Solomon Airlines currently has some great domestic holiday special fares and offers advertised on its website with images of beautiful local travel destinations that one would find it very difficult to find anywhere in the world. I hope the promotion has encouraged Solomon Islanders to take up one or more of the 26 or so local holiday packages and get away for a two or three-day break.
In the region travel bubble arrangements between New Zealand and Australia are seeing a slow return to international flights and the Cook Islands have just had talks with New Zealand for a similar travel bubble arrangement.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern met with Cook Island’s Prime Minister, Mark Brown, yesterday when the pair discussed a road map for quarantine-free travel between the two countries.
The New Zealand PM said during the meeting, "There has been significant work with preparedness and we are currently working in earnest towards a May commencement. The Director-General of Health has also advised that beginning vaccination will add to the safe opening of quarantine-free travel."
She added the vaccination campaign (in the Cook Islands) - also planned to begin in May - will pave the way.
In Europe, and particularly in the United Kingdom, the Government is considering a 'rapid testing' and 'three tier' system for summer travel, according to Aimee Robinson writing in today’s Daily Express, Saturday.
Quoting her article, this is what she wrote.
In the latest boost for holidays, it has emerged the UK Government is considering a three-tier system combined with "rapid testing" for travellers. It is speculated that ministers are looking at grouping countries into Covid zones, based on cases, allowing those with vaccine passports or recent tests to fly abroad and return safely.
Under these plans, countries will be grouped into three different categories.
Arrivals from green countries will only be required to take a rapid lateral flow test.
These 15-minute tests would most likely be taken at the airport.
Rapid lateral flow tests would be footed by the passenger.
Arrivals from amber countries might be required to take PCR tests within a certain amount of time prior to travel.
They could also be subject to a period of quarantine, most likely taken at home or a private residence.
However, countries that are on the Government's red list will continue to face similar restrictions to those currently in place.
This would also include quarantine in a Government approved hotel at the expense of the traveler.
Some travel experts have already shown confidence the proposals will help boost travel in time for the July holidays.
Paul Charles, chief executive of The PC Agency travel consultancy, told The Sun: "It is encouraging to see there will be a traffic light system in place to get travel going again on May 17.
"It will be important to give clarity to the consumer and ensure there is enough of a notice period before any destination is switched.
The Government's Global Travel Taskforce is due to resume meetings from April 12 to discuss the safety of international travel and how it can be made a possibility.
The Department of Transport has not denied reports but has emphasized previous comments from Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the importance of resuming international travel.
Despite this, the PM has warned travel "absolutely cannot be at the cost of our vaccine rollout.
He added that ongoing concerns over variants mean we are in an "entirely different position to where we were last summer."
Mr Johnson has urged Britons to "wait and see" what the Taskforce concludes before rushing to make any holiday plans.
Britons are expected to learn more about the possibility of summer travel on April 5, a week before the Taskforce sits.
There are ongoing conversations between the UK and some popular holiday hotspots including Spain, Greece and Portugal about the potential for travel.
The European Union recently made plans to fast track its "digital green pass" for travel which will work a lot like a vaccine passport.
Meanwhile, ministers are also said to be in the process of striking agreements with the US and Israel thanks to the speed of their vaccine rollout.
End of quote.
Sources. Radio New Zealand and the UK’s Daily Express.
Comment
When the vaccine rollout in the Solomon Islands is completed and local conditions thought safe, I wonder whether a three tier system for overseas travel might become a consideration in line with current overseas thinking linked to digital or green travel passports and countries zoned as Covid=19 free?
Meanwhile, I would again remind local readers of the special offers on hand for domestic holiday travel and the exciting destinations awaiting more visitors.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
