in the hands of the Bahamas, Panama, Bermuda or Malta with 70 percent of cruise ships registered in these nations known as Open Registries or Flags of Convenience. The flag states benefit from this arrangement in the form of registration fees and tonnage tax.

SeaDream I left port on November 7, 2020 in Barbados for a 7-day cruise, the first West Indies departure since the Covid 19 embargo. It returned early because of a Covid 19 outbreak onboard. The ship was carrying 66 crew and over 50 passengers, with most of the passengers from the United States. During the first 2 days of the cruise, passengers and crew were not required to wear masks. After a passenger tested positive, Barbados health officials boarded the ship and tested passengers, confirming that 9 individuals tested positive for Covid 19 and were sent to Harrison’s Point with one person medically evacuated out. The remaining passengers, testing negative, went back to their homes using commercial airlines.

Representatives from Barbados and the Caribbean Tourism Organization were invited to comment on this ongoing story and declined the opportunity

Hong Kong is becoming an international concern, and this is not about COVID-19.  The text of the following statement addressed to the People's Republic of China was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of  the United States of America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the  United Kingdom.

Begin Text:

We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the  United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, reiterate our  serious concern regarding China’s imposition of new rules to disqualify  elected legislators in Hong Kong. Following the imposition of the  National Security Law and postponement of September’s Legislative  Council elections, this decision further undermines Hong Kong’s high  degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms.

Today  John de Fries, the new CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority reached out to the community on the Island of Hawaii to get input on how to relaunch tourism on the Big Island.

Community leaders want tourists to make a pledge of Kona before allowed on the island.

Listen to this interesting discussion by tourism and community leaders.

Dillingham Airfield is an integrated part of Oahu's beautiful Northshore   Skydiving, sailing and aviation creates many jobs in this remote area, the  closure of Dillingham Airfield may be a big additional hit for the travel and tourism industry. 

A Conversation with Melissa McCaffrey, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Regional Manager for the Pacific Northwest.

Reopening Kauai Tourism: Richard Albrecht, Kukui'ula Resort, Kauai president explains why his resort development is so different.

Deepak Joshi was awarded the tourism hero status today by the World Tourism Network.

He shared his passion about Nepal, his view on the US election, and has a surprise announcement for the world.

Alain St. Ange, former minister of tourism for Seychelles, candidate for president, president of the African Tourism Board, and a tourism hero will share his thoughts on the US Election and the candidacy of  Her Excellency Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa from Bahrain to become the next Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, UNWTO

Meet Natasha Caputo, director for Tourism and Film for Westchester County, New York.

Natasha is in charge to promote Westchester County, New York as  proactive and viable business environment by enhancing its image and  driving positive brand awareness among consumers and businesses.  She established a foundation regarding the importance of tourism,  including creating unique connection with media and entertainment  industry, resulting in 60% increase in production in filming in  Westchester County and increase in social engagement by 280%+

How is tourism still functioning during COVID-19? 

Professor Geoffrey Lipman was the first CEO of WTTC, Assistant Secretary General UNWTO and is head of SUNX

He resides in Brussels, Belgium and has his own view on the recent US Elections. 

Should you get your COVID-19 vaccine when it comes out or later? "I will be open to the American people on COVID-19 and any vaccine," said Dr. Anthony Fauci in this interview at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.  "Unless we do something to turn this around, we are going to have a very difficult, very painful winter," said Dr. Anthony Fauci at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Annual Forum today when interviewed by SVLG CEO Ahmad Thomas.  Ahmad Thomas is the son of a retired nurse and husband of a doctor at Stanford.

9,3 million infected, more than 100,000 new cases, 1000 dead every day in the United States is not only alarming, it's shocking.

Dr. Fauci said, he is not a model when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, having not enough sleep since January dealing with this pandemic.

Fauci also described himself as "cautiously optimistic" on the vaccine candidates moving through the official process, which he described as possibly being available for distribution over the "subsequent 5-6 months of 2021."

We talked with the Hawaii Department of Transportation on their policy to check the temperature for departing passengers.

There is a lot of confusion about this policy, and the media has been deliberately misinformed adding risk for any airline passenger wanting to depart from an airport in Hawaii to the U.S. mainland.

Listen to the conflicting messages by representatives of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Also, listen to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell who was not aware and promised to interfere.

eTurboNews today talked to United Airlines Customer Service agents. They had also been surprised about the airline was no longer requiring passengers to get a temperature check before boarding their flight.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is equally alarmed and wants to change this policy at least at Honolulu International Airport

Major fire has broke out in an abandoned building in northern port city of Le Havre, France today. According to France’s emergency services, the building is an old warehouse that is currently abandoned.the 

56 dead, young people killed by the Nigerian army in Lagos has been a reality on Lagos streets since Tuesday.

Find out more from an eyewitness and a Statement from the African Tourism Board.

The National Weather Service announced a tsunami warning for residents in South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula soon after the jolt, but said the risk level is still being evaluated for “other US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America.” No injuries or structural damage have yet been reported.

Ugandan aviation police and the Entebbe airport health team arrested 23 travelers for forging COVID- 19 test results.

In the midst of the greatest trade fair crisis of all time, Messe Berlin in Germany has appointed a new CEO. In January, Martin Ecknig takes over from Christian Göke, who, after more than 20 years at the helm, had asked to terminate his contract in April.

Best for domestic, rural and regional tourism in East and Southern Africa, the World Bank-funded Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth project is under implementation in Tanzania.,

Emirates is rolling out a redesigned onboard experience. The celebrated A380 Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa have resumed operations with the introduction of additional health and safety measures. The airline has also enhanced its offering, introducing a nutrient-rich welcome drink for the winter season.

Meet Edward B.T. Sun, CEO and Chairman, Sun Global Broadband. He was involved as oversight of Technical Systems in the Pacific and US West Coast from 2002-2009. His company now developed a system that could add to the safety or travel bubbles between destinations  His presentation is an eyeopener.

Get the feedback also from Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary-General of the UNWTO

Cuban authorities announced that the country has updated the conditions of entry for foreign tourists.

The CEOs of major hotel brands including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriot, IHG and Best Western as well as small, independently owned hotels published a letter calling on President Trump to provide the hotel industry with desperately needed relief by utilizing funds from the Main Street Lending Program.

Hawaii once more is welcoming urgently needed visitors in the midst a Coronavirus spike in the rest of the country.  COVID-19 infection numbers are down and the virus seems to be under control in the Aloha State, but today flood gates to tourism from the US mainland opened, and visitors are now allowed to arrive in the State avoiding the 14-day mandatory quarantine with a COVID-19 test received up to 3 days before departure.  

 Today's rebuilding.travel session was hacked, so excuse the loud music and dancing in the video.

The annual Muhammad Ali Festival, a communitywide celebration that marks the anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s passing and celebrates his impactful legacy and love for Louisville, will take place June 4-13, 2021.

The traditional work environment has changed since younger generations have entered the workforce. Few millennials want to spend their lives sitting in a cubicle from nine to five, and fewer still want to feel stuck working for the same company in the same position until retirement.

Kazakhstan’s Chief Sanitary Officer announced that the country plans to cut down down air service with the UAE, Germany, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Russia announced that it is resuming flights with three more countries: Serbia, Japan and Cuba.

If it is not in the plan, it is not in the budget: the European Tourism Manifesto alliance, the voice of the European travel and tourism sector, urges European Union Member States to make tourism a strategic element in their national recovery plans in order to harness the potential of the sector to generate jobs and growth, and to reap the benefits from green and digital transitions.

Hawaii will finally welcome travelers again starting October 15, 2020. The Aloha State had been closed for visitors, except if a visitor would go through a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Lt. Governor Josh Green for Hawaii is also an emergency doctor and was down himself with the virus.

The lt. Governor today explained how tourism will be relaunched as of Thursday and guaranteed the Hawaiian People and tourism stakeholders, this new process will be established for a long haul.

Listen to the new requirements. They are different for visitors to each island county.

Latest data from cruise industry records indicates that consumer interest in travel continues to thrive, and consumers are requesting quotes and booking a myriad of destinations.

Condé Nast Traveler announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards 2020 with Valletta, Malta’s Capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ranked #5 in the World Best Small Cities category.

Iceland’s seismologists are sounding alarm about the rising threat level for the Grimsvotn volcano that have experienced an unusually powerful eruption in 2011, firing a 20km pillar of ash into the air.

One of the best ways of exploring a new city is by ditching the car and strolling along the streets, taking in the sights and discovering hidden gems you may have missed while driving.

Dr. Guy Diedrich is a Vice President and the Global Innovation Officer for Cisco Systems where he is responsible for Country Digital Acceleration.

He is currently working with government and industry leaders in countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas to digitize the public and private sectors to increase GDP, create millions of next-generation jobs and develop sustainable innovation ecosystems. Prior to his current role at Cisco Systems, Dr. Diedrich was a Vice-Chancellor at the Texas A&M University System where he was responsible for research, commercialization, federal government relations, state government relations, and strategic initiatives.

Relaunching Tourism in the Aloha State was the big news in Hawaii. The President of the United States Donald Trump being rushed to the hospital as COVID-19 patience puts Tourism reopening into a different picture. The Aloha for US President Trump from Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell may be lifesaving 

Today Honolulu Mayor Caldwell said: "Our president, United States President Donald Trump getting COVID-19 is a message to everyone in this country. "

"This virus is serious. Not practicing physical distancing, not practicing face covering, not practicing washing your hands, not practicing going around in a group, encouraging gatherings with no face covering is irresponsible and dangerous. It exposes people to a virus you can die from. "

Now we have our president tested positive and rushed to Walter Reed hospital.  This is serious. Wherever you are as an American Citizen, this is a message to you and to all of us, that we have to take it seriously.

The president of the United States got sick because he didn't practice the proper protocols. The mayor hopes that from now on the president's supporters everywhere will adopt these protective practices like everyone else here in the State of Hawaii, and the City and County of Honolulu adopted. 

This takes another dimension on travel and tourism. As Hawaii is opening up to visitors on October 15 this news from the White House will emphasize the responsibility and the risk both industry leaders and visitors have when traveling the world.

Mayor Caldwell pointed out a sad example of reopening tourism from Tahiti in French Polynesia. A French territory of 281,234 people south of Hawaii had no COVID-19 cases. After opening its borders to welcome tourists this number jumped to 1,964, 112 dead with 401 active cases remaining.

Listen to what Mayor Caldwell says about sitting next to a stranger on a long transpacific flight to the Aloha State, and how he sees there should be more than one testing. 

Riots, Protests, and uncontrollable situations in regards to COVID-19 are a reality in many states in the United States of America these days.

There is a shining star within the USA, it's the Aloha State of Hawaii located 2560 miles from the US mainland.

The news about riots in Kentucky or Oregon the interactive map of police brutality put up by ACLU in Massachusetts, killings, and widespread demonstrations seemed to be coming from a world apart in Hawaii.

Today a proud mayor of Honolulu, Circ Caldwell discussed the status of the City’s Provisional Outdoor Screening and Triage (POST) program which started in April to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among O‘ahu’s homeless population.

COVID-19 took over the island of Oahu, but not the effort of Major Lambert from the Honolulu Police Department who worked with his team of dedicated HPD officer to better the situation of the large homeless population in putting up tents, organized three meals a day, COVID testing and medical care for hundreds of homeless people on the island. Many who stayed at these facilities now enjoy permanent housing - and all of this in the middle of a devastating pandemic.

Honolulu Mayor Caldwell praised the love and compassion of the men, in blue under the most difficult circumstance

The mayor said:" HPD could have walked away saying its not our problem, but they faced took ownership of the problem, and made such a difference in so many lives."

Tom Jenkins today was invited to join the International Tourism Hall of Heroes. He updated in this podcast this audience on the current situation of European Tourism and shares his views for the future. Tom is the CEO of the European Tour Operator Associaton for more than 20 years and based in London, UK.

Yesterday Apple announced the new 6th generation of the Apple watch.  I was very excited about the new fitness app that comes with the watch and decided to order one.

I went to the online Apple Store at apple.com and it was easy to find the watch, apply my trade-in, and going to the order page. I did not realize that such a simple purchase would be made impossible by  Apple Card Support from Goldman Sachs.

Once at the order page there are two options. One to pay in full, the other pay in interest-free installments. Interest-free sounded excitement, so when I went clicked on this option, my application was already automatically filled out except for my date of birth, my social security number and yearly income.

I added it and pressed on it and submitted the application.

The response was: Apple was unable to verify the information and asked me to upload both copies of my driver's license.

I did this and I received another message that Apple has to think about it and would email me within 3-4 days.
This email came very fast. It told me my application was denied because my identity could not be confirmed. It suggested to do it again.

I did. This time I used a higher version of a scan and resubmitted it. The same happened.
The third time around I used my I phone to take a picture of my driver's license, and for the third time the same process, my application was denied, because Goldman Sachs could not identify me.

This time I called the customer service number given on the email.
Listen to what happened next on this podcast:

Honolulu Mayor Caldwell in cooperation with Governor Ige extended the stay at home order until September 24 with one exception.

With new infections going down on Oahu the stay at home order seems to be working. Numbers are still high compared to what it was before the last reopening.

Parks and beaches will reopen for single activities, not group activities. It means even families will be forced to split such activities on an individual basis and not go to parks in groups. One person to the park at a time. This will be reinforced.

Dining in parks for individuals will also be allowed.

There will be a lot more science put in place when it comes to reopening our economy after September 24. This will be worked out in the next days.

In a change of mind,  the mayor is for mandatory testing for tourists and not necessary to continue a mandatory quarantine for everyone coming to the State.

" I believe traveling spreads the virus. We had 300 cases a day, and many died. My message to US Travel in saying they would not support any quarantine is that people die. Traveling is a source when it comes to spreading the virus. Of course, the travel business wants to open."

Move upMove downToggle panel: Insert Script to

The script in the following textbox will be inserted to the section.

Let's go there has one disclosure saying "When it's time"
US Travel today introduced its new initiative with industry leaders across the United States to help Americans to get excited about traveling again soon. Traveling is equal to happiness according to the organization

Thinking about a future trip is contributing to someone's happiness according to research by US Travel, and the  "Let's go there", "Let's go there soon, and soon" "Let's meet there"  has been launched.

The largest travel organizations joined this campaign. The largest travel organizations are fighting for survival and quarantine rules are not the best message to get out of the squeeze and need for business.

The spokesperson for Marriott joined today's US Travel press conference from one of its resorts pointing out visitors are having a good time.

US Travel said they will not support States to put quarantine rules in place, but refused to take a question from eTurboNews to respond to why COVID-19 numbers go up once quarantine is lifted. Examples are Spain and also Hawaii when the State allowed US Servicemen and their relatives and friends to enter without quarantine. 

Everyone can agree on a back to normal would be great, but can it be realistic? When can it be realistic, and how? Perhaps learn from Hawaii. A lockdown was put in place more than a week ago and record-high numbers of infections are going down again - significantly.  In the meantime, the essential travel and tourism industry is being destroyed. Would the industry be more destroyed in a long way if such strict rules were not put in place?  This is the question US travel cannot truthfully answer.

Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Tourism in South Africa, Ms. Aneme Malan represented the South African Minister today at the second ministerial roundtable organized by the African Tourism Board. She gives a summary of the current situation on COVID-19 and what it has been doing to the travel and tourism industry in South Africa.

Dr. Walter Mzembi, head of the ATB Safety and Security Committee analyzed the feedback given by Ms. Malan in saying;  "I think it's fair to applaud South Africa for their consensus and cautious approach during this period. I can safely say South Africa led in terms of WHO template compliance, certainly, they have been a stickler for compliance. 

Their risk-adjusted approach reflects that following all the stages in reopening, South Africa moved from stage 5 to stage 2. No wonder they appear in the Deep Knowledge of being among the 100 safest COVID-19  destinations in the World.

It's payback for their perceived transparency.  South Africa is recalibrated and it comes back starting by Intra Province travel and has now opened to inter  Provincial travel and will gradually move to Regional despite an emigration challenge on their borders,

This challenge which is clearly clouding authentic tourism from regional immigration.  Inside South Africa itself, there is enough critical mass and a vibrant middle class with first-world lifestyle tastes and ready to support the recovery in implementing domestic tourism.

Nigeria is the economic powerhouse in Africa and one of the largest countries. Tourism is only a small part of the overall economy, but music, fashion is all related to tourism and altogether is playing a major role in Nigeria's economy.

Minister Alhaj Lai Mohammed leads the portfolio of Information and Culture in Nigeria.
Yesterday he attended the second virtual ministerial roundtable organized by the African Tourism Board and chaired by Dr. Taleb Rifai, chair of Project Hope for ATB and former UNWTO Secretary-General.

What is Nigeria doing to combat COVID-19? How is Nigeria taking care of the travel and tourism industry? Mr. Mohammed is addressing these questions.

HE. Alhaj Lai Mohammed was born into the family of Alhaji Mohammed Adekeye in 1952. He is a native of Oro in Kwara State. He earned a bachelor's degree in French from Obafemi Awolowo University, in the year 1975. He proceeded to obtain a Law degree from the University of Lagos, and then Nigerian Law School in 1986

Tanzania faces an integrity issue by detractors who may not believe their story on COVID-19. They need assistance in positioning and messaging their experience and Brand Tanzania. Tanzania is in the league of disruptive thinking and their gamble clearly paid as the Minister of Tourism shared a 95% near-normal life for their population.

Tanzania needs applauding for leadership and not being followers of global templates not domesticated to local conditions.

This was the feedback by Dr. Walter Mzembi, head of the African Tourism Board Safety and Security committee after listening to H.E> Hamisi Andrea Kigwangala, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Tanzania.

He spoke at the second virtual ministerial roundtable organized by the African Tourism Board yesterday.

Dr. Nedret Emiroglou is the Director of Infectious Diseases of the World Health Organization in Geneva, On Wednesday she spoke at the second virt