Travel Information News

Travel News

Covid-19: Over 196m cases & 5.1m deaths
China: Shanghai increased covid restrictions
India: Heat wave continues
Sri Lanka: Prime minister resigns
Ukraine: Russian new offensive stalls
Ethiopia: Tigray rebels agree ceasefire
Australia: Elections 21 May
Vietnam: Resumes visa waiver programme
Lebanon: Demonstrations continue
Thailand: Restart Test & go Covid scheme
Kenya: Terrorist threat warning
Sudan: Further anti gov protests expected
Ethiopia: Approaching civil war
Myanmar: Opposition to the Junta grows
 

South & Central America

Some land borders are now open and travel is beginning to open up to Central and South America.  Uruguay remain closed to foreign nationals and all those open have strict entry regulations. All countries have strictly entry criteria whih must be observed.
All countries that are open generally require:

A Negative PCR Test

Proof of double Vaccination

And you need to complete a Health Declaration Form.

If you are planning a trip to South or Central America, do check the weather patterns. For example, it's wet in Bolivia and Peru from January to March but sunny, cold and dry from April to July

South East Asia

South East Asia has amongst the strictest Covid rules in the World but there are signs that some countries are opening up but the regions is currently difficult to visit.

Indian Sub Continent

The Indian sub-continent is beginning to open up for travel. On 15 November 2021, tourists on commercial flights may enter India whilst Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Pakistan are open to tourists & business travellers who meet covid entry requirements. On 14 Feb 22 India will lift it's quarantine requirements and fully vacinnated travellers do not need to do a PCR test.

Entry for business and tourists to the Indian sub-continent is becoming easier although India has the tightest restrictions. A brief summary is below but entry regulations are constantly evolving, so do check national websites and the FCDO travel site.

Travelling in Africa

All travellers planning to go to Africa are strongly advised to check the security and health situation on the UK FCDO Travel Advice site and other sites such as the US State Department, WHO and seek a variety of sources. Much of North and Central Africa is not safe. The UK FCO currently is currently advising 'Against all travel to' or  'Essential travel only' to many Sahal countries (or parts of them) including Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Chad, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Burkina Faso & much of Northern Nigeria, Yemen and Somalia. In February 2022 France announced it was withdrawing its peace keeping from Mali after tension with the government of Mali. The military government in Mali is employing the Russian company Wagner Group to conduct offensive operations against islamist, French forces will be redeployed to Niger along with other UN operations.   The FCDO categorises much of the Sahel as a very high risk of kidnap for UK nationals.  If you plan to work or visit these countries/areas we strongly recommend that a thorough travel risk assesment is made and steps put in place to mitigate the risk. The situation in Sudan is stabilising with the prospect of the military government handing to a power sharing coalition between military and civilian rule. Ethopia remains highly volatile. The cup of African Nations, hosted by Cameroon, started on 10th January 22 and was won by Senegal. Largely due to its young population much of Africa has been less affected by Covid than Europe or the Americas.    

The Middle East

Covid -19 has now affected many countries in the Middle East although Iran is the epicentre with scores of cases and officially 25,000 deaths but the true figure is suspected to be much highter, perhaps close to 40,000. Turkey & Iraq have implemented strict border controls and many flights to Iran across the region have been cancelled. The number of cases in all Middle East countries is begining to stabilise although accuate data is scarse.  Isreal is the world leader with it's vaccination roll out and case numbers have dropped off dramatically. The UAE has also embarked on an impressive programme, whilst other countries are lagging behind. Inevitabely Iran has banned any vaccination with UK or USA association. As at the beginning of May 2021 Turkey has seen a spike in infections although the reporting of the true covid situation is assessed as having been misleading throughout the pandemic. On 22 Aug Iran lifted it's covid restrictions but this coincided with a significant increase in daily covid cases and deaths.

On 10 May 21 conflict once again broke out between Israel and Hamas with rockets fired at Jerusalem from Gaza. After an intensive period of conflict a ceasefire came into effect on 20 May 21.

The killing of the head of Iran's Republican Guards Corps, General Quassim Soliemani by a US drone strike in Baghdad on 3 Jan 20 increase tension between Iran and the USA. The consequences will be felt across Iraq, Lebanon and Iran. Countries across the Middle East face political turmoil following the revolutions in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, and the ongoing conflict in Syria. Libya was slowly recovering post revolution but has come highly unstable due to interfactional fighting and criminal activity, including kidnapping which is on the rise. The UK FCO advises against all travel to Iraq, Libya and Syria. The presence of IS, now very much diminished, is an issue Syria and Iraq. Power plays between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran dominate the agenda in this highly volatile regime. Iran is in the spotlight with growing protests due to economic hardship, the US reimposed sanctions in 2018 which is having a major impact on the economy but meanwhile Iran continues to assert its growing influence in Syria and the Lebanon which in turn is leading to conflict with Israel. Resentment against Iran's involvement in the region is on the rise, in October and November 2019 violent protests have occurred across Iraq and Lebanon against Iran's axis of influence namely the Shia dominated Iraqi government and Hizbollah. This comes at a times when more mass protests have also broken out in Iran following a 50% hike in fuel prices. The scale of the recent Iran unrest is under reported due to an internet black out. Protests in Lebanon have continued into 2020 and the massive explosion of 4 August in Beirut wrecked much of the city and has only increased public anger towards the political elite. In other develpments a peace accord between UAE and Isreal has come into place and even more significant, high level clandestine talks between Isreal and Saudi Arabia took place in November 2020, a sign on an intent to challenge Iran's influence in the region. 

Travel in Times of Covid

There is no doubt about it, travelling abroad takes a bit more time and effort at the moment but with a bit of research and some simple planning it's not too difficult.

The best sources of information are:
•    UK FCDO site. Look at ‘Entry Requirements’ selection for selected country.
•    International Association of Travel Agents.
•    Check with your destination country's own website.
•    Verify App.

Airlines get fined if passengers have incorrect documentation so expect them to be thorough with their pre-flight document checks.

New Online and Remote Business Travel Safety Awareness Training

Remote Business Travel Safety Awareness Training

At Objective Travel Safety, we have now adapted our acclaimed Business Travel Safety Awareness training programme and are delighted to to offer our course online via Skype, Zoom, Webex, Teams or any other video conferencing or webinar platform. 

With our flexible approach to training, the training course is broken down into short sessions at times that suit you and your colleagues working from home. This approach gives companies the flexibility to continue travel safety awareness training remotely, in preparation for returning to work and international travel.

Hostile Environment Safety Training Covid–19 Risk Reduction Measures

Hostile Environment Safety Training Covid–19 Risk Reduction Measures

We’re delighted that our Hostile Environment Safety Training courses are now resuming at Objective Travel Safety and we wanted to let you know the robust plans that we have put in place to keep you safe on our HEST training courses, outlining the measures that we are planning to ensure that the courses run as safely a possible within covid-19 restriction guidelines.

Firstly, we ask everyone attending to complete a health declaration form, but more on that later!

Running the courses is clearly not without risk but the courses are designed to prepare attendees whether journalists, reporters or NGO’s for a range of risks, some equal if not greater than the threat posed by Covid-19.

New open group course for Business Travel Safety Awareness

Objective Announces New Business Travel Safety Awareness Course

Business Travel Safety Awareness Courses provide confidence, knowledge and essential skills needed to stay safe when abroad,  plus delivering duty of care obligations for companies. 

Objective have recently increased their portfolio by launching new open group Business Travel Safety Awareness courses held near Birmingham; ideal for SMEs, educational bodies and companies with a limited number of people needing business travel safety advice.

Mongol Rally Expedition

Are you taking part in the Mongol Rally Expedition 2019?

We understand that it takes extensive planning for such a fantastic, inspiring and memorable adventure and that it is not about having a smooth, uncomplicated ride.  You will definitely be in for an extreme adventure and this is why it is so important to be prepared for every eventuality of this journey.

Myanmar Burma

Myanmar is the most wonderful country to visit and it's a good time to go at the moment due to lack of other tourists.  I had been before, in 1983 when one could only get a visa for six days and it was all rather fraught but exciting. Today Myanmar, in a semi-democratic mode, is a joy to visit and it’s relatively easy but perhaps a little more expensive than its neighbours.  The unrest in the north of Rakhine and the publicity surrounding the exodus of thousands of Rahinga Muslims has had a negative effect on the tourism trade.  Some estimates suggest that tourism may be down by up to 40%. 

Kenya & Zanibar Feb 2018

I have just returned from a short trip to Kenya and Tanzania. The former was returning to Nairobi and visiting the highland area around Nanyuki whilst in Tanzania it was a familiarisation trip to Zanzibar.Below are a few thoughts which we hope will be useful.

Japan - First visit

This was my first visit to Japan, so some first reflections and useful travel safety tips.

Objective takes the risk out of travel

Charlie McGrath discusses the increasing need for travel safety awareness for both business and leisure travellers.

Travel to Iran

Iran is the most wonderful country to visit. Getting there requires a little bit more planning that other destinations but its worth all the effort. The Iranians are perhaps the most friendly people I have come across on my very extensive travels. 

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