Embark on The short and comfortable poonhill trek with natural therapy away from the busy schedule.Drive along windy, hilly roads to the Lake City of Pokhara, the country’s tourist hub Stay overnight at local villages like Tikhedhunga, Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk during the trek, enjoy local meals, and immerse yourself in the local culture and lifestyle. Suitable as an all-season trek, with the blooming rhododendron forests during autumn, the mist and freshness during monsoon, and the clear weather during early winter, this is truly a trek with many faces. Easy trek suitable for both beginners and veterans, with a maximum altitude of 3,210 meters and an average altitude much below 2,500 meters. This trek is also ideal for all ages, from children to seniors. Stay at small but comfortable trekking lodges (called tea houses) along the trek. A well-managed trekking trail with proper signs, you’ll-maintained stop steps, and frequent villages and farmhouses along the trek Experience local culture, traditions, and cuisine at Ghandruk, one of the largest Gurung villages in this region.Poonhill Trek, also known as the Ghorepani Poonhill trek, is one of Nepal’s most popular and easily accessible treks. It is considered one of the easiest treks, which can be completed within seven days. This trek takes you through lush green forests, frequent downhill and uphills, bridges, and river crossings. As the trek progresses, you will also encounter mountain villages like Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani, Tadapani, and Ghandruk, offering you a unique insight into Nepali rural life. The highlight of this trip is the hilltop of Poonhill (3,210 meters altitude), which is also the highest destination on this trek. It offers some of the most incredible views of the Himalayas, including peaks like Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Machhapuchhare (Fishtail), and Annapurna South. Poonhill also provides one of the most remarkable sunrise-viewing experiences in the world!Poonhill Trek is much more than just seeing mountains. It is also about immersing in nature and experiencing the sublime beauty of the Annapurna Sanctuary, some of the most beautiful protected regions in the world. Nature and culture are superimposed, so the Poonhill trek creates a lasting memory for you. Especially during the autumn and spring, the trails will be blanketed with blooming rhododendron flowers, and the blue sky and lukewarm climate create a memorable yet rejuvenating trekking experience.Annapurna Base Camp Trek, through which the Poonhill trek passes, is also a culturally significant region. Inhabited by the people of Gurung and Magar communities, the area offers you a rich cultural experience while passing through and staying overnight at scenic villages along the trek. You can also experience daily village life, traditions, and cuisine in these villages, further enriching your trekking experience.Poonhill trek passes through moderately low altitudes, which will be below 3,000 meters for the most part. And it also covers more than 50% of the Annapurna base camp trekking trail. It is a highly accessible trek for beginner trekkers while not being too easy or bland for veterans. The best time for trekking to Poonhill is from October to November (autumn) and March to April (spring). During this time, the skies are blue, the weather is incredible, the mountains are clear and seem closer, and the vegetation is lusher. With plenty of trekkers to accompany you during the trek, the season will ensure that you are not bored and can meet many friends along the way. The Poonhill trek is an all-season trek due to its accessibility. It offers entirely different experiences during monsoons and the cold winter.ItineraryDay 01: Arrival in KathmanduDay 02: Drive from Kathmandu to PokharaDay 03:Nayapul and Trek to TikhedhungaDay 04: Trek to GhorepaniDay 05: Hike to Poonhill and Trek to TadapaniDay 06: Trek to GhandrukDay 07: Trek to Nayapul and Drive to PokharaDay 08: Drive from Pokhara to KathmanduDay 09: Departure from Kathmandu

Tour in Nepal package is one of the best packages developed for a particular interest group of travelers. Those who want to explore the cultural and historical monuments of our counter. Which is located in a different destination. Nepal is considered one of the best tourist destinations in the World. You can have a unique adventurous experience, see diversified groups’ distinctive and pristine cultures and traditions, and explore nature’s true essence. The cultural heritage, spectacular art and artifacts, fascinating mountain ranges, warmly hospitable locals, festivals and cultures, and untouched typical rural villages of Nepal have attracted thousands of tourists for a tour in Nepal. There are many places where tourists like to be; where Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan are the major tourist destination for the tour in Nepal which most tourists prefer. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is an ideal destination for cultural and heritage tour in Nepal. This city is the busiest in Nepal and is also considered the perfect gateway to Nepal’s true essence. Kathmandu is full of a diversified group of pagoda-style temples, shrines, museums, ancient art and artifacts, and monasteries, and also the home to UNESCO-listed world heritage cultural sites, ancient shrines and temples, Durbars, and a living goddess.in this tour in Nepal package, we compile different heritage sites like Swayambhunath stupa, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square are must-visit places in Kathmandu. It would be best if you didn’t leave Kathmandu without tasting the local food here, especially various Newari cuisines. Newars are the original inhibitors of the valley, and their cultures, customs, traditions, and lifestyle are unique and pristine. Newari culture and tradition have been practiced for many years and are still lively. The major festivals celebrated by Newars are Indra Jatra, Gai Jatra, Bhote Jatra, Bisket Jatra, and Yomari Punhi. Pokhara is a great place for adventure and relaxation tour in Nepal. The city full of natural paradise is the second largest city in Nepal after Kathmandu. It will take about 7-8 hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu valley. It is a beautiful city consisting of 8 beautiful lakes: Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake, Gunde Lake, Khaste Lake, Nyureni Lake, Maidi Lake, and Dipang Lake.Pokhara is also considered an ideal getaway to World’s famous trekking region, Annapurna. The Himalayas surrounds the beautiful Pokhara city, where you see the panoramic background view of the Annapurna II and Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) from the city. You can experience unique adventurous activities like paragliding, bungee jumping, skydiving, rafting, kayaking, and the Annapurna base camp trek in Pokhara. Even at night, Pokhara is very lively. It is an excellent place for relaxation and a honeymoon.Chitwan is a popular destination for wildlife activities in Nepal. Forests and lush green vegetations surround the Chitwan village making the village glow with greenery. The roads in the middle of the dense forest make the Chitwan very tempting. Chitwan National Park is the most visited place when you are in Chitwan. You can experience jungle safari, canoe rides, elephant back safari, nature walks, and bird watching. More than 525 birds, 50 mammals, and 55 reptiles and amphibians reside in the park. It also has more than 50 types, including the renowned elephant grass. You can see the one-horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild Elephant, Gharials, or Mugars crocodile, python, etc., in the park. The major ethnic group of Nepal majorly inhabits Chitwan; Tharus. They are considered the oldest residents of the Terai region. They have a unique culture and tradition. They celebrate their festivals very hugely, for example, “Maghi.” You can also see the Lathi/stick dance (Cultural Dance of Tharu) in Chitwan.If you like to experience such activities in one package, reserve your space tour in Nepal. Tour ItineraryDay 01: Arrive at KathmanduDay 02: Full-day sightseeing tour at Kathmandu cityDay 03: Drive to PokharaDay 04: Full-day sightseeing tour at Pokhara, including early sunrise at sarangkotDay 05: Drive to ChitwanDay 06: Full-day jungle activities in Chitwan National ParkDay 07: Drive back to KathmanduDay 08: Departure

Nepal is one of the furnish destination for to explore historical and ancient monument site of Nepal. Tour in Nepal Is an best option for the traveler to explore Nepal with in short duration of time.

<VR Live tour to celebrate BTS' concert in Korea with ARMY>□ Introduction of the company and online live tourHello:) We are "Meclouds", a start-up that develops and operates global online tour contents in real-time through 360°VR.To celebrate the BTS Concert Week in March, we are recruiting people to participate in the BTS pilgrimage online tour at a lower price than a movie ticket!We are looking forward to meeting global Army who wants to visit wherever BTS goes or anyone interested in Korean Culture and Travel. Stay Tuned! □ Tour scheduleㅇ Date: 7~13th of March, 2022The general online tour takes 30-90 minutes. You can discuss the date, time, and schedule you want.□ Tour course ㅇ Participants can choose where they want to visit and discuss other places<Seoullo 7017> The background of “BTS’ Life in Seoul” and music video “With Seoul” <Banpo Hangang Park> The place where BTS members gathered to eat pizza and chicken delivered from “BTS’ Life in Seoul” <Yoojung Sikdang> BTS’s favorite restaurant since they were in pre-debut <Hyangho Beach Bus Stop> is where the album cover for BTS' "You Never Walk Alone" and the music video of "Spring Day" were shot <BT21 Store> you can look around various BTS goods and shop through us as well < > Live broadcast of the surrounding areas where the BTS concert will be held□ How to apply and contact usEmail: meclouds@meclouds.com General Phone: 82-2-6337-0312 Instagram / Facebook: meclouds Kakao Talk channel: meclouds□ Guides on other thingsㅇ Online tour guide: www.towishtrip.comㅇ TOWISH app introduction: https://vimeo.com/557478612 ㅇ The tour will be held in both Korean and English ㅇ In addition, there will be various online tours, so please contact us if you are interested

 <VR Live tour to celebrate BTS' concert in Korea with ARMY>□ Introduction of the company and online live tourHello:) We are "Meclouds", a start-up that develops and operates global online tour contents in real-time through 360°VR.To celebrate the BTS Concert Week in March, we are recruiting people to participate in the BTS pilgrimage online tour at a lower price than a movie ticket!We are looking forward to meeting global Army who wants to visit wherever BTS goes or anyone interested in Korean Culture and Travel. Stay Tuned! □ Tour scheduleㅇ Date: 7~13th of March, 2022The general online tour takes 30-90 minutes. You can discuss the date, time, and schedule you want. □ Tour course ㅇ Participants can choose where they want to visit and discuss other places<Seoullo 7017> The background of “BTS’ Life in Seoul” and music video “With Seoul” <Banpo Hangang Park> The place where BTS members gathered to eat pizza and chicken delivered from “BTS’ Life in Seoul” <Yoojung Sikdang> BTS’s favorite restaurant since they were in pre-debut <Hyangho Beach Bus Stop> is where the album cover for BTS' "You Never Walk Alone" and the music video of "Spring Day" were shot <BT21 Store> you can look around various BTS goods and shop through us as well < > Live broadcast of the surrounding areas where the BTS concert will be held □ How to apply and contact usEmail: meclouds@meclouds.com General Phone: 82-2-6337-0312 Instagram / Facebook: meclouds Kakao Talk channel: meclouds □ Guides on other thingsㅇ Online tour guide: www.towishtrip.comㅇ TOWISH app introduction: https://vimeo.com/557478612 ㅇ The tour will be held in both Korean and English ㅇ In addition, there will be various online tours, so please contact us if you are interested

 <VR Live tour to celebrate BTS' concert in Korea with ARMY>□ Introduction of the company and online live tourHello:) We are "Meclouds", a start-up that develops and operates global online tour contents in real-time through 360°VR.To celebrate the BTS Concert Week in March, we are recruiting people to participate in the BTS pilgrimage online tour at a lower price than a movie ticket!We are looking forward to meeting global Army who wants to visit wherever BTS goes or anyone interested in Korean Culture and Travel. Stay Tuned! □ Tour scheduleㅇ Date: 7~13th of March, 2022The general online tour takes 30-90 minutes. You can discuss the date, time, and schedule you want. □ Tour course ㅇ Participants can choose where they want to visit and discuss other places<Seoullo 7017> The background of “BTS’ Life in Seoul” and music video “With Seoul” <Banpo Hangang Park> The place where BTS members gathered to eat pizza and chicken delivered from “BTS’ Life in Seoul” <Yoojung Sikdang> BTS’s favorite restaurant since they were in pre-debut <Hyangho Beach Bus Stop> is where the album cover for BTS' "You Never Walk Alone" and the music video of "Spring Day" were shot <BT21 Store> you can look around various BTS goods and shop through us as well < > Live broadcast of the surrounding areas where the BTS concert will be held □ How to apply and contact usEmail: meclouds@meclouds.com General Phone: 82-2-6337-0312 Instagram / Facebook: meclouds Kakao Talk channel: meclouds □ Guides on other thingsㅇ Online tour guide: www.towishtrip.comㅇ TOWISH app introduction: https://vimeo.com/557478612 ㅇ The tour will be held in both Korean and English ㅇ In addition, there will be various online tours, so please contact us if you are interested

Could the Taiwan-Palau travel bubble provide a model for Singapore to emulate, paving the way for leisure travel to take place between one sunny island and another?The answer is not quite so straightforward. According to the experts, travel bubbles with other islands are not likely to be inherently safer than similar arrangements with any other country. Instead, much depends on whether governments are in control of the Covid-19 situation within their borders.Last Wednesday (March 17), Taiwan said it will open its first travel bubble with the Pacific island nation of Palau next month, with tour groups to follow a government-approved schedule and visit only certain tourist sites. They will also have to observe social distancing rules, and cannot venture off on their own.Taiwan's Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said a day later that Singapore could be the next country the island could establish a travel bubble with, and that the two sides are in discussion on such an arrangement.While it may be easier for local authorities to regulate entry and exit to an island, as opposed to policing long stretches of land borders, success still boils down to a country's ability to keep a close eye on its territory, said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health."If surveillance was lax to begin with, it will still be possible for travellers to enter and exit an island without proper documentation," he noted.Infectious diseases expert Paul Tambyah, who is president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, added that the majority of serious transnational outbreaks in recent years have been spread by air travel rather than over land.Given this, it is unlikely that setting up a travel bubble with an island nation instead of a larger country would make a significant difference in terms of risks, he said."Right now, the key has to be effective vaccination," Professor Tambyah added. "That has been shown, time and again over the years, to be effective in containing and controlling infectious diseases from smallpox to polio to yellow fever and many more."Vaccination will also be key to helping Singapore regain its attractiveness as a tourist destination, said Assistant Professor Michael Alexander Kruesi, who teaches in the Singapore Institute of Technology's hospitality business programme.Unlike visitors to Taiwan and Palau, who will be able to engage in nature-based activities while avoiding crowds in major urban centres, Singapore's main draws are its highly populated urban locations, he noted.Without a high percentage of the local population vaccinated, strict safe distancing measures cannot be loosened and tourists may be put off from visiting, Prof Kruesi said. He added that opening the country's doors to visitors would likely involve some sort of disruption - for instance, zoning off certain portions of attractions or imposing staggered timings."I do not think there are many, if any, of the big draw attractions - such as those in Marina Bay or on Sentosa - that tourists could possibly visit without major disruption to the operation of the attraction."As for the challenge of keeping tourists in line, Prof Teo pointed out how some restaurants in Singapore already faced difficulties trying to enforce the rules that prevent intermingling among local guests from different tables."Extrapolate this to a situation where it involves resort and hotel accommodations, restaurants and gift shops, but now include the additional variable that the patrons are citizens of another country who are here to support your local tourism," Prof Teo said. "You will realise, quickly, the ability and will to police these visitors will be much reduced."And will Singaporeans be keen on such tours, even if they have to abide by strict rules? Dynasty Travel's director of public relations and communications Alicia Seah thinks the answer is yes."I believe that customers will go on such trips with restricted itineraries, as long as the travel agent is able to customise them according to their needs," she said.Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/can-taiwan-palau-travel-bubble-be-a-model-for-singapore-the-jury-is-out

South Korea on Friday extended its special advisory against overseas travel for another month amid the continued spread of the new coronavirus, the foreign ministry said.The measure, which will be effective until Feb. 15, calls for citizens to cancel or postpone their planned trips abroad. The current monthlong advisory is set to expire Saturday.The ministry said that it extended the advisory, as many countries around the world continue to restrict entries of people arriving from overseas and many international flights remain suspended.The ministry also called on citizens to stick to hygiene guidelines, avoid large gatherings and outdoor activities, and minimize contact with other people. (Yonhap)

South Korea renewed the country's special advisory against overseas travel for another month amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.According to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday, the renewed advisory for South Koreans will be in effect until January 16.The ministry first issued the advisory on March 23, which has been extended on a monthly basis.The advisory calls for South Koreans not to go abroad unless the trip is essential and for those staying outside of the country to take extra precautions.The ministry decided on an extension considering the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration, its continued global expansion, and existing entry restrictions imposed by other countries.Source: https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=158337

Thailand received more than 1,000 foreign tourists in October, the first set of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation in six months.Tourists began returning in small numbers under a special long-stay tourist visa unveiled by the government last month, according to data released by Thailand’s tourism ministry Tuesday. The October arrivals compared with 3.07 million foreign visitors during the same month a year ago, and were the first since March, data showed.While Thailand has relaxed most of its coronavirus measures to allow businesses to fully reopen and some visitors to return, it has retained a nationwide state of emergency to prevent a resurgence in the pandemic. The nation’s ailing tourism industry is struggling to draw visitors as authorities have retained a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival amid a surge in confirmed infections worldwide.The tourism ministry didn’t detail revenue generated from the foreign visitors and said some of the information may be subject to revisions. Thailand netted more than $60 billion in revenue from about 40 million visitors in 2019, official data show.Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-24/thailand-sees-foreign-tourists-return-for-first-time-since-march

Pfizer / BioNTech’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines have a lot in common: they’ve both been highly effective in clinical trials, they’re both gene-based vaccines, and they also each require two doses. That last point is pretty standard for vaccines. “If you look at all the FDA approved vaccines, the vast majority will require multiple doses,” says Otto Yang, an infectious disease specialist at UCLA Health. Here’s why some of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates are no exception.[adsense]A vaccine works by exposing the body to a small part of the virus so that the immune system can learn to recognize it. More than one dose means more opportunities for the immune system to figure out exactly how to counter a future infection. The immune system needs the extra exposure time to learn how to effectively fight the virus because, as Yang explains, a vaccine doesn’t replicate in the body the way a virus does.“When you’re first getting exposed to something,” says Yang, “the immune system is actually starting from scratch.” Pathogens, like the coronavirus, have specific areas called antigens, which trigger our cells to produce antibodies to fight off the infection. A vaccine triggers the production of specific antibodies that can fight off something like a virus.Multiple doses of a vaccine give the body a chance to produce more antibodies. They also give the body a robust supply of memory cells, which remain in the body long after exposure. These cells are ready to respond to those specific antigens if they appear again. With multiple doses, the body is exposed to more antigens, so more memory cells are created, leading to a faster and more effective antibody response in the future.Memory cells don’t last forever and will die off over time. This is why people need booster shots to maintain an immune response to infections like tetanus and diphtheria. A booster is, as the name implies, a boost to a response that’s already been established. “A booster is often just one shot because that’s enough to basically wake up the response as opposed to making a new response.” But multiple initial doses are different from a booster shot. The reason for those multiple doses, Yang says, “is because generating the initial response is harder than reviving the response that’s already there.”Two doses is the best way to create an effective number of antibodies and memory cells, but the requirement poses logistical problems. It means twice as many materials — needles, vials, the vaccine itself — need to be produced, stored, and distributed. It’s also harder to get people to go get a vaccine twice. It could be especially difficult for people to take time from work, arrange for child care, or travel some distance to the nearest vaccination site.We’re still in early stages of vaccine development for this particular virus. While Pfizer / BioNTech’s and Moderna’s vaccines both require currently two doses, there are still dozens of other vaccines that haven’t yet reached later phase trials. Johnson & Johnson is testing the efficacy of both a single dose and two doses of their vaccine to evaluate and compare the long-term efficacy of both. There may be a simpler solution on the horizon, but for now, it looks like the first vaccines available will likely come in two shots.Source: https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/20/21587664/pfizer-moderna-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-two-doses-shots

Questionnaire  Tourism in South Korea: The Impact of the Korean Wave on the arrival of tourists, a comparison of the perspective of Tourists and Natives First of all, I would like to thank you for taking part in this research. I´m a 3rd year Cultural Anthropology student at the University of Palacky in Czech Republic. This questionnaire is a part of the research for my bachelor's thesis on Tourism in South Korea.All of the questions in this questionnaire are open-ended, which means that the respondent is free to answer the questions as she/ he deems appropriate. Please, write longer answers, don´t answer with just one word or one sentence. Take it as a form of a dialogue, where you are free to talk as much as you would like. The longer your answers are going to be, the more accurate the research will be.In the questionnaire, I will not ask any of your personal data other than those listed in column respondent, because it's better to write which age groups I looked at, while doing my research. But, otherwise, I won't ask for any personal information.If there are any questions about my research, feel free to contact me on my email:vlckan02@upol.czIf the email address does not work, please send the answers on my personal email:ajka.2061999@gmail.com Respondent:Gender:Age:Length of stay in South Korea: Questionnaire: 1. Which association comes to your mind first with the phrase South Korea?   2. What was your first experience with the culture of South Korea?   3. Was your first experience mediated through a friend, acquaintance, family or did you get associated with it other way?  4. Are you a fan of Korean pop culture? If yes, why?   5. What role does pop culture play in your daily life?   6. Why did you decide to visit Korea?   7. Have you decided to visit this country based on your previous experience with Korean culture?   8. Did someone from your family, acquaintances or loved ones motivate you to visit this country?   9. Have you noticed any differences in terms of tourism in recent years (number of tourists, new destinations, reasons for their visit)?   10. What do you think could motivate tourists to come to Korea (internal motivation)?   11. Are you familiar with the concept of Korean Wave or Hallyu?   12. Which elements of the Korean wave, according to you, are most popular among tourists and cause their interest in the country?   13. What do you think is the main reason for the popularity of Korean culture among tourists?  14. What attractions or locations would you recommend to the tourists as a native? Would you recommend the most popular sites or sites that are not often listed in the Guides? Why?   15. What is your favorite location in South Korea and why? How did you find this location?   16. Do you think that the Korean Wave will continue to attract people and thus result in their interest in this country?   17. Does Korean Wave affect your everyday life? If yes, how?   18. Do you think that foreigners are interested in Korea mainly thanks to the Korean Wave? Or can you think of other reasons, too?   19. What else could be the source of the country´s popularity?   20. Does tourism affect your everyday life? If yes, how?   21. How much do you think tourism contributes to the overall wealth of the nation?   22. If tourism did not exist, how much poorer would a region or an economy be in terms of wealth and jobs?   23. What are the key tourism industries in Korea? Which do you think supports the most jobs?    24. What do you think is the most popular way of transportation among tourists? How do they get to the country and travel in the country? Which type do you prefer?   25. What type of accommodation do you think is the most popular among tourists and why? Which type do you prefer?   26. What do you think could be the most popular way of eating for foreigners? What way of eating do you prefer?   27. Which restaurants are the most popular among tourists and why? (Korean cuisine, western food, ...)   28. Do you think tourism in South Korea is going to continue growing thanks to the Korean Wave? Or do you think that the phenomenon already had its peak in popularity?   29. Could you think of any negative economic impacts associated with tourism? If yes, what could it be?   30. What would you recommend to the future tourists to not forget at home before their trip to South Korea?   31. How would you characterize Koreans, what are they like?    

Quarantine-free leisure travel between Hong Kong and Singapore will resume on Nov. 22, according to details of a bilateral air travel bubble announced Wednesday.Under the new guidelines, passengers will be allowed to travel between the two locations without the need to isolate on arrival. Instead, they will be required to undergo a Covid-19 test and provide a negative result within 72 hours before departure. All travelers arriving in Hong Kong will also be required to take a Covid-19 test at the airport upon arrival.[wordads]There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship. However, travelers must have no travel history to any place outside of Hong Kong or Singapore within 14 days prior to departure.Arrivals will be subject to local Covid-19 restrictions in the respective markets, such as downloading a contact tracing app and wearing masks. Any travelers who contract the virus will be required to bear their own medical costs.Flights will be initially limited to one per day into each city with a limit of 200 travelers on each flight.If the coronavirus situation does not deteriorate in either city, flights are expected to increase from Dec. 7 to two per day into each city. However, should the weekly average of confirmed cases exceed five per day on either side, the bubble will be suspended for two weeks, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce, Edward Yau, noted.The designated air travel bubble flights will only ferry passengers traveling between Hong Kong and Singapore, and will not include those transiting through either of the cities, the announcement noted.Hong Kong and Singapore first announced plans for a bilateral travel bubble in mid-October as both cities seek to repair some of the damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic on their hard-hit tourism and aviation industries.Without domestic air travel markets, the two Asian business hubs are heavily reliant on international travel. Last year, Hong Kong recorded more than 453,000 visitor arrivals from Singapore, while Singapore received 489,000 visitors from Hong Kong, according to the respective cities’ official statistics.The agreement will fall well short of bringing flights between the two locations to their pre-pandemic average of 18 per day. Still, Singapore’s minister for transport, Ong Ye Kung, hailed the agreement as a “first of its kind,” and said it could go some way in reinstating international travel.“The Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble enables us to achieve two objectives at the same time – open up our borders in a controlled manner, while maintaining safety in our societies,” he said.“While we may be starting small, this is an important step forward. I have no doubt both Singapore and Hong Kong will co-operate fully to make this scheme work. It will be a useful reference for other countries and regions that have controlled the epidemic, and are contemplating opening their borders,” he added.Both Singapore and Hong Kong have been early advocates of introducing travel agreements with other countries considered to be low risk.Singapore, for its part, has unilaterally opened its borders to tourists from select countries including Australia, Brunei, mainland China, Vietnam and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is said to be in talks with 10 countries, including Japan and Thailand, over similar arrangements.As of Nov. 10, Singapore had 58,073 total confirmed coronavirus cases and 28 deaths. Hong Kong had a total of 5,390 confirmed cases and 108 deaths.Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/11/singapore-and-hong-kong-to-start-travel-bubble-flights-on-nov-22.html

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has removed its recommendations for travelers to complete a self-imposed 14-day quarantine period after traveling out of state or the country, according to USA Today.While it no longer recommends that every traveler isolates for two weeks after returning from a trip, it advises following the local recommendations of your state or city upon return. Several states — most famously New York — still require a period of quarantine after returning from a majority of U.S. states.The CDC still points out that you may become exposed to COVID-19 during your travels and that if you were indeed exposed at any point, there is a chance you could spread the disease to those in your family, your friends and the community at large.While the previous CDC recommendations were just that — recommended protocols for anyone choosing to travel — the states that have put travel restrictions in place for residents have set up more systems for monitoring and enforcing the mandatory quarantines.New York City, for example, has set up health checkpoints at major points of entry to the city and more recently has begun requiring anyone who is staying at a hotel or vacation rental property to fill out a health declaration form. It solicits contact information so that the city can more effectively stay in touch with a given person for contact tracing and quarantine enforcement.And, those who violate these requirements are subject to whatever penalties a given locality has decided to impose — in the case of New York City, you could be charged with a Class-B misdemeanor or face fines.Since several states have taken matters into their own hands concerning travel restrictions and their enforcement, not much has changed for travelers with the changing of the CDC’s recommendations for travel. Before you decide to travel anywhere, be sure that you’re aware of the risks of doing so, and do your research on the destination to which you’re traveling so that there are no surprises about restrictions on that destination, whether you’re traveling to or returning from it.Source: https://thepointsguy.com/news/cdc-cancels-14-day-self-quarantine/

South Korea reported two-hundred-66 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Eleventh straight day of triple digit increase.During that period, nearly three thousand in total. Choi Jeong-yoon has our top story. South Korea continues to see a surge in COVID-19 infections,... on Monday reporting 266 new cases. Though it's a decrease from the three-hundred or more seen on each of the last three days,... the daily increase has been in the triple digits for eleven days in a row. During that period, the total number of cases has reached almost 3-thousand."The infections right now are centered on the area near Seoul, but they're spreading nationwide through churches, gatherings, door-to-door sales as well as restaurants, cafes and workplaces." Out of 258 local transmissions on Monday, more than two-hundred were in or near the capital. Seoul on Monday saw 97 cases,... the most of any region. Next highest was Gyeonggi-do Province with 84, while the city of Incheon reported twenty cases.Among the cases in Seoul, about 37 percent had no clear origin. That compares to about 22 percent in the past week... and at some points prior to the surge, almost none. As for when it ends, the investment bank JP Morgan is predicting that this new wave will lead to around 7-thousand new cases,... reaching a peak at the end of this month before subsiding by early November. By the end of the year, that would be a total of around 25-thousand.A former director of KCDC says that's a realistic scenario. "Seven thousand more cases by the end of the year is plausible. After autumn, there could be a sharp rise in the number of people with respiratory infections like cold and flu. That will make quarantine harder because they'll be mixed up with COVID-19 patients." The report said the resurgence of cases is largely due to the easing of social distancing this summer as well as the mass resumption of economic activity. Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.

Dubai state carrier Emirates Airline will serve all of its 143 destinations by the summer of 2021, with the frequency of flights depending on demand, the company’s chief operating officer said this week.Travel was disrupted by widespread lockdowns as countries closed their borders in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus. Emirates currently flies to fewer than 80 destinations, according to its website.But COO Adel al-Redha told CNBC’s “Capital Connection” that the airline will have flights to 143 cities next year. Emirates is one of the biggest long-haul carriers in the world.“We can easily say, by summer (2021), we’ll be serving 100% of our network destinations,” he said.That outlook is optimistic compared to Australia’s flag carrier Qantas. The airline expects only 50% of international operations to return by the middle of 2022, chief executive Alan Joyce said on “Squawk Box Asia.”Only citizens, residents and their immediate family members can travel to Australia at this time, while Dubai opened its doors to tourists in early July.Al-Redha said the relaxation of rules helped the airline, which is “definitely” seeing a positive trend. “If I compare our performance now with a month ago, we have almost doubled the number of passengers we have been carrying on board our aircraft.” He said the airline’s performance in July and August has been “better than what we have expected earlier.”With regard to next year’s network and services, he said: “Obviously the ... frequency of flights per day will depend on the demand and some of the restrictions that we will need to unwind from some airports and some countries. But in terms of the airline network planning, by summer (2021) we’ll be covering 143 destinations.”It is unclear when governments will allow international travel to resume, and the timeline likely depends on the containment of the virus situation and the availability of a vaccine.The International Air Transport Association said global passenger traffic will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.— CNBC’s Saheli Roy Choudhury contributed to this report.Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/20/emirates-says-it-will-serve-100percent-of-its-destinations-by-summer-2021.html

Airbnb plans to file for an IPO in August, according to a Wall Street Journal report. That means we could see a listing sometime this year, though the exact timeline will depend on the Security and Exchange Commission’s review process and how the market looks. Per the Journal, the company has tapped Morgan Stanley to lead the offering, with Goldman Sachs “playing a key role.”The news comes at a time when Airbnb faces high costs and extra hurdles due to COVID-19. The home-sharing giant lost hundreds of millions after the pandemic ground travel to a halt and caused bookings to tank in cities around the world. The company had to issue millions in refunds to hosts whose guests canceled their stays.Airbnb was valued at $18 billion back in April — a significant drop from the $31 billion price tag it garnered during its last fundraising round in 2017. The company raised $1 billion in funding during its April round, with a steep price tag including an interest rate of 10 percent and (reportedly) a verbal commitment to reduce fixed costs and strengthen management. (Still, the extra funds could help the company weather the pandemic.) In May, the company laid off a quarter of its employees and pumped the brakes on plans to expand into TV and transportation.Even before COVID-19 slammed the US, things weren’t looking great. Airbnb racked up a $322 million loss in the first nine months of 2019.Airbnb has rebounded somewhat, however: bookings have begun to increase year over year.Bookings are trending more toward locations within 200 miles of the customers’ homes, indicating that customers have been shifting vacations to domestic stays (unsurprising, given travel restrictions worldwide) and preferring car travel over flights.Airbnb declined to comment for this story.Source: https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/12/21364874/airbnb-public-ipo-2020-date-rumor-coronavirus-covid19-pandemic

Update as of October 23Due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, our company has laid off all employees today.As a result, all day-to-day tour operations will be suspended. Please understand that we can only post basic things until things get better.⛔ Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), HaB Korea team taking the "LEAVE OF ABSENCE" for most of our staff, our responses are taking much longer than usual. All kinds of company operations will be delayed.[wordads]Cancellation and refund also take some time(It could take a couple of months). Please kindly understand this situation. (refer our cancellation policy: https://www.habkorea.net/terms-and-conditions/)😢 We all have suffered from COVID-19 right now, but we will be able to overcome this situation together for sure!Thank you very much for your kind understanding in advance!Stay strong and be safe! 🙆‍♂️🙆

In the Midst of the COVID-19 war, here are some things you have to expect to see and experience when you visit now in South Korea.Everybody is wearing a mask for the prevention of spreading the disease and as well as getting it. So, if you are going to travel do not forget to bring a face mask because according to some, there are long lines to gain access to buy masks. According to news, mask supplies are controlled by the government to avoid hoarding, they only released it at a certain time and location, also with low price so that vendors can't sell it for overprice. Many of the malls and public spaces, including tourist attractions, their entrances have thermal devices or cameras monitored by the staff of that establishments t prevent and help anyone who may be infected. Picture of an empty mall where many people are staying at home avoid contact. So if you are a tourist, it is a great opportunity to go around where there are no overcrowded places. There is an abundant supply of hand sanitizers on different transportations also likes buses, subways, elevators, and more to prevent the spread. In summary, despite of travel ban, South Korea is still in control of it. You just have to be careful and always be clean.