COVID-19 led to most countries around the world closing their borders. However, borders are slowly opening again, and visa can be applied for online as well.
For more than a year now, travelling abroad has been virtually impossible. Here, we outline the current global state of affairs, and explain the consequences for visa applications.
Travel industry hit hard, but hope for the future
The entire travel industry has been hit hard by the consequences of the coronavirus. Due to entry restrictions and negative government travel advices, hardly any distant travel has taken place in the past year. However, the future looks a lot brighter. Vaccination programs are progressing well in many countries around the world, allowing them to ease certain lockdown measures, both for citizens and for incoming travellers. The EU has made it clear that travel between its member states will be possible again this summer, and the UK is in talks to be included in that group. A European holiday is therefore looking very likely this summer.
Current situation in the USA
Vaccination in the USA is going much faster than in most European countries. The Americans have broken vaccination record after vaccination record. The USA leads the world in overall vaccination numbers, having already fully vaccinated close to 45% of its total population Since 19 April, all adults in America have been able to receive a vaccine. This means that even non-US citizens can get vaccinated. In some cities, people can even get a vaccine at the supermarket.
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Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus in European countries, the US government announced a travel ban for all travellers who had been in one of the Schengen countries in the two weeks prior to their arrival in the US. Later, the United Kingdom was added to that list. This travel ban (Schengen Travel Ban) is still in force. This means that it is currently not possible to travel to the USA from the United Kingdom or Ireland, even if you have a valid ESTA or visa travel permit. The ESTA permit, which due to its lower cost is most commonly used by Brits to travel to the USA for a holiday, can still be applied for online for a trip later this year or even next year, since an ESTA is valid for two years total.
However, there is also good news. Recently, it was revealed that the UK and the USA are in talks to allow travel between the two countries in the near future. No concrete dates have been given, but given the timing of the news, it is likely that both countries want to take advantage of the upcoming summer holidays.
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The situation in Asia
In many Asian countries, the situation is more problematic. In India, there has been a huge increase in infections, and hospitals are suffering from severe shortages. Infections are also rapidly rising in other Asian countries, such as Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Sri Lanka was recently even moved from the “Amber” travel list to the “Red” travel list, meaning travelling to Sri Lanka is strongly advised against by the UK government, and returning travellers are subject to strict quarantine measures. This is not expected to change in the near future, meaning a holiday in Asia is quite unlikely this summer.
Despite the rising infection numbers, India recently eased its entry restrictions. Business and medical visa for India are being granted again since a few weeks. Tourist visa, however, are not. Sri Lanka already opened its borders to foreign tourists at the start of 2021. However, the rapid increase in infections prompted the government to quickly close its borders again.
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Down under: New Zealand and Australia
For a more positive view, Australia and New Zealand are almost free of coronavirus, reporting only a few infections each week. Both countries have been placed on the “Green” travel list of the UK government, meaning travelling to those countries does not require a quarantine when returning to the UK.
You can in theory apply for a visa for both Australia (Australia visa) and New Zealand (NZeTA). However, while the British government deems the countries safe, New Zealand and Australia have not yet opened their borders for foreign tourists. This means that a holiday to New Zealand or Australia this summer seems extremely unlikely, unless the governments of both countries suddenly change their minds.
Featured image: Unsplash
Business
Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour
Danny Jones
The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.
If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.
Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.
The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.
If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.
According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.
This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.
While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.
A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”
Featured Images — SonoGrazy (via Wikimedia Commons)
Business
2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity
Danny Jones
Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.
This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.
As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.
Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.
Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie.
Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.
Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.
The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.
This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.
This was a 20% increaseon 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.
With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons.