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Russia to lift COVID ban on flights to Iran, other countries

Russia is scheduled to lift its COVID-19 ban on flights to Iran and several other countries as of Nov. 9, the government coronavirus task force said on Thursday. Moscow stopped normal commercial flights abroad when the pandemic struck last year, but it has since been gradually relaxing the restrictions, Reuters reported. The restriction will also be eliminated on flights to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, Oman, Tunisia, and Thailand. “The flight bans dealt a heavy blow to Russia’s airlines,” Reuters said. Russian tourists eager to visit Iran Many Russian tourists are eager to travel to Iran, an Iranian travel expert said earlier in May, recounting his Russian counterparts. “Many [potential] Russian travelers are motivated to visit novel and lesser-known destinations such as Iran that could be a safe and attractive destination,” said Mostafa Sarvari who presides over the tourism marketing and advertising office of the Iranian Tour Operators Association. “According to Russian tourism experts, the feedback from Russian tourists who have traveled to Iran has been very positive, and its reflection, especially on social media, has caused a great deal of enthusiasm and interest.” In 2017, President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin inked a visa-free agreement for tourist groups.

Create: Oct 16, 2021 Edit: Oct 16, 2021 International News

Persepolis, a manifestation of great Iranian art, president says

Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday said the UNESCO-registered Persepolis is an epitome of the great Persian art. Persepolis displays the great artistic achievements of Iranians from past millennia, which are still remarkable and admirable after so many centuries, the president said. He made the remarks during his visit to the prestigious site, which was once the ceremonial capital of the mighty Achaemenid Empire (c. 550 – 330 BC). [The ruins of] Persepolis is also conveying a message to oppressors warning them of the fate of those who are cruel to humanity, he added. The royal city of Persepolis ranks among the archaeological sites which have no equivalent, considering its unique architecture, urban planning, construction technology, and art. Persepolis, also known as Takht-e Jamshid, whose magnificent ruins rest at the foot of Kuh-e Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy) is situated 60 kilometers northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars province. The city was burnt by Alexander the Great in 330 BC apparently as revenge to the Persians because it seems the Persian King Xerxes had burnt the Greek City of Athens around 150 years earlier. The city’s immense terrace was begun about 518 BC by Darius the Great, the Achaemenid Empire’s king. On this terrace, successive kings erected a series of architecturally stunning palatial buildings, among them the massive Apadana palace and the Throne Hall (“Hundred-Column Hall”). This 13-ha ensemble of majestic approaches, monumental stairways, throne rooms (Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is classified among the world’s greatest archaeological sites. Persepolis was the seat of the government of the Achaemenid Empire, though it was designed primarily to be a showplace and spectacular center for the receptions and festivals of the kings and their empire. The site is marked by a large terrace with its east side abutting the Kuh-e Rahmat (“Mount of Mercy”). The other three sides are formed by a retaining wall, varying in height with the slope of the ground from 13 to 41 feet (4 to 12 meters); on the west side, a magnificent double stair in two flights of 111 short stone steps leads to the top. On the terrace are the ruins of several colossal buildings, all constructed of a dark gray stone (often polished to a marble-like surface) from the adjacent mountain. According to Britannica, the stone was cut with the utmost precision into blocks of great size, which were laid without mortar; many of them are still in place. Especially striking are the huge columns, 13 of which still stand in the audience hall of Darius I (the Great; reigned 522–486 BC), known as the Apadana, the name given to a similar hall built by Darius at Susa. There are two more columns still standing in the entrance hall of the Gate of Xerxes, and a third has been assembled there from its broken pieces. In 1933 two sets of gold and silver plates recording in the three forms of cuneiform—ancient Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian—the boundaries of the Persian empire were discovered in the foundations of Darius’s hall of audience. Several inscriptions, cut in stone, of Darius I, Xerxes I, and Artaxerxes III indicate to which monarch the various buildings were attributed.

Create: Oct 16, 2021 Edit: Oct 16, 2021 Regional News

UNWTO and Netflix Partner to Rethink Screen Tourism

UNWTO and Netflix have partnered on the publication of a report which looks at the role of film and series as drivers for tourism and cultural affinity. The Global Report on Cultural Affinity and Screen Tourism explores the growing affection one has towards a particular country or culture displayed on the screen. The findings of the research were presented in Madrid against the backdrop of the Iberseries Platino Industria - the largest international event for professionals linked to the audiovisual industry in Spanish and Portuguese. The report’s ultimate goal is to support policymakers and key stakeholders within the tourism sector to implement policies that make their destinations attractive for audio-visual producers. At the same time, it aims to help in the building of focused strategies to promote tourism and consumption of local culture, investing in skills and training to develop the local film and creative sectors to ensure a high level of talent, infrastructure and production capacity and integrating tourism and showcasing culture at film festivals to deepen the global audiences’ knowledge. UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Both tourism and the audiovisual sectors celebrate and promote culture, support jobs and provide opportunities in diverse locations. The joint work of UNWTO and Netflix will help destinations realize the potential benefits of screen tourism. Dean Garfield, Vice-President, Public Policy, Netflix: “As highlighted in this research, we have been able to demonstrate conclusively what we instinctively already believed, which is that alongside the desire to travel and visit destinations, exposure to screen content also leads to greater interest in heritage, culture, language, and developing interpersonal relationships. This truly demonstrates that the creative industries, cultural exchange, storytelling, and tourism are all interlinked and can transform the way communities perceive and connect with each other.” Following the presentation of the Global Report, experts on tourism and the audio-visual industry shared their knowledge and insights into changing trends in screen tourism, its positive impacts on strengthening cultural affinity and the role of online streaming services in promoting tourism and cultural affinity between people, cultures and countries in line with the 2030 Agenda. The event also served to underline how public-private partnerships can support destinations to promote themselves as attractive locations for audio-visual producers.

Create: Oct 11, 2021 Edit: Oct 11, 2021 International News

IHG Hotels & Resorts Opens New Holiday Inn Near Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has opened Holiday Inn Paris – CDG Airport in partnership with the HPVA HOTELS group. Holiday Inn is one of the most recognized hotel brands in the world, offering a warm, welcoming, consistent, and affordable experience at all its hotels worldwide. Holiday Inn Paris – CDG Airport is a 10-minute free shuttle ride from Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport and only a 30-minute train ride to central Paris, making it a great choice for those looking for a warm welcome and a place to rest before or after a flight. The hotel’s 250 modern guest rooms have been designed around the concept of ‘central living’, allowing for a more central space for relaxing and casual working. Some rooms are fitted out with a sofa bed providing guests with a flexible space for watching TV, lounging, or working, whilst also providing families the flexibility to have another sleeping space for children. The hotel’s public shared spaces offer the brand’s stylish ‘Open Lobby’ concept, designed to combine the hotel’s reception area, restaurant, bar, and lounge into one open and cohesive space to provide guests with a place to relax, eat and work. For those travelling for business, Holiday Inn Paris CDG Airport also has a dedicated Business Centre, 705m² of meeting spaces with daylight that can accommodate up to 350 people, and plenty of parking with electric charging stations. Holiday Inn Paris CDG Airport has a Restaurant and Bar with its own terrace and garden space for guests to enjoy. The Restaurant has an all-day dinning menu offering French flavours and focuses on casual sharing plates prepared with local quality produce. For those looking to keep up their fitness regimes, there is a fully equipped gym on the top floor, including a sauna with great views of the airport’s runways. The hotel also has a dedicated Crew Lounge intended to welcome airline crew who are in transit and looking for a quiet and intimate setting to relax. Rooms at Holiday Inn Paris CDG start from €149 per night for bed and breakfast. IHG Rewards members will have access to exclusive member rates and can earn and redeem IHG Rewards points when they book direct at ihg.com. The Holiday Inn brand from IHG Hotels & Resorts has served hundreds of millions of guests worldwide during its nearly 70-year history and is one of the most recognised and trusted travel brands in the world.

Create: Oct 9, 2021 Edit: Oct 9, 2021 International News

Iran ready to restore Syria’s tourism infrastructure damaged by ISIS

Iran is prepared to repair and restore Syrian historical monuments and tourism infrastructure that have been destroyed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the deputy tourism minister Ali-Asghar Shalbafian has announced. He made the remarks during a meeting with the Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammad Samer al-Khalil on Sunday in the Expo 2020 Dubai. “The Iranian restorers can then exchange experiences with Syrian specialists,” the official added. He also emphasized Iran’s readiness to strengthen communication and develop tourism ties between the two countries. Health tourism and medical tourism is one of Iran's most important strengths in the tourism sector, and we welcome Syrian tourists to make use of this opportunity,” he noted. Al-Khalil for his part said that there is an increasing interest among Syrian tourists in visiting Iran, especially its northern coasts, as well as to Iranian holy cities, so the necessary grounds need to be created. The Expo 2020 Dubai opened on Thursday with a lavish ceremony of fireworks, music, and messaging about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future. Iran’s pavilion in the world fair is planned to showcase each Iranian province’s strengths and assets in tourism, cultural heritage, handicrafts, as well as its natural sites, traditional ceremonial practices, and historical significance. Many countries and companies are also looking to the expo - the first major global event open to visitors since the coronavirus pandemic - to boost trade and investment. According to organizers, the Expo, an exhibition of culture, technology, and architecture under the banner “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future”, is expected to be a demonstration of ingenuity, and a place where global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and economic growth can be addressed together. The Persian Gulf state has relaxed most coronavirus limitations but Expo requires face masks to be worn and for visitors over 18 to be vaccinated against, or test negative for, COVID-19. Iran expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 26 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Create: Oct 3, 2021 Edit: Oct 9, 2021 Regional News

Five Ways Tech Builds the Next Stage of Local Authenticity for Hotel

Coming out of the pandemic, guest demands have irreversibly changed. They don’t want cookie-cutter rooms; they want experiences. This harks back to the push over the previous decade to make our properties more ‘locally authentic’. Now, with lean teams and skeleton crews, the only way to effectively meet this demand is through technology.For the post-pandemic travel landscape, local authenticity means more than just a cursory immersion in the arts, culture and heritage of one’s locale. It also equals peace of mind because, in light of the residual anxiety over COVID-19, guests need to feel as though their specific requests are being handled.As a simple leisure scenario, picture yourself going on an international vacation with your loved one for the first time since the virus struck. You have all the new airport procedures to contend with. You’ve been wearing a mask for hours on end, which is inherently uncomfortable. And now you’re in a foreign city and country and don’t know what attractions and stores have reopened or what the local safety guidelines are, on top of a myriad of other questions that would require some digging online. Instead, wouldn’t it be great to know that your host hotel has your back the whole way?In the past, luxury brands have provided this kind of omniscience by deploying an army of staffers, but this model won’t jive in the post-pandemic, hyper-labor-efficient market conditions. Moreover, hotels must be proactive in the pre-arrival stage to ensure incoming guests have everything that they need and to make arrangements on their behalf. This sets the pace for a great onsite experience in lieu of the outdated ‘reactive’ process of waiting for guests to reach out to you with their inquiries. Done right, hotels can utilize integrated platforms and build a versatile CRM to connect the entire guest journey that also offers a clear counterargument to the largely self-serve nature of home-sharing accommodation providers such as Airbnb. Here are five ideas to help you incorporate this newfangled, full-service model. 1. Home-sharing platforms offer a direct, two-way messaging service with the accommodation host, and hotels must do the same. Brands should be using a chatbot to immediately respond to the simpler questions –which represent the majority of inquiries – then bouncing the more complex ones onto your front desk or concierge. Ditto for the voice channel where booking engines are available 24/7 and so too must your intake team be ready at all hours in order to win the business. 2. Speaking of booking engines, these should no longer be only for rooms, particularly if we want to continue to push guests towards our websites from the OTAs. Customers should be able to plan their entire trip itinerary from these portals, starting with dining reservations and spa appointments through to arrival amenities and perhaps a few ‘surprise and delight’ freebies such as their preferred, complimentary welcome refreshment or departure gift. With so much confusion about what’s open and what’s not, being an ambassador means guiding guests through this uncertainty as early in the customer journey as possible. 3. Physically getting to an accommodation booked through a home-sharing platform is mostly a laissez-faire ordeal. So, why can’t hotels offer bespoke, point-to-point guidance on transportation to and from the rail station or airport, as well as recommendations on how to get to the city or region? As a guest’s perception of your arrival experience can depend on the agony of how one arrives at the hotel, why leave this to chance? Besides better integrations to flight trackers so that you know exactly when your guests are expected to arrive, such innovations as autonomous vehicles are just around the corner, which could drastically bring down the costs of shuttle services. Grandiose for now, perhaps a present-day possibility would be a flight tracker integration so that you know when guests are expected to arrive and can be ready with a warm welcome. 4. The future of travel will be more purpose-driven. Namely, with so many anxiety-riddled barriers following COVID-19, guests will want to maximize their time while aboard. Planning a guest’s itinerary or making local recommendations has traditionally fallen under the purview of the concierge, but the time is right for building a ‘pick your own adventure’ program of bundled, turnkey half-day and full-day activities. This will require deeper integrations with third-party operators as well as a rethink of what onsite or offsite services are most meaningful for guests based upon their given travel purpose. For instance, a late-afternoon, post-meeting relaxation package with a whiskey tasting, revitalizing nosh and back massage will have vastly different appeal from a daylong sightseeing tour that includes timed entrances to exclusive local events. 5. The post-stay relationship is where home-sharing hosts are weakest. The platform does the brunt of this, focusing more on exploring new destinations rather than return visits. For hotels, traditionally the last interaction between guest and staff was often a checkout at the front desk where the final bill was confirmed, representing an emotionless, transactional touchpoint. Now with contactless checkout, hotels can transform this into a meaningful ‘thank you’ gesture followed by a series of one-to-one messages based upon what a guest utilized while onsite. With a fully integrated CRM, this messaging can be sentient insofar as knowing when to push for additional sales and when to simply keep past guests up to date on the latest happenings.

Create: Jul 28, 2021 Edit: Jul 28, 2021 Hotel Management

Lisbon airport handling strike spurs cancellation of 200 flights

Two hundred flights were cancelled at Lisbon airport on Saturday at the start of a two-day strike by Groundforce handling company workers, with more cancellations likely before the action ends on Sunday evening, the company that manages Portugal’s airports (ANA) said. A spokesman for the Union of Airport Handling Technicians, which called the strike, told local news agency Lusa that about 100 per cent of workers had taken part in the strike in Lisbon on Saturday, the busiest airport in the country. The strike has had a huge impact on Portuguese flag carrier TAP, which uses Groundforce’s handling services, but it has not affected low-cost airlines. Groundforce workers are demanding that the handling company, which is in serious financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, pay wages without any delay, along with this year’s holiday pay. The strike mainly affects the operation of Lisbon airport, and has little impact on the other nine Portuguese airports, ANA chief executive Thierry Ligonnière said. “We still anticipate difficulties tomorrow and a progressive return to normal on Monday,” Mr Ligonnière told reporters. Groundforce is 50.1 per cent owned by the Portuguese firm Pasogal and 49.9 per cent by the TAP-Air Portugal group, which in turn is 72.5 per cent controlled by the Portuguese state. TAP offered to lend the money necessary for Groundforce to pay the holiday pay to its workers, but the proposal was turned down by the handling company.

Create: Jul 18, 2021 Edit: Jul 18, 2021 International News

Approved Vaccine Inconsistency Could Delay the Restart of International Travel

The restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).The global tourism body, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, has issued its warning following concerns tourists face being turned away at the borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognised and approved COVID-19 vaccines.This comes just days after a number of British holidaymakers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, were rejected entry into Malta despite the drug being chemically identical to the UK-made vaccine.Over the past few weeks reports of holidaymakers facing obstacles to entry have been on the rise, with some even being prevented from boarding their flights to destinations.WTTC believes that once again, the lack of international coordination to agree on a list of approved vaccines, is creating yet another major stumbling block for the restart of international travel.This comes despite most vaccines have secured the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs), such as the UK’s the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Food and Drug Administration in the US, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).Reports of travellers being turned away because they have the ‘wrong’ vaccine batches or ‘unrecognised’ vaccines have fueled concern from consumers, deterring them from booking and thereby damaging the already struggling Travel & Tourism sector.The plea for reciprocal recognition for all vaccines and vaccine batches forms part of WTTC’s four new guidelines which are aimed at safely resuming international mobility and save the millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on this sector, while kick-starting the global economic recovery.Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President WTTC, said: “Reciprocal recognition of all vaccine types and batches is essential if we are to avoid any further unnecessary and damaging delay to restarting international travel.“The failure of countries to agree on a common list of all approved and recognised vaccines is of huge concern to WTTC, as we know every day travel is curbed, more cash-strapped Travel & Tourism businesses face even greater strain, pushing ever more to the brink of bankruptcy.“We can avoid this by having a fully recognised list of all the approved vaccines – and vaccine batches – which should be the key to unlocking international travel, not the door to preventing it.“It will also give holidaymakers and travellers the confidence they need to book trips, flights and cruises, confident in the knowledge that their fully-vaccinated status will be internationally recognised.”WTTC says the restoration of safe international travel can be achieved by following its four guidelines.Through a combination of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, digital health travel passes and the use of health and safety protocols, such as wearing face masks, safe international mobility can resume while at the same time saving millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on the sector and kick-starting the global economic recovery. WTTC’s fundamental guidelines to restore international mobility while safeguarding public health include: Appropriately reduced protocols for vaccinated travellers, including no need for testing or quarantine for those fully vaccinated. Global recognition for international travel of all vaccines authorised for use and deemed safe and effective by the WHO or by the WHO recognised SRAs.A data driven, risk-based and internationally harmonised approach to re-establishing freedom of movement, that is consistent across countries, easy to communicate and clearly understood by travellers.Global adoption of ‘digital health passes’ which enable travellers to easily obtain and verify their vaccination status, negative COVID test result or natural immunity from a previous infection. These must work with existing border control and travel operator systems accepted by all countries. Digital verification of a traveller’s COVID status prior to travel will avoid lengthy and unsafe queues in transport hubs and terminals.Continued implementation of high-quality health and safety standards throughout all areas of the Travel & Tourism sector, including continued adoption of the WTTC’s Safe Travel Protocols and Safe Travel Stamp, with the continued wearing of face masks in crowded and enclosed areas as well as on all forms of public transport. WTTC advocates the full implementation of these proportionate and responsible guidelines for travel during over the next few months, as many travel restrictions begin being eased as major travel markets begin to reopen.This is against the backdrop of a successful vaccination roll out, with a subsequent decrease in deaths, cases, and hospitalisations in many countries. However, variants will continue to be cause of concern as the world struggles to emerge from the effects of the pandemic.

Create: Jul 17, 2021 Edit: Jul 17, 2021 International News

Thon Hotel Brussels Airport to Complete Renovation by End of 2021

Thon Hotel Brussels Airport announces the end of a full renovation of the property by the end of 2021. Located 5 minutes from Brussels National Airport and the NATO headquarters and only 15 minutes from the city centre of Brussels, Thon Hotel Brussels Airport is ideally located for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel is part of the Norwegian hotel chain, Thon Hotels, which recently aligned their brand with the motto “Add colour to your day”. The Thon Hotel Brussels Airport is one of the latest properties that has undergone a change in comfort and style to ensure the best possible stay for the guests. By the end of 2021 the hotel will have completed a full refurbishment. Renovations include a new design for all 100 guest rooms, a marble breakfast buffet with new matching restaurant furniture and a stylish lobby set. All items have been carefully curated by Sissel Berdal Haga Thon, head of design at the Olav Thon Group, and the Norwegian interior architect, Trond Ramsoeskar, who have worked to transform the hotel from an airport hotel to a Thon Hotel full of colour and light. In the trendy bar area, guests can enjoy a new level of entertainment as a pool table and foosball table were put in place. The hotel set up a Grab & Go self-service market replacing the full restaurant service, offering a variety of snacks, meals and drinks at all times. Both guests and external visitors can buy a takeaway meal for their flight, lunch break or take it up to the room. Other facilities that are worth mentioning are the arrival of an air-conditioned exercise gym with Technogym equipment and the complete renovation of the meeting room with all the technical equipment. Next to a change in style and services, the hotel has invested in and improved the security and safety of the building by replacing the fire central and detection units, extinguishers and fire doors and by adding security cameras in and around the building. With these refurbishments, the Thon Hotel Brussels Airport is the perfect place to stay for any trip in the airport business district.

Create: Jul 1, 2021 Edit: Jul 1, 2021 International News

Thon Hotel Brussels Airport to Complete Renovation by End of 2021

Create: Jun 28, 2021 Edit: Jun 28, 2021 International News

The 6th Meeting of the Ministers in Charge of Tourism of the Turkic Council convened in Uzbekistan

The 6th Meeting of the Ministers in Charge of Tourism of the Turkic Council convened on 24 June 2021 in Kokand,Uzbekistan. The meeting was hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, moderated by the Secretary General of the Turkic Council H.E. Baghdad Amreyev and attended by the Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Fuad Nagiyev; Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Aktoty Raimkulova; Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey H.E. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy; Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Kyrgyz Republic H.E.Seyit Rysaliev and Ambassador of Hungary to Uzbekistan H.E.Peter Szanto. Secretary General Baghdad Amreyev briefed the Parties regarding the current state of tourism and developments, as well as the socio-economic implications and reflections of the Covid-19 pandemic in the regional and global level. Informing the Parties on the tourism relations among the Member States, as well as undertakings and activities of the Secretariat, Secretary General expressed that the close collaboration and coordination among the Turkic countries are of utmost importance to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic, as well as attract more tourists to the region in the post-pandemic period. Secretary General of the Turkic Council communicated the new programs and projects namely “Turkic World Tourism Capital”, “Tabarruk Ziyorat” and “Tourism Map of the Turkic World” and underlined the importance of increasing the number of flights between the major cities of the Member and Observer States. The Secretary General also noted that vocational training programs provided in the field of tourism under the umbrella of the Turkic Council created a unique opportunity for the tourism employees in developing their skills, until now more than 1000 employees benefited from these trainings, the Secretariat will further coordinate the efforts for the continuation of the training and capacity building programs. As the outcomes of the Ministerial Meeting, the Ministers agreed to launch “Turkic World Tourism Capital” project in order to promote tourism in the region, in which one of the cities from the Member States will be designated as “Turkic World Tourism Capital” annually. At the end of the Meeting, city of Kokand announced as the first “Turkic World Tourism Capital” until the next Ministerial Meeting on Tourism of the Turkic Council. In this regard, international conferences and various events will be held in Kokand with participation of public sector, civil society, private sector, academia and other relevant actors from the Member States to promote tourism in the city, as well as promote the city in the Member States and the region. Ministers in Charge of Tourism exchanged experience, information and the precautions taken by the Member States for the safe travel of the tourists during the pandemic; discussed the current tourism relations among the Member States and ways to carry forward the cooperation in the sphere of tourism, as well as prospective plans in the post-pandemic period. Ministers agreed to work on the details of the “TabarrukZiyorat” project and expressed their readiness to involve the holy places of the respective countries to the project. Parties agreed to prepare the “Tourism Map of the Turkic World” to list the main historical, cultural and touristic destinations in the Turkic World, which will be the reference project in determining the main touristic destinations in the Member States. Following the Ministerial Meeting, Secretary General held bilateral meetings with the Ministers in Charge of Tourism of the Turkic Council Member States. During the bilateral meetings, Secretary General and Ministers discussed the cooperation opportunities, as well as the future plans and projects in the field of tourism to realize in the bilateral and multilateral level.

Create: Jun 28, 2021 Edit: Jun 28, 2021 International News

IranAir to resumes Pakistan, France flights

Iran’s flag carrier IranAir is set to resume flights to and from Pakistan and France after weeks of suspension imposed to curb the spread of a novel coronavirus variant into the Islamic Republic. The Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAOI) allowed air travel to and from Pakistan and France after dropping the two countries from the red list due to the coronavirus pandemic. CAOI Spokesman Mohammad Hassan Zibakhsh said that flights to and from Islamabad and Paris had been resumed on Tuesday after a two-month suspension, Fars reported on Sunday. “However, Iran will continue to enforce a tough ban on flights to 13 countries where the highly-infectious British variant of the coronavirus has not been fully contained,” Zibakhsh explained. The official said Pakistan and France will remain among the 26 countries which still have a high rate of infection to the virus, adding that flights to those countries will continue with restrictions.

Create: Jun 20, 2021 Edit: Jun 21, 2021 Regional News