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
Manchester Airport releases statement after customer data stolen in ‘targeted’ cyber security attack
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Airport has released a formal statement after data was stolen from 8.7 million customers in a ‘targeted’ cyber security attack yesterday.
Manchester Airport Group (MAG) – which operates Manchester Airport, Stansted, and East Midlands Airport – said the cyber security incident happened at around 1pm yesterday (Thursday 27 August), and that the data seized from 8.7 million customers included email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations, and postcodes.
The data that was stolen related to car park, lounge and Fast Track bookings, and in-airport WiFi sign-ups, MAG stated.
It was initially confirmed that the system the hackers accessed did not hold customers’ bank or payment details, however, and that all other regular airport operations and customer parking continued uninterrupted.
Manchester Airport has now released a formal statement to reassure customers that they are taking the matter ‘extremely seriously’.
The statement reads: “Manchester Airport Group has been subject to a cyber security incident by an unauthorised third party.
“A quantity of customer data has been obtained that relates to car park, lounge and Fast Track bookings and in-airport WIFI sign-ups at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.
“We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisors and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems. We have informed and are working with the relevant authorities, and at no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised.”
MAG insisted that the incident had not resulted in any ‘operational disruption’, adding: “Airport operations remain unaffected and customer parking services continue to operate normally.
“Neither MAG nor the system accessed hold customers’ bank or payment details. The data that has been accessed includes customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes.
“We would like to reassure customers that Manchester Airport Group takes the security of customer information extremely seriously, and we apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused.”
Featured Image – MAG
Business
Workers at major Manchester city centre hotel to strike this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
Workers at one of the most prominent hotels in Manchester city centre are set to strike this bank holiday weekend.
Workers at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and its bar venue The Refuge, who are members of the union Unite, will take 24 hours of strike action on Saturday (29 August) in what is said to be a ‘long-running dispute’ over union busting.
The strike day chosen by the workers is the second day of this year’s Manchester Village Pride, and is historically the most lucrative day of the year for their employer.
This is because Kimpton Clocktower is located very close to the Pride Parade route, and for several years has been a very popular location for people attending the festival, and even runs a number of Pride events itself.
Unite says that for months now, workers at the Kimpton Clocktower – which is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group UK (IHG) – have been asking for formal union recognition to improve conditions after raising several issues with management, but IHG UK has refused this and instead ‘targeted’ the union for its actions.
Workers at a major Manchester city centre hotel are set to strike this bank holiday weekend / Credit: Rebecca Hope Photography (Supplied)
Previous strikes have already taken place this summer, apparently causing ‘financial hits’ to the business in the process – with the bar being forced to close early at several events as there were not enough staff to cover them.
“A strike on Kimpton’s most profitable day is entirely of its own making,” commented Unite regional officer, Alison Treacher. “Throughout this dispute, Kimpton Clocktower management have treated its loyal workforce with contempt and our members have shown they will not stand for it.
“There is still time to avoid this highly disruptive strike action, but that relies on IHG changing tack by listening to its members and giving them the union recognition they have long been calling for.”
This dispute is said to be the first ever hospitality strike in the North West.
Unite is currently running a petition demanding that IHG UK stop targeting union activists, recognise the Kimpton workers rights to have their grievance heard collectively, and support their union recognition campaign.
The Manc -
17th June 2021 
