Word Travels

Japan has recorded more than 700,000 infections and 12,000 Covid-19 deaths from the virus.

US issues Japan travel warning weeks before Olympics It comes amid heightened scrutiny and pressure to call off the Tokyo Olympics due to be held soon.

Presenting is departmental budget speech on Friday (21 May), transport minister Fikile Mbalula said that South Africa must ensure that it joins the growing number of countries that accepts the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) mobile travel pass.

South Africa plans to adopt Covid-19 ‘travel pass’ Transport minister Fikile Mbalula says his department will work with industry to ensure that South Africa successfully reopens for international travel.

The travel bubble, which would have allowed travellers to skip quarantine, had been planned to begin on May 26. The scheme has faced multiple rounds of delays from its initial launch date in November 2020.

Singapore and Hong Kong to postpone travel bubble again as Covid cases rise The air travel bubble, which would have allowed travelers to skip quarantine, was initially planned to begin on May 26 after several delays.

France is set to start categorising other countries according to their epidemiological situation through the traffic light system, which is currently applied by several other European Union and Schengen Area Member States, including the Czech Republic, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Denmark and more.

France to Start Applying COVID-19 Traffic Light System for Travellers From Outside EU by May’s End - SchengenVisaInfo.com France is set to start categorising other countries according to their epidemiological situation through the traffic light system, which is currently applied by several other European Union and Schengen Area Member States, including the Czech Republic, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Denmark and...

Authorities in Spain have prolonged the imposed restrictions on non-essential trips from countries outside the European Union and the Schengen Zone to May 31 due to the current Coronavirus situation.

Spain Prolongs Travel Restrictions for Countries Outside EU Until End of May - SchengenVisaInfo.com Authorities in Spain have prolonged the imposed restrictions on non-essential trips from countries outside the European Union and the Schengen Zone to May 31 due to the current Coronavirus situation. Such preventive measures imposed by the country’s government were due to expire on April 30; howev...

The testing will be carried through the TousAntiCovid app, which has been around since October 22, 2021, as a part of the country’s contact tracing programme. The app has now been upgraded to store negative COVID-19 test results on travellers’ mobile phones. As a start, the app will be trialled on flights to Corsica and the French overseas departments, starting from April 29.

France Becomes First EU Country to Start Testing Digital COVID-19 Travel Certificate Through App - SchengenVisaInfo.com France is now the first European Union country to begin testing the Digital Green Certificates, on the establishment of which all government of the Member States have previously agreed at the EU level. The testing will be carried through the TousAntiCovid app, which has been around since October 22,...

Since April 5, 2021, the Spanish Government has extended the existing restrictions for regions where COVID-19 mutations have widely spread. The order will be effective until April 19, 2021. Nevertheless, the restrictions may be extended if the COVID-19 and its mutations cannot be contained in these countries.

Spain Prolongs Travel Restrictions for Third Countries With COVID-19 Mutations - SchengenVisaInfo.com Since April 5, 2021, the Spanish Government has extended the existing restrictions for regions where COVID-19 mutations have widely spread. The order will be effective until April 19, 2021. Nevertheless, the restrictions may be extended if the COVID-19 and its mutations cannot be contained in these....

Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 could soon turn their vaccination paperwork into a golden ticket for international getaways.

10 countries where vaccinated Americans are allowed to travel — but it won’t come cheap Several countries are easing restrictions for fully-vaccinated people looking to vacation, even though public-health officials have maintained warnings...

It currently allows people to enter certain businesses — including hairdressers, beauty salons and driving schools — with the aim to gradually reopen the economy by the end of May.

Denmark among first in Europe to introduce COVID pass scheme The COVID-19 "passport" is available via a secure application or in paper format to people who have either been fully vaccinated, have tested positive for COVID-19 two to 12 weeks previously or negative over the previous 72 hours.

On the government's roadmap back to normality, foreign trips are banned until 17 May at the earliest.

COVID-19: Foreign holidays announcement in coming days but PM warns UK to 'be realistic' The government has announced its latest update on travel during the coronavirus pandemic - Sky News explains the situation below.

Authorities in Spain have extended restrictions on unnecessary travel from countries outside the European Union and the Schengen Zone until April 30 in order to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus disease.

Spain Prolongs Travel Restrictions Imposed on Countries Outside EU Until End of April - SchengenVisaInfo.com Authorities in Spain have extended restrictions on unnecessary travel from countries outside the European Union and the Schengen Zone until April 30 in order to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus disease. Initially, such preventive measures imposed by Spain’s government were set to last un...

Spain’s government will require negative PCR test results, not older than 72 hours, for all persons crossing the land border from France in a bid to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus during Easter holidays.

Spain Requires Negative COVID-19 Test Results at French Border - SchengenVisaInfo.com Spain’s government will require negative PCR test results, not older than 72 hours, for all persons crossing the land border from France in a bid to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus during Easter holidays. The decision will take effect on Tuesday and includes all persons from age seven a...

UAE-based airline Emirates has announced that it will extend its ban on flights from South Africa until at least the first week of April.

Global travel bans on South Africa extended

Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade organization, is urging the CDC to lift its "framework for conditional sailing order" to allow cruising to resume in phases by the start of July.

Cruise industry calls on CDC to lift 'outdated' restrictions, allow US cruising by July The ocean-going cruise industry, which has been shut down in U.S. waters since last March, is urging the CDC to lift its restrictions on cruising.

Japanese authorities told the Olympic and Paralympic committees it was "highly unlikely" that entry to the country could be guaranteed.

No international fans at Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics No international fans will be permitted at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer because of the pandemic.

German tourists hoping to visit Mallorca are being warned that coronavirus restrictions apply to everyone after the Spanish island was taken off Berlin’s high-risk list, leading to a surge of interest from holidaymakers.

Mallorca braces for influx of German tourists after removal from risk list Germans warned that Covid restrictions still apply as locals express frustration at Berlin’s move

The Peruvian government has announced that mandatory quarantine for foreign travellers entering the country will be lifted, although flights of over eight hours and connections with Brazil will remain suspended.

International travellers no longer need to quarantine on arrival in Peru The Peruvian government has announced that mandatory quarantine for foreign travellers entering the country will be lifted

The United Kingdom has added Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar to its travel ‘red list’, to protect the country against new variants of Covid-19.

While South Africa remains on the original red list of countries, the update will cause additional headaches for travellers who were planning to fly to the UK indirectly through a connecting flight.

UK’s updated ‘red list’ for travel causes more headaches for South Africans The United Kingdom has added Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar to its travel ‘red list’, to protect the country against new variants of Covid-19.

Portugal is the only European country on the 'red list', which mostly includes Southern American and southern African nations.

Covid breakthrough: Holiday boost for Brits as Portugal to have 'red list' status lifted BORIS JOHNSON's Government is set to lift its travel ban on Portugal, giving Brits hopes their summer holidays could be given the all clear.

Hawaii reopened to visitors from within the United States and a small number of countries in October, but visitors must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result.

Travel to Hawaii during COVID-19: What you need to know before you go If you're planning to travel to Hawaii, here's what you'll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Portuguese Government has introduced new rules for travellers using air transport, the initial place of origin of which is the United Kingdom or Brazil, due to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Portugal Introduces New Rules for Passengers From United Kingdom & Brazil - SchengenVisaInfo.com The Portuguese Government has introduced new rules for travellers using air transport, the initial place of origin of which is the United Kingdom or Brazil, due to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision is valid for all persons who stopped or made a transit through countries wh...

The emergency extension comes as authorities have been particularly vigilant in guarding against spikes in coronavirus cases as the countdown to hosting the Tokyo Games this summer begins. Once the declaration is lifted, currently scheduled for March 21, less than a week before the Olympic torch relay is set to begin, the government will welcome visitors first from countries that have not detected new coronavirus variants.

Japan keeps foreign visitor ban to protect against COVID variants Business exemption for Chinese and South Korean travelers remains suspended

To ensure widespread protection, the Government of Barbados has signalled its intent to obtain more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for persons on the island, whether they are citizens or not, by the end of April or early May 2021.

Barbados Could Begin Vaccinating Visitors by End of April As part of its mass COVID-19 vaccination program, Barbados announced plans to vaccinate travelers by late April/early May. Here's what we know so far.

The document, developed in conjunction with businesses, would show whether citizens have been vaccinated for the coronavirus or not, potentially affording them special travel privileges. It could also allow citizens to visit restaurants, conferences, music festivals and sports events.

Coronavirus digest: Denmark plans COVID vaccination passport | DW | 03.02.2021 Denmark says it is developing a COVID-19 vaccine passport. Meanwhile, an obscure plant-based antiviral drug has been found to be "highly effective" against COVID-19. Read on for all the latest COVID news.

All but essential travel from outside the EU has been banned, while testing requirements on travellers from within the EU has been tightened.

Covid-19: France closes borders to most non-EU travel Only essential travel from outside the bloc is allowed from Sunday, but a lockdown is resisted.

France will implement border controls to make sure that all travellers from Europe arriving by plane or ferry have a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to travel, in order to enter France.

Covid-19: Negative PCR test now needed for EU-France travel Covid-19: Negative PCR test now needed for EU-France travel

Several countries have imposed travel bans on South Africa after a new, more infectious SARS-CoV-2 mutation was confirmed in mid-December.

UK extends SA travel ban – with British Airways flights from Joburg to Heathrow cancelled until mid-Feb Several countries have banned travel to and from South Africa, with many more expecting to announce restrictions following the discovery of a mutated Covid-19 variant.

Citizens of several countries outside the Schengen Zone, as well as other travellers currently in these countries, will no longer be able to enter the Netherlands, as the latter has decided to ban flights from these territories in order to curb the number of infections and prevent the spread of new variants of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Netherlands to Ban All Flights From UK, South Africa & South America - SchengenVisaInfo.com Citizens of several countries outside the Schengen Zone, as well as other travellers currently in these countries, will no longer be able to enter the Netherlands, as the latter has decided to ban flights from these territories in order to curb the number of infections and prevent the spread of new....

Spain will soon be included on the list of European countries which are planning to soon introduce a ‘vaccination certificate’ that would facilitate the movement of travellers and help the tourism sector to recover from the damages caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Spain Plans to Establish ‘Vaccination Certificate’ to Recover Tourism Sector - SchengenVisaInfo.com Spain will soon be included on the list of European countries which are planning to soon introduce a ‘vaccination certificate’ that would facilitate the movement of travellers and help the tourism sector to recover from the damages caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Spain’s Tourism Minister, ...

Travellers arriving in the UK, whether by boat, train or plane, also have to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to be allowed entry.

Covid: UK closes all travel corridors until at least 15 February Passengers must also quarantine for up to 10 days following the closure of all UK travel corridors.