Travel

• [New] Omicron, which has raised global fears of a surge in infections, was first detected in southern Africa last month and has prompted governments across continents to impose travel curbs and take other measures to contain it. NBC News
• [New] Namibia has a highly formalized tourism industry and considering that Rwanda has started marketing itself as a tourist destination, there is much opportunity for the Rwandan tourism industry to learn. The New Times | Rwanda
• [New] Passengers entering Singapore on vaccinated travel lanes will be required to take antigen rapid tests three and seven days after their arrival. WSJ
• [New] Many, including the United States, have begun to rethink testing and quarantine measures at their borders, which is more in line with WHO recommendations though also causes disruption to travel and business. The Washington Post
• [New] Starting early next week, the U.S. will tighten pre-departure testing by requiring all inbound international travelers to be tested for the virus within one day of departure globally, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. The Mercury News
• [New] By early next week the United States will require inbound international travellers to be tested for COVID-19 within a day of departure, regardless of vaccination status. investing.com
• [New] The challenge over the next few weeks will be in crafting travel policies that can slow the spread of the Omicron variant without causing massive disruptions to travel, trade, and the global economy. ECDC
• [New] Cambodia has barred entry to travellers from 10 African countries, citing the threat from Omicron. Al Jazeera
• [New] Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 will not be able to board a plane or passenger train in Canada beginning today, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people. CBC
• [New] The United States will apply travel restrictions on travelers coming from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. DW.COM
• [New] Multiple countries including Japan, the United States, Britain and Israel have imposed travel curbs in order to slow the spread of the new variant which it is feared could prove more resistant to vaccines. SURPERFORMANCE
• [New] Pending further advice, countries should use a risk-based approach to adjust international travel measures in a timely manner, while acknowledging that a rise in coronavirus cases might lead to higher morbidity and mortality rates. Al Jazeera
• [New] The UK halted flights, placing six African countries on its travel red list and will require arriving travelers to quarantine in hotels in an attempt to quash the spread of the B. 1.1.529 variant - to which the World Health Organization has assigned the Greek letter Omicron. Al Arabiya English
• [New] Governments around the world are banning travelers from South Africa and nearby countries amid fears omicron could evade vaccines, exacerbate Covid surges and frustrate efforts to reopen economies. BloombergQuint
• [New] Some countries have imposed travel restrictions on the UK following the detection of Omicron cases, including Spain - which will require proof of vaccination from travellers from Wednesday - and Switzerland, which now requires proof of vaccination, a negative Covid test and 10 days' quarantine. BBC News
• [New] On Monday, the United States will start restricting travel from Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi. The Atlantic
• [New] Starting in December, travel from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, will be prohibited. Al Jazeera
• [New] Flights between the U.S. and South Africa are limited compared with other international destinations, but the sudden changes in travel rules make it difficult for customers to book and could further delay the return of lucrative international business travel. CNBC
• [New] In the last 24 hours, governments across Europe have introduced new travel restrictions on several southern African countries in response to the emergence of a new COVID strain that some experts are warning is the worst to date. ONE
• [New] The first European case of the new B. 1.1.529 variant has been detected in Belgium, as the UK imposed new restrictions on travel from South Africa and five other nearby countries because of the risk that it may evade vaccines. The Guardian

Last updated: 04 December 2021