Ovation’s weekly shopper e-newsletter, the Knowledgeable Traveler, retains readers up to date on journey trade information and developments.
Following is a recap of April’s prime 5 (most clicked by Ovation shoppers) e-newsletter tales.
1. US WILL NO LONGER ENFORCE MASK MANDATE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Following the announcement, many US journey suppliers — together with all main US airways (Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United), Amtrak, and Uber — have all introduced that masks are now not required domestically and non-obligatory in consequence. For worldwide flights, masks necessities will rely on the coming nation necessities. Ovation anticipates that additional journey suppliers are more likely to observe swimsuit.
2. CIBTVISAS OFFERS EXPEDITED PASSPORT RENEWALS IN AS LITTLE AS ONE TO FIVE DAYS
Because the demand for journey continues to extend in 2022, vacationers ought to test their passport standing to verify they’re nonetheless legitimate. Most international locations require passports to have at the least 6 months of validity after the return date of journey, in addition to obtainable pages for visa and nation entry/exit stamps. Processing time for renewals can take as much as 4-6 weeks and is topic to vary as COVID-19 has positioned unprecedented calls for on the US Passport Workplace. CIBTvisas affords varied renewal choices and may fulfill US passport requests in as little as one to 5 days, topic to availability. As well as, CIBTvisas additionally offers a full line of passport companies together with first time passports, little one’s passports, and passport identify change companies for US passport holders. For help with the passport course of or to schedule an appointment, vacationers can contact their Ovation journey consultants or name CIBTvisas at 877-304-8071.
3. CDC CONTINUES TO LOWER COVID-19 TRAVEL WARNINGS FOR CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) has lowered its journey warning for a number of Caribbean islands this week, reviews Journey + Leisure. The company reclassified Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines underneath “Stage 1,” its lowest journey warning, indicating that there’s a “low” stage of COVID-19 at these locations. Locations are categorized as a “Stage 1” if there are fewer than 50 new reported instances per 100,000 individuals previously 28 days. The CDC recommends vacationers guarantee they “are vaccinated and updated” with their COVID-19 vaccines earlier than touring to any vacation spot, and advises that, “Even if you’re updated along with your COVID-19 vaccines, you should still be in danger for getting and spreading COVID-19.” Along with the Caribbean Islands, the CDC categorized Bangladesh, Haiti, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines underneath “Stage 1.”
4. US EXTENDS VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR NON-CITIZENS AT LAND BORDERS
The Biden administration has said that it’s extending the COVID-19 requirement that non-US residents crossing land or ferry terminals on the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders have to be totally vaccinated, reviews Skift. The necessities had been first adopted in November 2021 as a part of reopening the US to land crossings by overseas vacationers after the borders had been closed since March 2020. The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) stated the choice to increase the requirement got here after session with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), which says vaccines stay the best public well being measure to guard individuals COVID-19. “The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to defending public well being whereas facilitating lawful commerce and journey, which is crucial to our financial safety,” Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated.
5. CANADA FURTHER EASES TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
The Canadian federal authorities has additional eased journey restrictions for entry into the nation, reviews Journey Pulse. As of April 25, totally vaccinated vacationers coming into Canada are now not required to offer a quarantine plan upon entry. Moreover, they’re now not required to put on masks in public areas, monitor and report in the event that they develop indicators or signs, quarantine if one other traveler in the identical journey group reveals indicators or signs or checks constructive, and keep an inventory of shut contacts and places visited. Moreover, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated kids aged 5 to 11 now not want a COVID take a look at to enter Canada.
In the meantime, pre-entry checks are nonetheless required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated vacationers ages 12 and older who’re presently eligible to journey to Canada. All vacationers are nonetheless required to make use of the ArriveCAN app to add journey and vaccination data inside 72 hours of their arrival to Canada and/or earlier than boarding a aircraft or cruise ship destined for Canada. Additional, all vacationers, no matter vaccination standing, should proceed to put on a masks on planes and inside airports.