Holiday & Travel

After nearly two years of waiting, people are getting back to travel with a vengeance, heading straight for destinations that are further afield and often ignoring the price tag, according to HomeToGo, one of the largest vacation rental companies in the industry. At the same time, people are booking farther ahead, while also seeking out companies with flexible options, such as non-traditional accommodations.

With 2022 on the horizon, now is the perfect time to look for travel inspiration and research new destinations for next year's getaway to paradise. Susith Jayawickrama, Managing Director at Aitken Spence Hotels, shares his eight reasons why Sri Lanka should be at the top of everyone's travel list in 2022:

Jamaica has been downgraded from a Level 3 to a Level 2 designation by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognition of the country’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 effectively. This new classification places the destination in a risk category lower than that of more than 70 percent of countries worldwide.

Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has expressed his delight at this new classification, noting that it will undoubtedly positively affect the number of visitors travelling to the island from the United States during the Winter Tourist Season.

Qatar Airways welcomes the holiday season with a series of festive delights for passengers visiting the Al Safwa First and Al Mourjan Business Class Lounges at Hamad International Airport (HIA) and the airline’s Premium Lounge in Beirut, as well as for travellers to and from destinations in the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and select destinations in Asia and Africa. From 19 to 26 December 2021, customers will experience the warmth of the season with a specially-curated holiday theme throughout their journey.

Carnival Corporation & plc celebrated the official opening of Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal with Shamal Holding following their strategic partnership signed in 2018 to develop the new cruise port as the main hub for cruise tourism in Dubai.

Qatar Airways and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Qatar Airways became the first carrier to make a transaction on the IATA Aviation Carbon Exchange (ACE) using IATA Clearing House (ICH).

The IATA Aviation Carbon Exchange (ACE) is a centralised marketplace where airlines and other aviation stakeholders can trade CO₂ emission reduction units for compliance or voluntary offsetting purposes.

easyJet and easyJet holidays have announced two new routes from Birmingham to Malaga and Palma de Mallorca, which will take off this summer.

Flights to Palma are scheduled to launch from 29 March 2022, with departures 4 times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The Republic’s Presidency reports on the resignation of Minister of Tourism Gustavo Segura as of December 1, following an outstanding opportunity for his professional development in the private sector.

The Governing Council appointed the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) Executive President and Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Alvarado, who has had a noteworthy career in the ICT and worked as the Presidency’s Deputy Minister during the 2011-2014 administration.

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, have announced an additional route to its UK S’22 schedule – Birmingham to Knock – operating twice weekly from Mar ‘22. The opening of this new route reinforces the airline’s commitment to the UK and the rebuilding of the country’s tourism industry, playing a key role in the recovery of local jobs and the economy.

To celebrate this new S’22 route, Ryanair has launched a seat sale with fares available from just £19.99 for travel until the end of Oct ’22.

Qatar Airways is set to further boost its growing network with increased flight frequencies to 18 popular destinations across the globe to meet travel demand during the peak winter holiday season. This increase is part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to provide greater choice and seamless connectivity to passengers as they discover the world, via the airline’s home and hub Hamad International Airport (HIA).

Argentina reopened its borders to fully vaccinated international travellers on November 1 and there's never been a better time to visit. From the thundering Iguazú Falls to the sophisticated airs of Buenos Aires, and the multi-hued landscapes of Salta and Jujuy in the northwest to the imposing glaciers in southern Patagonia, a host of new accommodations and attractions await visitors. 

New domestic flight options allow for seamless travel between the main tourist destinations of Argentina's vast territory.

Some would-be travellers are considering cancelling or delaying trip plans in response to fresh curbs prompted by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, travel agents said on Monday, threatening an already fragile recovery for the global tourism industry.

Southern Africa, where Omicron was discovered, accounts for only a tiny portion of the world's international travel but Israel and Japan have announced border closures to all foreign travellers and Britain and Australia have tightened rules for all arrivals in response to the new variant. read more

Travellers heading to the UK will now have to take a Covid test before their departure in an effort to limit spread of the virus, the government has said. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the tightened requirements would come into force from 04:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Everyone aged 12 and over will be required to take a pre-departure test a maximum of 48 hours before leaving. Currently people only need to self-isolate until they test negative within two days of arriving.

Jamaica minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has welcomed the return of the cruise sector to the Caribbean destination.

The minister said the arrival of Carnival Glory at Montego Bay Cruise Port would allow the island to “cross a major threshold in its tourism recovery”. The conquest-class cruise ship has a maximum capacity of 2,980 passengers and 1,150 crew members. 

The luxury resort of Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic has broken ground on a $90 million building project designed to enhance the facilities and room options at the resort.

Sixty-four new 76 m2 (818 square foot) junior suite & Presidential suite rooms will be equipped with the latest technology and luxurious amenities. The new rooms will be located in 4 two storey buildings and offer breath-taking views overlooking the golf course.

Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort has announced a rich and diverse range of festive activities for the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. From 20 December to 2 January guests have the option of enjoying activities such as lighting of the Christmas tree and carol singing.

They can enjoy theme nights, jazz bands, DJ sessions by the pool, rum tastings, sumptuous dining from around the world, and visits by Santa Claus.