Wakayama, Japan, April 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the Japan Sustainable Tourism Standard for Destinations (JSTS-D) has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status. The Japan Sustainable Tourism Standard for Destinations (JSTS-D) which is based on the GSTC Criteria for Destinations, was developed by Japan Tourism … Read more

Bangkok, Thailand, April 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is calling for urgent action from all Thai travel and tourism industry stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to address the COVID-19 impacts on the local tourism supply chain. Between December 2020 and March 2021, PATA, in partnership with … Read more

Denham, United Kingdom, April 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Haitham Mattar as Managing Director of India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA), effective 18 April 2021. Haitham Mattar joins IHG Hotels & Resorts from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism where, as Senior Advisor and a member of … Read more

Phuket, Thailand, April 8, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Utopia Corporation, Phuket’s pioneering property developer and hospitality company, is forging even closer bonds within the island’s business community with the launch of Club Utopia, an attractive new membership program that brings together many prestigious local partners and creates a wealth of benefits for local residents, visitors … Read more

Madrid, Spain, April 8, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a new competition to identify the best ideas that will help rural communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Global Rural Tourism Startup Competition will also support the entrepreneurs and enterprises that can help rural communities seize … Read more

Houston, Texas, United States, April 7, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / SpaceFund announced it has reached and surpassed the planned first close of $5 million for its $20 million BlastOff Fund today. The Houston and Austin-based company says commitments to the fund have reached $9 million as of Monday morning. “We are thrilled to see how … Read more

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 6, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / WISeKey to launch the NFT auction of the original SWATCH created for the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, on Earth Day, April 22, 2021. This unique, first-off-the-line watch, designed by Maurice Strong under the theme “It’s in our Hands” it was given to his widow Hanne … Read more

Singapore, April 7, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed Singapore’s acceptance of pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results on the IATA Travel Pass. From 1 May 2021, passengers traveling to Singapore will be able to use IATA Travel Pass to share their pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results upon check-in with their … Read more

Lucerne, Switzerland, April 4, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Forum Lucerne announced that the Innovation Festival, Moving Forward, will not go ahead as planned on 29-30 April. Unfortunately, the Swiss government has ongoing restrictions on physical events, therefore we have no choice but to postpone the Innovation Festival. It will now take place from … Read more

Geneva, Switzerland, April 5, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to accept best-in-class rapid antigen tests in fulfillment of COVID -19 testing requirements following the publication of new research by OXERA and Edge Health. The OXERA-Edge Health report, commissioned by IATA, found that antigen tests are: Accurate: The best … Read more