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1. UNWTO: COVID-19 Has Cost Travel Industry Approximately $2 Trillion
The United Nations World Tourism Organization has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has cost the global tourism industry $2 trillion. In a release, it said international tourism revenues might reach between $700 billion and $800 billion this year, which is a “small improvement from 2020 but less than half the $1.7 trillion recorded in 2019. The economic contribution of tourism is estimated at $1.9 trillion in 2021 … well below the pre-pandemic value of $3.5 trillion.”
It said that the pace of recovery is slow and uneven across the world “due to varying degrees of mobility restrictions, vaccination rates and traveler confidence.” The UNWTO added that international tourist arrivals as recorded by overnight visitors increased by 58% in the months of July through September 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, but that this number was 64% below 2019 levels. Of all the continents in the third quarter, Europe posted the best relative performance.
2. Southern Africa Travel Affected as Scientists Research New COVID-19 Variant
Travel to 10 Southern Africa nations — Angola, Botswana, Eswatini [formerly Swaziland], Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe — has been affected by the discovery of a new variant of COVID-19 called Omicron. The United Kingdom has placed all the above countries on its red list, which requires those traveling from those countries and entering the U.K. to quarantine at their expense in a government-approved hotel, according to a news release.
The U.S. has restricted travel to eight of those countries, according to the New York Times, the two omissions from the British list being Angola and Zambia. Additionally, Japan will impose a blanket ban on all arrivals beginning Tuesday, according to news agency Deutsche Welle.
3. Spain Bans All Unvaccinated Brits
The Spanish government has announced that beginning Dec. 1, it will ban all British travelers who are not fully vaccinated from coming to the country, citing fears of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, according to U.K. radio station LBC. Passage into Spain had been possible with a proof of a negative test result and the completion of a Spanish passenger form, but now passengers will need proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.
The U.K. government is also imposing a mask mandate in shops and on public transport starting Tuesday as well as requiring travelers coming from all international locations to isolate until a negative test is proven.
4. CEO of Hong Kong-Based Suncity Holdings Arrested
Alvin Chau, the chairman of Hong Kong-based firm Suncity Holdings, was held by police for questioning because of allegations of illegal gaming and money laundering, according to the Wall Street Journal. Macau police confirmed that among the 11 arrested was a “leader surnamed Chau.” The firm has interests in hotels but has recently withdrawn its bid to develop and operate an integrated resort in Japan.
Chong Kam Leong, a spokesman for Macau’s Judiciary Police, said in a news conference Sunday that the 11 people were held after investigations "into what police described as a criminal group led by Chau that used a VIP gambling business in the city to establish gambling platforms overseas and solicited residents in mainland China to engage in illicit gambling activities online," the article states.
Shares of MGM China, Wynn Macau and Sands China Ltd. all fell on Monday.
5. Tim Rumney Secures BWH Group Great Britain CEO Role
Tim Rumney, a veteran hotelier, was named CEO of BWH Hotel Group GB after being named interim CEO in August, a news release states.
BWH GB operates more than 250 properties in the U.K. Rumney has been in the hotel industry for approximately 30 years and has been a general manager for more than 20 years, including the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal and Best Western Plus Pinewood Hotel in Wilmslow, and having had senior roles at the former Forte Hotels.