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The post Windstar Cruises eliminates pre-cruise COVID-19 tests appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

Windstar Cruises will no longer require a pre-cruise COVID-19 test for embarking guests (unless required by one of the countries on our current scheduled itineraries).  These changes will go into effect for cruises departing on or after Sept. 6, 2022.

As part of its Beyond Ordinary Care health and safety program, Windstar will still require all guests to be fully vaccinated and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. 

The exception to this new testing procedure is that Windstar must follow the local rules and regulations of all the countries it visits and currently Canada, Greece, Australia and New Zealand (subject to change) still require COVID-19 pre-testing prior to boarding any ship in their respective waters.

“Safety and wellness are our first concern, and these new procedures will simplify the process of sailing with us on a fully vaccinated ship,” said Chris Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises.

In summary:

1. All guests must be vaccinated and provide evidence of vaccination status prior to embarkation.  All Windstar crew are fully vaccinated and nearly all crew have received booster shots.
2. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required in most countries
3. The updated guidelines are subject to the local regulations of applicable homeports and destinations (presently that includes Canada, Greece, Australia and New Zealand on Windstar itineraries)

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The post Leisure travel: What’s trending in 2022 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

New study reveals travel customers are rapidly changing their travel habits in planning and booking based on a multitude of factors.

Leisure travel: What’s trending in 2022

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The post Kagoshima: Kyushu’s sunny prefecture appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

Situated at the southwestern tip of Kyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture encompasses vibrancy and tranquillity, all within 3,500 square miles.

This seaside region is home to healing hot springs, fresh local cuisine and heaps of fascinating heritage and history. This picture-perfect location is perfect for those looking for insight into traditional Japanese culture and nature. From its varied wellness offering to delectable cuisine, discover the best of Kagoshima.

A WELLNESS HOTSPOT
Ibusuki Onsen
Ibusuki Onsen, located at the southern tip of Kagoshima, is home to natural hot springs and is famous for its sunamashi, or sandbathing. Volcanic hot springs line the coast of Ibusuki, warming the sands to 50-55 degrees Celsius.

To experience a sand bath, guests wear a light cotton yukata, and lie in a shallow depression on the beach. An attendant will protect guests’ faces with a towel and shovel warm sand over them until they are buried up to the neck This allows the body to eliminate toxins and impurities from the skin, stimulates blood circulation and enables the body to absorb minerals that are present in the sand, providing the ultimate R&R experience.

CAPTIVATING CULTURE
Kirishima Jingu Shrine
The Kirishima Jingu Shrine is renowned for its colourful, carved exterior, which contrasts with the deep green tones of the cedar forest that surrounds it. The original shrine suffered damage from volcanic eruptions, was rebuilt at the current site in 1715 and is roughly an hour from Kagoshima city by train. This grand vermillion shrine is rich in mythology, as it’s believed this is where the Japanese imperial family can trace its heritage to the sun goddess Amaterasu.

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE
Yakushima National Park
Kagoshima is well-known for Yakushima National Park. This island off the southern coast of Kagoshima has a unique ecosystem which led to its designation as a World Heritage site in 1993. The island has the highest mountain in Kyushu, dense forests home to Japan’s oldest living trees, as well as quiet beaches. Visitors can take a gentle stroll through the ancient forests or simply forest bathe – an ancient Japanese relaxation technique known as shinrin yoku.

LOCAL DELICACIES
Regional Cuisine
Kagoshima Prefecture is a major food hub in Japan. Its satsuma ryori (satsuma cuisine) is famous for bold flavours that highlight the richness of the landscape, from the farmland to the sea. Satsuma-age is a fried fish cake which is made from the local catch, served with wasabi soy sauce. A classic satsuma-age is golden brown on the outside and white on the inside with a light saltiness and sweetness from the natural flavours of fish. Tobiou (flying fish) is another common dish in Kagoshima’s restaurants. Often enjoyed as mild-flavoured sashimi or fried in their entirety, when prepared in the latter way, the whole fish, from head to wings, can be consumed.

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The post Qantas Apologizes to Win Back Customers Loyalty appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

Over the weekend, Qantas issued a formal apology to its customers, along with offers of discounts, perks, points, and more for the airline’s disastrous recent performance, acknowledging the airline’s shortcomings over the past few months and thanking them for returning.

Rebounding international travel demand has been linked to the chaos, which has been blamed on personnel shortages due to the spread of the COVID virus, a smaller labour pool, and extended periods of wet weather.

In a video message to Qantas’s most loyal customers, Joyce said that the company’s recent performance had not been satisfactory, despite their being “valid causes” for the errors, such as flight cancellations, delays, and an increase in lost luggage.

He apologised on behalf of the national carrier and promised to improve service.

Member frequent fliers from Australia and New Zealand will be invited to a Qantas lounge and given a voucher for $50 to use on a round-trip ticket.

An invitation to the Qantas Club or a similar international business lounge, as well as an extension of your Silver status for another year, will be provided to all Silver members. An invitation to one of the domestic business lounges will be extended to Gold members.

Members who have attained the Platinum or Platinum One tier have been offered anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 bonus Qantas points.

In addition to adding seats on Sunday for international and domestic flights, the airline has also extended the availability of its “classic reward” seats, which may be reserved using Qantas points, through 30 June 2023. About 12% of all airline customers generally use some reward seating.

The formal apology is the airline’s latest attempt to repair its tarnished image, but it has so far failed to win over the Transport Workers Union. The union’s national secretary Michael Kaine released a statement on Sunday saying, “Australia sees through this charade.”

‘Enough of the gimmicks,’ Kaine declared. If Qantas management or Joyce were genuinely concerned about their customers, they would hire a new chief executive with the business savvy to rehire and treat the highly skilled, experienced professionals who left the company with respect.

“Profiteering businesses have undermined the aviation industry.”

Kaine has advocated for creating a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to ensure the continued high quality of services and the stability of the workforce.

This month, Qantas announced it would increase the waiting time between domestic and international connecting flights by 30 minutes to mitigate the number of people arriving at their destination without their luggage.

In 2020, Qantas decided to outsource its luggage ground handling, a move that has been blamed for the travel disruption as it led to the elimination of 1700 jobs. The Federal Court ruled that the action violated the Fair Work Act, and the airline is currently appealing the decision to the High Court.

Qantas and other airlines are trying to address workforce shortages by encouraging managers and executives to take on front-line responsibilities like baggage handling. Qantas said at the beginning of the month that at least one hundred executives would be trading in their corporate duties for those of baggage handlers and tug drivers.

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The post Singapore Airlines Resumes Flights To China appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily.

With each passing month, Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot continue their steady ascent back to pre-pandemic levels, as newly revealed financial data shows.

One of the airline’s services to China, which had been halted since the beginning of the year, has also been reinstated.

There was a total of 2.08 million passengers on flights operated by the Singapore Airlines Group in July, an increase of 7.6% from June.

They were the most passengers in a single month before the outbreak. The last time the airlines saw more than two million passengers was in 2019.

The increase in passengers is a joint effort by Singapore Airlines and Scoot. From June’s 531,000 to July’s 612,900, Scoot saw a 15 percent increase in its passenger number.

Also, compared to July last year, when the budget airline carried only 22,100 passengers (a load factor of 8%), this year’s total of 86,100 passengers represents a huge increase. Liberalizing regulations and opening borders throughout Asia are directly responsible for Scoot’s success.

The group’s flagship airline, Singapore Airlines, also reported strong statistics, including a month-over-month gain of 70,000 passengers and an average load factor of 87.7 percent.

Although the airline performed well overall, it encountered the most significant difficulty in the East Asia region, where the load factor was only 72.6%. This was much lower than the 85.2% average for the rest of the world.

As a whole, Singapore Airlines’ load factor was 87.4%, which was very near to the record load factor of 87.9% established in December 2019 before the pandemic hit.

Scoot and Singapore Airlines are gradually returning to pre-pandemic operational levels regarding their operational reach. Compared to Singapore Airlines’ 73 destinations served, Scoot’s 87 destinations were in operation by the end of July.

The Singapore Airlines flight from Changi Airport to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is one of the 73 destinations. After being inactive since January, the route’s reinstatement marks the airline’s significant return to the Chinese market.

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