Royal Caribbean To Require A Negative Covid-19 Test Before All U.S. Sailings 5+ Nights

Royal Caribbean is adding a new requirement for sailings from the United States that will require proof of a negative Covid-19 test result in order to sail.

With increasing Covid-19 case counts around the country, Royal Caribbean has announced the policy change "in an abundance of caution".

All guests over the age of 2 will be required to provide a negative Covid-19 test, regardless of vaccine status, prior to boarding on sailings 5-night or longer.

The new policy is effective for all U.S. sailings between July 31 and August 31.

The test must be administered no more than three days prior to sailing and proof of negative results must be shown at check-in. Either PCR or antigen tests are acceptable.

The results can be printed out, or can be presented on your phone, such as the email result from your test provider. Costs associated with this test are the guests' responsibility.

There are no other changes to requirements and policies previously announced by Royal Caribbean.

Example of the new policy shared on Royal Caribbean's website

In a statement by the cruise line, the change is being done as a precaution, "This is an additional layer of precaution to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. We will continue to monitor public health circumstances as they evolve and make necessary adjustments to our protocols."

Here is a copy of the full statement Royal Caribbean made:

In an abundance of caution, and to ensure that our guests, crew and the communities we visit remain healthy we are requiring all guests over the age of 2, regardless of vaccine status, to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding on sailings 5-night or longer. This new policy is for all sailings in the U.S. from July 31 to August 31. The test must be administered no more than three days prior to sailing and proof of negative results must be shown at check-in.

All other testing requirements and policies are still in place. This is an additional layer of precaution to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. We will continue to monitor public health circumstances as they evolve and make necessary adjustments to our protocols.

Prior to this change, unvaccinated passengers were required to get multiple Covid-19 tests, but not vaccinated passengers.

Unvaccinated passengers were required to get tested at the terminal prior to embarkation and onboard prior to disembarkation.

Royal Caribbean requires negative test results for passengers sailing on Adventure of the Seas from Nassau, Bahamas, but this is the first time since sailings restarted that a test result for all passengers has been implemented in the United States.

For at least cruises on sailings this weekend, there may be a short-term option to get tested near the cruise port.

Guests sailing on Odyssey of the Seas for the July 31st sailing will have an option to show up to the port and get off-site testing completed nearby. It is not clear which other sailings will have this opportunity as well.

The cruise industry is not the only business making changes to ensure the safety of their customers.

Walt Disney World announced this week it would require face masks again for its customers while indoors, and Lollapalooza will require either proof of vaccination or a negative test for the viral infection within the past three days.

Source: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/

Germany Requiring COVID Tests For Unvaccinated Travelers

BERLIN (AP) — Germany will require people entering the country who haven’t been vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 to show a negative test result starting Sunday.

The change approved by the Cabinet on Friday applies to people 12 years old and above. It comes amid increasing concern about infections brought back from summer vacations pushing up Germany’s relatively low case rate. School holidays in some German states will end in about a week.

At present, unvaccinated people traveling by air are required to test negative before they get on a plane to Germany, regardless of where they are coming from. People crossing into Germany by other means of transport will now also have to prove their status. Authorities are expected to conduct spot checks at land borders rather than impose blanket controls.

People arriving from countries listed in Germany’s highest risk category as “virus variant areas” will also have to present a test if they are vaccinated or have recently recovered. That list currently includes Brazil and South Africa but no European countries.

Germany’s disease control center said this week that more than four-fifths of the infections in Germany are still domestic, but there has been an increase in infected people who were probably exposed to the virus abroad -- particularly in Spain and Turkey, two popular vacation destinations.

Germany’s infection rate remains much lower than several other European countries, but it has been creeping higher since hitting a low of 4.9 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents on July 6. On Friday, the figure stood at 16.5 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week.

That is worrying officials at a time when the more contagious delta variant has become dominant in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, while vaccinations have slowed. By Thursday, 51.5% of Germany’s population was fully vaccinated and 61.5% had received at least one vaccine dose.

Authorities are trying to come up with creative ways to whet more skeptical Germans’ appetite for vaccination. On Friday, a vaccination center in the eastern town of Sonnenberg offered a free bratwurst to all comers — which, according to regional public broadcaster MDR, was met with a bigger uptake than usual in the first few hours.

Health Minister Jens Spahn noted that “in general terms, travel is easier with a vaccination — the vaccinated spare themselves testing and, in principle, don’t have to go into quarantine.” He added that “the offer of vaccinations for everyone in the summer stands. We have enough vaccine.”

As well as tweaking the entry rules, the Cabinet decided Friday to simplify Germany’s risk category system. It is cutting the number of categories from three to two — eliminating the lowest tier, for which barely any practical restrictions applied anyway.

Britain Ends Quarantine For Vaccinated Visitors From US, EU

LONDON (AP) — Fully vaccinated travelers from the United States and much of Europe will be able to enter Britain without quarantining starting next week, U.K. officials said Wednesday — a move welcomed by Britain’s ailing travel industry.

The British government said people who have received both doses of a vaccine approved by the FDA in the U.S. or by the European Medicines Agency, which regulates drugs for the European Union and several other countries, will be able to take pre- and post-arrival coronavirus tests instead of self-isolating for 10 days after entering England.

The rule change takes effect at 4 a.m. U.K. time (0300 GMT) on Monday.

The Scottish government, which sets its own health policy, made the same decision. Wales said it would also adopt the change — though its Labour Party-led government said it regretted the Conservative London government’s decision.

“However, as we share an open border with England, it would be ineffective to introduce separate arrangements for Wales,” it said.

Northern Ireland, which is also part of the U.K., hasn’t announced what it plans to do yet.

Only people who have been vaccinated in Britain can currently skip 10 days of quarantine when arriving from most of Europe or North America.

There is one exception to the rule change: France, which the U.K. has dubbed a higher risk because of the presence of the beta variant. Visitors from France will continue to face quarantine.

Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye said the government had made the “right decision.” British Airways also welcomed the move, but urged the government to go further and ease restrictions on visitors from more countries.

Claire Walker, co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the announcement was “welcome news.”

“The long-term recovery of our entire economy also depends on reopening the U.K. to the two-way flows of people and trade,” she said.

The change hasn’t been universally reciprocated. Some European countries, including Italy, require British visitors to quarantine upon arrival. The U.S. this week also announced it is keeping a ban on most international visitors, and has advised Americans against traveling to the U.K., citing a surge in infections driven by the more contagious delta variant.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss urged the U.S. to end its travel ban and for the U.K. to go further in opening up international travel. Weiss said “a continued overly cautious approach towards international travel will further impact economic recovery and the 500,000 U.K. jobs that are at stake.”

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he expected the U.S. to ease its travel restrictions.

“We can only set the rules at our end,” he said. “We can’t change that on the other side, but we do expect that in time they will release that executive order, which was actually signed by the previous president, and bans inward travel.”

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With Virus Surge, US To Keep Travel Restrictions For Now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States served notice Monday that it will keep existing COVID-19 restrictions on international travel in place for now due to concerns about the surging infection rate because of the delta variant.

It was the latest sign that the White House is having to recalibrate its thinking around the coronavirus pandemic as the more infectious variant surges across the U.S. and a substantial chunk of the population resists vaccination.

It was also a reversal from the sentiment President Joe Biden voiced earlier this month when he said his administration was “in the process” of considering how soon the U.S. could lift the ban on European travel bound for the U.S. after the issue was raised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the White House.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the restrictions would continue for now.

“Driven by the delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated, and appears likely to continue in the weeks ahead,” she said.

The rising cases also are causing the administration to take a closer look at policies on wearing masks.

On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs became the first first major federal agency to require its health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines. And over the weekend, U.S. health officials acknowledged they’re considering changing the federal government’s recommendations on wearing masks.

The delta variant is a mutated coronavirus that spreads more easily than other versions. It was first detected in India but now has been identified around the world. Last week, U.S. health officials said the variant accounts for an estimated 83% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, and noted a 32% increase in COVID hospitalizations from the previous week.

The rise in cases has prompted some state and local officials to reinstate masking guidance, even for vaccinated Americans.

The White House follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance released in May, which states those who are unvaccinated don’t have to wear masks indoors. They’ve thus far made no changes to Biden’s public events, and the president is still traveling the country and participating in events unmasked.

But Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said on CNN’s State of the Union this Sunday that recommending that the vaccinated wear masks is “under active consideration” by the government’s leading public health officials.

“We’re going in the wrong direction,” Fauci said, describing himself as “very frustrated.”

The surge in the delta variant poses a major political challenge for Biden, who called it a “great day” for Americans when the CDC released its relaxed masking guidance in May and on July 4 declared that “the virus is on the run and America is coming back.” He’s spent the past few months shifting his focus from dire warnings to Americans to get vaccinated to public events pitching his infrastructure, education and jobs proposals, which are currently in the middle of fevered negotiations on Capitol Hill.

The administration has touted strong economic growth as fears about the pandemic waned, states relaxed their coronavirus restrictions and their economies opened back up. But the surging delta variant risks undermining that economic progress and drawing Biden’s attention away from his domestic agenda and Democratic Party priorities like gun, voting and policing reforms, back to the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

It could also highlight one of the administration’s greatest struggles thus far: The sluggish vaccination rate nationwide. As of Sunday, 69% of American adults had received one vaccination shot, according to the CDC — still slightly below the 70% goal Biden had set for July 4. Sixty percent of Americans have been fully vaccinated.

When asked Monday if he had confidence he could get unvaccinated Americans to get the shot, Biden said, “we have to,” but ignored a follow-up question on how. And prior to the VA’s announcement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki skirted questions from reporters on why the administration hadn’t yet issued its own vaccination mandates for healthcare workers, deferring to the CDC for guidance and hospitals and healthcare associations on the ultimate decision.

Psaki acknowledged that the administration runs the risk of undermining its vaccination goals by further politicizing an already fraught issue if the president becomes the face of vaccine mandates.

“The president certainly recognizes that he is not always the right voice to every community about the benefits of getting vaccinated, which is why we have invested as much as we have in local voices and empowering local trusted voices,” she said.

Still, it’s clear the administration is taking steps to address the continued impact of the pandemic.

Biden announced Monday that those Americans dealing with so-called “long COVID” — sometimes debilitating side effects caused by the illness that last for months after the initial infection — would have access to disability protections under federal law.

“These conditions can sometimes, sometimes, rise to the level of a disability,” he said, adding they’d have accommodations in schools and workplaces “so they can live their lives in dignity and get the support they need.”

And the CDC advised Americans against travel to the United Kingdom this past Monday given a surge in cases there.

Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the United Kingdom still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the U.S. Airlines say, however, that the lack of two-way travel is limiting the number of flights they can offer and seats they can sell.

But the rise and prevalence of COVID-19 variants in Europe, especially the delta mutation, has caused the Biden administration to tread slowly about increasing transatlantic travel.

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE and AAMER MADHANI

Israeli Airlines Launch First Direct Flights To Morocco

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two Israeli airlines launched their first commercial flights between Israel and Morocco on Sunday, less than a year after the countries officially normalized relations.

Israir’s flight departed Tel Aviv for Marrakech with around 100 Israeli tourists, the company said, hours before Israeli national carrier El Al dispatched its first direct flight to the same destination.

Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said the new direct flights would “help advance fruitful tourism, trade and economic cooperation and diplomatic agreements between the two countries.”

Israel and Morocco agreed to normalize relations in late 2020 as part of the U.S.-brokered “Abraham Accords.” Morocco was among four Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

As part of the deal, the United States agreed to recognize Morocco’s claim to the long-disputed Western Sahara region, however the Biden administration said it will review this decision. Morocco’s 1975 annexation of Western Sahara is not recognized by the United Nations.

Many Israeli Jews have lineage that traces back to Morocco, which is still home to a small Jewish community of several thousand.

El Al said in a statement before the departure of its first flight that the company plans to operate five flights per week between Israel and Morocco.

“We hope that now many can know Morocco better, to experience and be excited by this special country that is deeply rooted in Israeli heritage, culture and experience,” said El Al CEO Avigal Sorek.

After the first flight arrived in Marrakech, the director of the Moroccan national tourism office, Adil Fakir, called it “a crowning moment of the important decision taken by Morocco to resume relations between the two countries.”

The head of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat, David Govrin, said it would “strengthen the existing ties between our two people.” The head of the Jewish community in the Marrakech-Safi region, Jacky Kadoch, also welcomed the development.

Travelore News: Fires Ravage Italian Island Of Sardinia, Forcing Evacuations

MILAN (AP) — Fires raged Sunday on Italy’s Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where nearly 400 people were evacuated overnight. No deaths or injuries have been reported.

Firefighters said several homes were damaged in the island’s western interior region. Civil protection authorities said a preliminary survey indicates 10,000 acres have been consumed by flames around Montiferru, near the center of the Italy’s second-largest island.

Authorities evacuated 200 people from the town of Cuglieri overnight and another 155 from Sennariolo, where flames, according to the mayor, still had not reached residential areas. More than half of those evacuated in Cuglieri were allowed to return home Sunday, the news agency ANSA reported.

Eleven aircraft were working to put out the flames, the head of the island’s civil protection agency, Antonio Belloi, told ANSA.

Efforts were being hampered by hot southwesterly winds, putting the fire danger level at “extreme.”

Federal Court Lifts CDC Rules For Florida-Based Cruise Ships

MIAMI (AP) — Pandemic restrictions on Florida-based cruise ships are no longer in place under a ruling Friday by a federal appeals court, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seek to fight a Florida lawsuit challenging the regulations.

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had temporarily blocked a previous ruling last Saturday that sided with Florida officials, but the court reversed that decision on Friday, explaining that the CDC failed to demonstrate an entitlement to a stay pending appeal.

Last weekend’s temporary stay had kept the CDC regulations regarding Florida-based cruise ships in place while the CDC appeals the June decision by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday. Those regulations can no longer be enforced but can still be used as guidelines.

The lawsuit, championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, claims that the CDC’s multiple-step process to allow cruising from Florida is overly burdensome, harming both a multibillion-dollar industry that provides some 159,000 jobs and revenue collected by the state.

In court filings, attorneys for Florida had urged the 11th Circuit to reject the CDC request to keep its rules intact.

“The equities overwhelmingly favor allowing the cruise industry to enjoy its first summer season in two years while this Court sorts out the CDC’s contentions on appeal,” Florida’s lawyers argued.

The CDC, however, said keeping the rules in place would prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks on ships that are vulnerable to the spread of the virus because of their close quarters and frequent stops at foreign ports.

“The undisputed evidence shows that unregulated cruise ship operations would exacerbate the spread of COVID-19, and that the harm to the public that would result from such operations cannot be undone,” the CDC said in a court filing.

The CDC first flatly halted cruise ships from sailing in March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which had affected passengers and crew on numerous ships.

Then the CDC on Oct. 30 of last year imposed a four-phase conditional framework it said would allow the industry to gradually resume operations if certain thresholds were met. Those included virus mitigation procedures and a simulated cruise to test them before embarking regular passengers.

Merryday’s decision concluded that the CDC can’t enforce those rules for Florida-based ships and that they should merely be considered nonbinding recommendations or guidelines. Several cruise lines have begun preliminary cruises under those guidelines, which the Tampa judge agreed with Florida are too onerous.

“Florida persuasively claims that the conditional sailing order will shut down most cruises through the summer and perhaps much longer,” the judge wrote in June, adding that Florida “faces an increasingly threatening and imminent prospect that the cruise industry will depart the state.”

Disney Cruise Lines held its first simulated sailing under CDC rules last Saturday when the Disney Dream departed from Port Canaveral, Florida. The passengers were volunteer Disney employees.

Oceania Cruises Debuts New 2022 Europe And Tahiti Cruises

Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, introduced 16 new Europe and Tahiti voyages for early 2022 aboard the better-than-new and more beautiful than ever Regatta and Nautica.

When Nautica debuts on April 1st, the ship will have just emerged from an extensive period in drydock and similarly, Regatta returns to service fresh from her recent Re-inspiration. The debut of Nautica and re-start of Regatta heralds the completion of the $100+ million OceaniaNEXT "better-than-new" rebuild of the brand's four 684-guest Regatta Class ships and the brand's full return to service with all six ships sailing the globe once again.

Nautica's April through June 2022 Europe voyages range in length from 10 to 24 days and call on the most iconic destinations in the region, such as the French and Italian Rivieras, the Greek Isles, the Holy Lands, and the Canary Islands. Regatta reprises her perennially popular Tahiti itineraries with the addition of three new 10-day roundtrip Papeete cruises in February 2022. These new sailings will be available online at OceaniaCruises.com and open for reservations on July 28, 2021.

"With such extraordinary demand for travel in 2022, we are pleased to be able to offer our discerning travelers these additional travel options in these most sought-after destinations," stated Bob Binder, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises. "With record-setting demand for international travel in the coming year, we are committed to providing our guests with more destination options and our travel advisor partners with even more sales opportunities," added Binder.

Iconic Gems and Hidden Jewels of Europe

These sailings capture the true essence of European travel by showcasing the continent's most iconic treasures, such as Rome, Lisbon, and Athens and blending them with delightful off-the-beaten-path discoveries, like Palamos, Gythion, and Trapani.

Allure of the Rivieras, 10 Days, Rome to Barcelona Nautica: April 1, 2022 Sorrento/Capri, Taormina, Valletta, Florence/Pisa, Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Provence, Palamos

Canary Islands Mystique, 12 Days, Barcelona to Lisbon Nautica: April 11, 2022 Alicante, Granada, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Tangier, Portimão, Lisbon (overnight)

Spanish Enchantment, 12 Days, Lisbon to Rome Nautica: April 23, 2022 Seville (overnight), Gibraltar, Málaga, Cartagena, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Provence, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa

The Adriatic & Italy, 10 Days, Rome to Venice Nautica: May 5, 2022 Amalfi/Positano, Messina, Valletta, Katakolon, Corfu, Split, Koper, Venice (overnight)

Adriatic & Aegean Gems, 12 Days, Venice to Istanbul Nautica: May 15, 2022 Ravenna, Split, Kotor, Santorini, Athens, Paros, Rhodes, Ephesus, Pergamum, Istanbul (overnight)

Greek & Turkish Icons, 10 days, Istanbul to Athens Nautica: May 27, 2022 Mitilini, Ephesus, Bodrum, Antalya, Limassol, Rhodes, Agios Nikolaos, Santorini, Mykonos

Marvels of Greece & Italy, 10 days, Athens to Rome Nautica: June 6, 2022 Ephesus, Gythion, Corfu, Split, Venice (overnight), Taormina, Sorrento/Capri

Legendary Holy Lands, 14 days, Rome to Istanbul Nautica: June 16, 2022 Naples/Pompeii, Trapani, Valletta, Agios Nikolaos, Jerusalem (Ashdod), Jerusalem (Haifa – overnight), Limassol, Rhodes, Izmir, Istanbul (overnight)

Grand Voyages for Extended Explorations

These longer cruises are perfect for the insatiable traveler as they offer the luxury of time. Spotlighting one region at length or highlighting multiple distinct regions, these Grand Voyages are the ultimate in destination exploration.

Western Europe Array, 22 Days, Rome to Lisbon Nautica: April 1, 2022 Sorrento/Capri, Taormina, Valletta, Florence/Pisa, Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Provence, Palamos, Barcelona, Alicante, Granada, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Tangier, Portimão, Lisbon (overnight)

Timeless Mediterranean, 24 Days, Barcelona to Rome Nautica: April 11, 2022 Alicante, Granada, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Tangier, Portimão, Lisbon (overnight), Seville (overnight), Gibraltar, Málaga, Cartagena, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Provence, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa

Southern Europe Escapade, 22 Days, Lisbon to Venice Nautica: April 23, 2022 Seville (overnight), Gibraltar, Málaga, Cartagena, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Provence, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Amalfi/Positano, Messina, Valletta, Katakolon, Corfu, Split, Koper, Venice (overnight)

Mediterranean Medley, 22 Days, Rome to Istanbul Nautica: May 5, 2022 Amalfi/Positano, Messina, Valletta, Katakolon, Corfu, Split, Koper, Venice (overnight), Ravenna, Split, Kotor, Santorini, Athens, Paros, Rhodes, Ephesus, Pergamum, Istanbul (overnight)

European Antiquities, 24 Days, Athens to Istanbul Nautica: June 6, 2022 Ephesus, Gythion, Corfu, Split, Venice (overnight), Taormina, Sorrento/Capri, Rome, Naples/Pompeii, Trapani, Valletta, Agios Nikolaos, Jerusalem (Ashdod), Jerusalem (Haifa – overnight), Limassol, Rhodes, Izmir, Istanbul (overnight)

The Magical Allure of Polynesia A true journey for the senses, this 10-day escape to the islands of French Polynesia features warm breezes, fragrant flowers, delicious local foods, tropical adventures, and gorgeous panoramas with each stunning sunrise or sunset promising another fulfilling day in paradise.

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About Regatta and Nautica

More beautiful than ever, Regatta and Nautica have become better-than-new ships in a Re-inspiration without peer. Every surface of every suite and stateroom is entirely new, while in the public spaces, a refreshed color palette of soft sea and sky tones surrounds a tasteful renewal of fabrics, furnishings and lighting fixtures that exquisitely encompasses the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises. Tuscan marble, engaging works of art and designer residential furniture adorn the re-inspired spaces. From the bejeweled new chandeliers in the gracious Grand Dining Room to the beckoning Reception Hall, each ship celebrates a rejuvenation so sweeping that Regatta and Nautica are simply in a class of their own.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven small, luxurious ships carry no more than 1,250 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 450 marquee and boutique ports across Europe, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New England-Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific in addition to the epic 180-day Around the World Voyages. The brand has an additional 1,200-guest Allura Class ship on order for delivery in 2025.

With headquarters in Miami, Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

UK Border Officers To Stop Routine COVID Checks

LONDON (AP) — U.K. border officers have been directed to stop routinely checking whether travelers from many countries have tested negative for COVID-19, British media reported Wednesday, citing leaked government documents.

While the change is designed to reduce waiting times for airport immigration checks, it has raised concerns about importing new coronavirus cases at a time when infection rates in Britain are soaring, the Guardian newspaper reported.

The new policy applies to people arriving from so-called green and amber list countries, the top two levels of the government’s three-tier traffic light system for foreign travel. Everyone entering Britain is still legally required to fill out a passenger locator form and have a negative COVID-19 test even if border officials don’t routinely check their documentation.

The changes come after the government relaxed quarantine rules for amber-list countries, including most of Europe, triggering warnings that holiday travelers might face hours-long lines for airport immigration checks.

Beginning this week, fully vaccinated people traveling from most amber-list countries are no longer required to self-isolate after they arrive in Britain. Travelers arriving from France still have to self-isolate, even though it is an amber destination, because of concern about virus variants circulating there. Anyone traveling from a red list country must quarantine at a government-approved hotel at their own expense.

The government declined to comment on the leak, but stressed that airlines are still required to check coronavirus documentation before passengers board aircraft, the Guardian reported.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer for the union that represents border, immigration and customs workers, said Border Force staff have also been told not to challenge COVID documentation.

“Certainly it will reduce queue times significantly and hopefully also the level of verbal abuse to which Border Force staff are subject,” Moreton told the BBC. “That is welcome to us. The impact on the U.K.’s COVID security is ultimately a scientific determination.”

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Re-Opening Of The Görlitz Synagogue As Culture Center In The State Of Saxony, Germany

After years of extensive renovation, Görlitz in the eastern state of Saxony has now reopened its synagogue as a nationally and internationally recognized cultural monument for visitors and events: Cultural Forum Görlitz Synagogue.

Anyone visiting the synagogue in Görlitz will undoubtedly be overwhelmed by its architectural beauty and the fascinating play of colors in the dome hall. A gold-plated scale pattern and majestic-looking lions adorn the ceiling. Precious materials in fine workmanship emphasize the east wall with the Torah shrine.

Consecrated in 1911, it is a miracle that the Jewish sacred building is still preserved. During the pogrom night on November 9, 1938, the imposing building was set on fire, but the fire brigade put out the flames and saved the building. Completed in the style of reform architecture is one of the few synagogues in Germany that survived National Socialism and the Kristallnacht. It is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm and there are audio guides in English for five Euros. The Synagogue is the most visible evidence of Jewish history in Görlitz. Those interested can also explore other locations, for example the Jewish Cemetery or the Old Synagogue, now a house of literature. The Jewish inhabitants of Görlitz were an important and influential part of the citizenry, and many of their houses and town villas are still preserved today.There is more information to Jewish life in Görlitz to be found here.

During the GDR era, the orphaned building was used as a warehouse for theater sets but it was not really sustained and increasingly deteriorated. Rescue and securing of the building began after 1990. It was gradually renovated at a cost of millions. In the meantime, the nationally significant cultural monument shines in new splendor. The Torah shrine, the most sacred place in a Jewish house of God, is open at a central point where the Torah scrolls were previously kept.

The Dresden architects responsible for the synagogue’s design, William Lossow and Max Hans Kühne, also designed the main train station in Leipzig. They used modern technologies, including the flat reinforced concrete dome, that arches over the main room with a span of 16 meters. Above it the steel skeleton construction rises 33 meters with a high tower. The builders wanted to confidently show that Judaism has found its place in society.

After 1945, a Jewish community no longer formed at the synagogue. The monument has been owned by the city of Görlitz since 1963. As today's cultural forum, the synagogue can be used in very different ways: for education, concerts, lectures, festive events and conferences. The house is also open for individual visits with a multimedia guide. A prayer room in the former weekday synagogue is available for devotions and services.

Perhaps one of Germany’s most charming towns and once a major place of commerce, Görlitz is a center of Lusatian and Silesian culture, and it will be 950 years old in 2021. Its Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco buildings, cobble-stoned streets, red roofs and old churches and the synagogue are a tribute to the city’s beauty and culture. Many have to come admire this hidden jewel in eastern Saxony, including movie directors and producers. Some have nicknamed the city, “Goerli-wood” as movies, such as Grand Hotel Budapest, The Book Thief, Inglourious Basterds, Around the World in 80 Days and The Reader among others have been filmed in the city. Special tours follow in the footsteps of famous actors and directors. Information about tourism in Görlitz can be found at https://www.goerlitz.de/Tourismus.html

Travelore Breaking News: Canada To Let Vaccinated US Citizens Enter Country On Aug. 9

TORONTO (AP) — Canada announced Monday it will begin letting fully vaccinated U.S. citizens into Canada on Aug. 9, and those from the rest of the world on Sept. 7. Officials said the 14-day quarantine requirement will be waived as of Aug. 9 for eligible travelers who are currently residing in the United States and have received a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who said he spoke with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday, said the U.S. has not yet indicated any plan to change current restrictions at the land border. Canadians are able to fly into the United States with a negative COVID-19 test.

Asked in Washington if the U.S. would reciprocate, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “We are continuing to review our travel restrictions. Any decisions about resuming travel will be guided by our public health and medical experts. ... I wouldn’t look at it through a reciprocal intention.”

U.S. Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins, whose district includes Buffalo and Niagara Falls, said the U.S. has “neglected to give reopening the northern border the serious attention it deserves, and there is no excuse.”

Canadian officials also announced that children who aren’t vaccinated but are travelling with vaccinated parents won’t have to quarantine, but will have to avoid group activities including schools and daycare centers.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also said a ban on direct flights from India will be extended to Aug. 21 because of the delta variant. “The situation in India is still very serious,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that Canada could start allowing fully vaccinated Americans into the country as of mid-August for nonessential travel and should be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September.

Canada leads G20 countries in vaccination rates, with approximately 80% of eligible Canadians vaccinated with their first dose and over 50% of those eligible fully vaccinated.

“This weekend, we even passed the U,S. in terms of fully vaccinated people,” Trudeau said. “Thanks to the rising vaccination rates and declining COVID-19 cases, we are able to move forward with adjusted border measures.”

Reopening to the U.S first is a “recognition of our unique bond, especially between border communities,” Trudeau said.

In the early days of the pandemic, the U.S. and Canadian governments closed the more than 5,500-mile (8,800-kilometer) border to nonessential traffic. With increasing vaccination rates and dropping infection rates, some were annoyed the two governments hadn’t laid out plans to fully reopen the border.

Canada began easing its restrictions earlier this month, allowing fully vaccinated Canadians or permanent legal residents to return Canada without quarantining. But among the requirements are a negative test for the virus before returning, and another once they get back.

Pressure has been mounting on Canada to continue to ease the restrictions at the border, which have been in effect since March 2020. Providing exemptions for travel into Canada amid the pandemic is politically sensitive and Trudeau is expected to call a federal election next month.

Canadian officials have said they would like 75% of eligible Canadian residents to be fully vaccinated before loosening border restrictions for tourists and business travelers. The Canadian government expects to have enough vaccine delivered for 80% of eligible Canadians to be fully vaccinated by the end of July. The U.S. only allowed for exports of vaccines into Canada in early May.

Commercial traffic has gone back and forth normally between the two countries since the start of the pandemic.

The U.S. Travel Association estimates that each month the border is closed costs $1.5 billion. Canadian officials say Canada had about 22 million foreign visitors in 2019 — about 15 million of them from the United States.

Eiffel Tower reopens; COVID Passes Required As Of July 21st.

PARIS (AP) — With “Welcome” messages in multiple languages, the Eiffel Tower greeted tourists Friday for the first time in nearly nine months, reopening to the public even as France introduces new virus rules aimed at taming the fast-spreading delta variant.

Smiles were broad and emotions palpable as the first masked visitors mounted the elevators heading to the top of the Paris monument.

“It’s such a lovely place and wonderful people...and now the wonderful Tour Eiffel,” German tourist Ila Mires said, using the French name for the tower. She came with her 19-year-old daughter before the young woman leaves for studies in Amsterdam. Seeing the tower on their last day together in Paris “is such a gift to mother and daughter,” Mires said.

The “Iron Lady” of Paris was ordered shut in October as France battled its second virus surge of the pandemic, and remained shut for renovations even after other French tourist draws reopened last month.

The tower’s reopening came four days after President Emmanuel Macron announced new measures aimed at warding off a fourth surge, including mandatory vaccinations for health workers and mandatory COVID-19 passes to enter restaurants and tourist and other venues.

Starting Wednesday, all visitors to the Eiffel Tower over age 18 will need to show a pass proving they’ve been fully vaccinated, had a negative virus test or recently recovered from COVID-19.

Masks are required, and the number of daily visitors to the tower will be limited to about half the pre-pandemic norm of 25,000.

The rules didn’t seem to scare crowds away on Friday, July 16th.

“Bienvenue - Welcome - Wilkommen - Bienvenido” flashed on a screen as families, couples and groups lined up or posed for photos beneath the tower.

“We worked, we worked, we worked (for this day). And when I saw my first visitor, I was very, very happy. Emotion and happiness,” Eiffel Tower director Patrick Branco Ruivo told reporters.

“Before COVID, it was 80% foreigners, 20% French. Last year, it was 80% French, 20% foreigners. And this year, it’s amazing because it’s fifty-fifty. And for us, it’s the time that foreigners are coming back to the Eiffel Tower,” he said.

France has opened to international tourists this summer, but the rules vary depending on which country they are coming from. While visitors are trickling back to Paris, their numbers have been far from normal levels, given continued border restrictions and virus risks.

Looking over the elegant French capital, Philippe Duval of Bordeaux and his family admired the view.

“It’s an event we didn’t want to miss,” said Duval, who was among the first to make it to the tower’s top-floor viewing deck. “To be on top of the world’s most beautiful city, what else can you ask for.”

Travelore News: Portugal Flights Disrupted In Second Day Of Airports Strike

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A strike by airport baggage handlers and ground crews in Portugal was expected to cause a second day of disruption Sunday, with most flights into and out of Lisbon canceled.

The 48-hour walkout forced the cancellation of around 300 flights on Saturday, mostly in Lisbon. Long lines formed as stranded passengers sought to rearrange their travel plans.

A similar number of flights could be affected Sunday.

The strike is part of an ongoing financial dispute between Portuguese handling company Groundforce and national flag carrier TAP Air Portugal, which is bearing the brunt of the cancellations.

Groundforce claims TAP owes it 12 million euros ($14 million) for services rendered and blames the debt for unpaid wages among its staff.

TAP denies it owes Groundforce any money.

Ireland Opening For Travel From The U.S. July 19th.

Tourism Ireland is pleased to confirm that from July 19th Ireland will be welcoming visitors from the US and for those who are fully vaccinated no travel-related testing or quarantine will be necessary.

The protocols for those who do not have valid proof of vaccination will mean those visitors need to:

Present evidence of a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to arrival into Ireland.

Self-quarantine.

Undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the Health Service Executive in Ireland.

Ireland will be applying an ‘emergency brake’ mechanism that will be coordinated at EU level to react swiftly to the emergence of a variant of concern or variant of interest. In the event that this ‘emergency brake’ mechanism is applied to US visitors the requirements will change and more detail can be found on the Irish Government website.

Before arriving into Ireland, US visitors will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form The form will be checked prior to departure to Ireland by the relevant air carrier and visitors may be asked to provide the vaccination certificate indicated on their form. On arrival in Ireland, spot checks will be carried out on proof of vaccinations and negative RT-PCR tests as appropriate. Unfortunately, the introduction of these additional checks may cause some disruption to journeys and visitors may experience delays so visitors should give themselves extra time either side of departure and arrival.

From July 19th, children between the ages of 12 and 17, must have a negative RT-PCR test to travel into Ireland, even with fully vaccinated or recovered adults. Children under 12 do not need to take a RT-PCR test prior to travelling to Ireland. For any further changes please check the Irish Government website for the latest information.

It is important to note that only those fully vaccinated or with proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 6 months will be able to avail of indoor hospitality during their stay in Ireland. It is anticipated that this will apply from July 26th. Those staying in hotels can avail of the indoor hospitality options within the hotel.

Northern Ireland is operating a system of green, red and amber countries and the measures in place will depend on the countries the visitor is travelling from or passing through. The US and Canada are both currently on the amber list of countries which means that if visitors are travelling to Northern Ireland, either directly or via another country including Ireland, they must:

Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to three days before departure.

Book post-arrival testing.

Complete a UK passenger locator form either on arrival, or in the 48 hours before arrival. Self-isolate for 10 days. You can find further details on the Northern Ireland Government website.

Tourism Ireland CEO, Niall Gibbons said, ”The tourism industry right across the island of Ireland is very much looking forward to welcoming back visitors from the US and we will ensure they enjoy their visit. The health and safety of all our visitors continues to be the priority, and we will ensure they are protected alongside a very warm Irish welcome and a great vacation experience.

Europe’s Floods Kill 120; Climate Links Noted

BRUSSELS — Just as the European Union was preparing drastic plans costing billions of euros to contain climate change, massive clouds were gathering over Germany and other EU nations to unleash an unprecedented storm that left death and destruction in its wake.

Despite ample warnings, politicians and weather forecasters were shocked at the ferocity of the precipitation that caused flash flooding that killed at least 120 people in the lush wooded hills of Western Europe.

Many climate scientists said the link to global warming was unmistakable and the urgency to do something about it undeniable. To say that climate change caused the flooding may be a step too far, but scientists insist that it acerbates the extreme weather that has been on show from the western U.S. and Canada to Siberia to Europe’s Rhine region.

“There is a clear link between extreme precipitation occurring and climate change,” Prof. Wim Thiery of Brussels University said Friday.

For the heat records, added Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf of the University of Potsdam, “some are so extreme that they would be virtually impossible without global warming, as recently in western North America.”

Taking them all together, said Sir David King, Chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, “these are casualties of the climate crisis: we will only see these extreme weather events become more frequent.”

NYC Chinatown Museum Reopens With Anti-Asian Racism Exhibit

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City museum dedicated to telling Chinese American history marked its reopening to the public on Wednesday, with an exhibit on Asian Americans and racism that it curated partially through submissions gathered during the pandemic and a surge of anti-Asian bias incidents around the country.

The opening was a long time coming for the Museum of Chinese in America, not only because of the pandemic shutdown of over a year but because of a fire that ravaged though the space where its collection was housed in January 2020. Luckily, most of the collection was salvaged.

Looking back, there was a question of “how were we going to survive, but we kept pivoting,” said Nancy Yao Maasbach, the museum’s president.

That included a lot of virtual programming, including the call for submissions that became part of “Responses: Asian American Voices Resisting the Tides of Racism,” opening to the public on Thursday.

In the exhibition, the outer walls are a running history of sorts, a timeline showcasing the racism and bigotry that’s been turned toward Asian and Asian Americans throughout their generations in the U.S.

They touch on the treatment of the earliest Asian immigrant communities, how stereotypes connecting them and disease have a long history, to more recent issues like the treatment of Middle Eastern and South Asian communities in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The anti-Asian bias of the pandemic is on display, with a timeline including top government officials using anti-Asian slurs as names for the coronavirus and blaming China for its existence.

There’s also a listing of various attacks that had Asian victims, like the shootings at spa businesses in Georgia in March, where six women of Asian descent were among the eight people killed.

In the center of the show are items collected by the museum showing how Asian Americans have tried to push back against bias in the past year, like photographer Mike Keo’s series of images of Asian Americans sharing their identities with the hashtag, #IAMNOTAVIRUS.

Another piece is a collection of yellow whistles, which visitors are encouraged to take. Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang founded the Yellow Whistle Project this year, offering the items as a security measure in case help is needed and making them yellow in a reference to how the color has been weaponized as a xenophobic slur against Asian Americans.

It was important to include both the history and the pandemic-related material, said Herb Tam, curator and director of exhibits at the museum.

“We felt like even though the submissions since April 2020 were really wonderful ... it wouldn’t have been enough,” he said, and they wanted the exhibition to “make people aware of how this is not new, the way that Asians have been made to feel foreign, or the way we have been scapegoated for a disease.”

The opening didn’t come without controversy. Two artists who had been slated to have their images of Chinatown in Oakland, California, in the show pulled their photos in recent days, following a similar action from other artists in a show the museum was supposed to have put on last year.

The artists, Colin Chin and Nicholas Liem, withdrew their work over a controversy about a contested city plan to site a new jail facility in Chinatown. In talking about the overall project, the city said MOCA would be getting $35 million toward its capital needs, which critics of the jail plan have used to condemn the museum.

The museum has been adamant that it does not support the jail, and Yao Massbach said it had been asking the city for capital funds for several years before the controversy.

Liem, speaking to The Associated Press from Seoul, South Korea, wasn’t convinced. “You can’t say you’re against something while financially benefitting from it,” he said.

At the press event for the new exhibit on Wednesday, protesters could plainly be heard from the street outside, at times right up next to the clear windows at the front of the building.

Tam called the artists’ withdrawal “disheartening” and the controversy was being fueled by “mischaracterizations.”

By DEEPTI HAJELA

Government Of Canada To Invest $50M From Tourism Relief Fund In Indigenous Tourism Projects

COAST SALISH TERRITORY (Vancouver, BC) – The federal Government of Canada has announced the investment of a minimum of $50M from the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) in Indigenous tourism projects. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is very pleased with this renewed commitment from the government to support the recovery of the Indigenous tourism industry across the country.

"The Government of Canada demonstrated their commitment to the importance of investing in Indigenous tourism in Canada,” said Keith Henry, president and CEO of the ITAC. “This is a very significant direct commitment for Indigenous tourism businesses, Indigenous Tourism Provincial/Territorial Partners and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. We are working out the two-year implementation details and will be moving quickly to support our Indigenous tourism industry recover and rebuild."

The aforementioned investment is part of a total commitment of $500M in the TRF to support the tourism industry overall, of which $485 million will be delivered by Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) directly to tourism businesses and organizations to help aid in the creation of new tourism experiences, or enhance existing ones. Of this $500 million, a minimum of 10% will be invested in Indigenous tourism projects ($50M). Additionally, $15M has been allocated in part to support national ITAC projects.

Individual businesses and Provincial/Territorial Indigenous Tourism Organizations will need to apply for repayable or non-repayable funding directly through their respective RDAs. Contributions to Indigenous entities (not generating profits) will normally be non-repayable. Indigenous applicants are invited to apply through the process described below.:

For communities in Atlantic Canada: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

For communities in Quebec: Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

For communities in Canada's three territories: Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

For communities in southern Ontario: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

For communities in northern Ontario: FedNor

For communities in Western Canada: Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

Though Canadian domestic travel restrictions have begun easing, this funding has come at a crucial time as international borders remain closed and operators have nearly lost their second full summer season of business. While many businesses received initial non-repayable grants through ITAC in fall 2020, without a further influx of funding to offset these compounded losses, and the fact that ITAC was only allocated $2.4M of the requested $68.3M in the 2021 federal budget – meaning they could not provide further financial support to their members – their viability to survive the third wave was uncertain. After months of advocacy efforts by ITAC to secure the future of their operators, experiences and community members, this financial commitment by the Government specifically for Indigenous tourism businesses is welcomed by ITAC and showcases their recognition of Indigenous tourism as a vital part of the economy and the culture of the country.

About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a national non-profit Indigenous tourism industry organization established in 2015. ITAC is the lead organization tasked with growing and promoting the Indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with groups and regions with similar mandates to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous tourism businesses in a respectful protocol.

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Tibet's First Bullet Train Line Enters Service

(CNN) — For the first time, travelers in Tibet can enjoy the area's mountainous views at high-speed. A 435-kilometer (250-mile) rail line connecting Tibetan capital Lhasa with the city of Nyingchi entered into service on June 25, giving all 31 provincial-level regions of mainland China access to high-speed train travel.

Building a high-speed railroad in Tibet, dubbed the "roof of the world," was no easy feat. Some 90% of the route, which took six years to construct, sits higher than 3,000 meters above sea level. The Lhasa-Nyingchi line features 47 tunnels and 121 bridges -- which account for about 75% of the whole route. This includes the 525-meter-long Zangmu Railway Bridge, the largest and highest arch bridge of its kind in the world.

A staggering RMB 36.6 billion ($5.6 billion) was spent to build the line, which is serviced by the Fuxing series of high-speed electric trains developed and operated by the state-owned China State Railway Group.

Traveling at high altitudes, the Fuxing trains are equipped with automated oxygen supply systems, which keep oxygen levels at a constant 23.6% -- slightly higher than the 21% average found in normal atmospheres.

The trains' windows are equipped with a special layer of glass designed to withstand the region's high UV levels. The Fuxing trains deployed on the nine-station Lhasa-Nyingchi line are powered by both internal combustion and electric engines. The dual-power engine allows them to achieve smooth traction throughout the 2.5-hour journey on both electrified and non-electrified railroads.

They operate at about 160 kilometers per hour -- far slower than the maximum speeds of 350 kph (217 mph) travelers experience on many of China's other lines.

The new Lhasa-Nyingchi route is part of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, a 1,740-kilometer line that will eventually link Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, with Lhasa, shortening the travel time between the two cities from 48 hours to 13 hours.

Construction has been divided into three phases. The first segment -- the Chengdu-Ya'an Railway -- opened in 2018. Lhasa-Nyingchi is the second completed segment. Work on the final Ya'an-Nyingchi Railway began in 2020 and is expected to be complete by 2030.

The Lhasa-Nyingchi line is Tibet's first electrified railway. The existing Qinghai-Tibet Railway, a 1,142-kilometer route powered by diesel locomotives, launched in 2006 and is said to be the world's highest train route, connecting Xining, in Qinghai province, to Lhasa.

Flexing China's economic power

Stretching into a disputed area between India and China, the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway is just a small part of China's rapidly-expanding high-speed network. Close to 40,000 kilometers of lines crisscross the country, linking all of China's major mega-city clusters. The network is expected to expand to 70,000 kilometers by 2035. Much like Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains in the 1960s, the Beijing government views its high-speed railway as symbolic of the country's economic power and increasing prosperity. For China's ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping, high-speed rail is also a powerful tool for social cohesion, political influence and the integration of disparate regions with distinct cultures into the mainstream.

"The building of these new railways forms part of Xi Jinping's grand plan of 'integrating the vast national market,'" Olivia Cheung, research fellow at the China Institute of the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), told CNN in an interview earlier this year.

"It is also meant to be reflective of his 'new development philosophy,' of which 'coordinated development' is a key concept. "His scheme is grand in that it extends beyond just simply connecting existing towns, but existing towns with new mega-towns that are being constructed from scratch. A famous example in which Xi takes a lot of pride is the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province, around 60 miles southwest of Beijing."

Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/

4 Tourists Ordered Off Bali For Violating Virus Restrictions

DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia on Monday ordered four foreign tourists to leave the resort island of Bali after violating health protocols as the country endures a devastating wave of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths.

A Russian who tested positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Bali last Thursday was recaptured that night after she escaped mandatory isolation at an appointed hotel, said Jamaruli Manihuruk, who heads the Bali regional office for the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

She has been placed in an isolation facility in Bali’s capital, Denpasar, and will be deported as soon as she recovered from the virus, Manihuruk said.

Three others were accused of defying mask mandates in public after being found unmasked in a raid last Thursday in the Kuta tourist area to enforce health protocols and prevent more infections, he said.

The travelers from the United States, Ireland and Russia were placed in a detention room at the immigration office while waiting for their flights to their countries later Monday.

Indonesia has been hit hard by the virus, fueled by travel during the Eid holiday in May, and the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus first found in India. Overall, the Southeast Asia country has reported more than 2.5 million infections and nearly 67,000 fatalities from COVID-19.

The most recent surge prompted new lockdown measures last month, particularly on Java, Indonesia’s most populated island, and on the tourist island of Bali.

Bali has recorded more than 55,300 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including 1,634 deaths.

Under the new emergency measures, authorities in Bali toughened its mask mandate to impose a fine of 1 million rupiah ($70) for foreigners who did not use masks properly and to deport those who did not wear masks. Previously, foreigners were given guidance to use masks properly, were fined for a first offense and were deported after a second offense.

Maui Seeks To Quickly Implement New Tax On Tourists

KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) — Officials on Maui are moving quickly to implement a new tax on tourists.

The move comes after state lawmakers overrode a veto by Hawaii Gov. David Ige this week.

Hawaii lawmakers overrode Ige’s veto of a bill that overhauls how the state funds the Hawaii Tourism Authority and allocates tourism tax revenue to the counties.

The new law allows Hawaii’s counties to collect a 3% tax from visitors staying at hotels and other short-term rentals.

Before the new law, the state collected a 10% hotel tax and distributed a share to each county. Now, the counties can levy their own surcharge to the tax and keep the money for local needs.

The bill would stop funding the tourism agency with money raised by the transient accommodations tax. Lawmakers intend to pay for the agency with money from the general fund, though for the current fiscal year they appropriated federal coronavirus relief funds.

“This will help tremendously,” said Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee.

Lee said that will bring Maui nearly triple the revenue, Hawaii News Now reported Thursday.

“Instead of $23 million, we’ll probably receive in the neighborhood of $50 to $70 million,” Lee said.

Maui has seen a sharp increase in tourism since pandemic restrictions have eased.

State Rep. Sylvia Luke, the House Finance Chair, said under the old system, Oahu got the bulk of the money because it is the most populous island in the state. Now counties will be receive money based on how many visitors they get.

Luke said Maui could benefit the most.

“The island is just overrun with tourists,” said Luke. “And you look at the population of Maui, compared to Oahu, there’s a lot more tourists per capita.”

California visitors Phil and Diana Asenas think the law is unfair.

“Taking a little bit of an advantage of people who truly want to get out and have been locked down for two years now,” said Phil Asenas.

“They’re definitely taking advantage of us,” Diana Asenas said. “But at the same time, if we want a vacation, we have to suck it up too. But it’s not right. It’s definitely not right.”

Warner Bros Studio Tour Expands With DC Universe, Potter

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Batman’s secret cave, Warner Bros Studio Tour’s cupboard under the stairs and the infamous “Friends” apartment are major centerpieces to the huge Warner Bros. studio lot expansion.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood recently reopened more than a year after doors were shuttered because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, attendees will have a chance to explore the studio’s nearly 100 years of television and filmmaking history, highlighting the DC Universe and “Harry Potter.”

A firsthand look took place a couple of days before the tour opened in late June at the Southern California studio, which now welcomes families with children ages 5 and older.

Warner Bros. officials said the expansion — that includes a new building — took five years to develop in Burbank. Officials say the studio tour will follow all city, state, and federal COVID-19 safety protocols.

“One of the most incredible things about Warner Brothers is the incredible history of epic films that are legendary,” said “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, who helped reopen the tour.

Here are some of the tour’s key features:

STORYTELLING SHOWCASE

Selfie opportunities will be a plenty at the replicated, iconic “WB” water tower as attendees are able to walk along an aerial view of the sprawling studio lot. The walls are lined with mementos of the studio’s film, TV animation titles, dating back to 1923. Some of the highlights in this room include photos from classic films such as “Casablanca” and “Little Caesar.”

There is a dedicated wall area of the Oscar-winning film “Million Dollar Baby” and the boxing gloves worn by Hilary Swank. J.R.’ Ewing’s boots and hat from the television series “Dallas” are also on display. Several miniature soundstages with the words “PLEASE DO NOT SIT” are throughout the exhibit.

DC UNIVERSE

Step into the behind-the-scenes universe of DC superheroes and villains. One of the compelling aspects is the secret Batcave, where guests will find the authentic Batmobile from Tim Burton’s original “Batman,” the Tumbler from “The Dark Knight” and the Batwing from “Batman v. Superman.”

Costumes worn by Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the Flash are on display. Other standouts include Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Jared Leto’s Joker costumes from “Suicide Squad.” Along with Christopher Reeve’s “Superman” costume, the exhibit has Michael Keaton’s suit from the 1989 film “Batman” and Lynda Carter’s “Wonder Woman” costume from the classic 1970s television show.

In an interactive experience, visitors can touch the glowing Lasso of Hestia from “Wonder Woman 1984.”

Director of the recent “Wonder Woman” films, Patty Jenkins, said she enjoyed seeing the costumes worn from her movies along with the rest of the DC characters featured in the exhibit.

“For there to be a museum to celebrate, that seems like something that is so important,” she said. “Then to have things for my own films in there as well, it’s an incredible honor and a very surreal crossing of the line of those two things.”

HARRY POTTER & FANTASTIC BEAST

Create a photo opportunity inside Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs at 4 Privet Drive and understand the art of making potions on the re-created sets of “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts.”

Guests can sit underneath the Sorting Hat, which determines one’s Hogwarts house. And class is in session to learn about the unique creatures at Newt Scamander’s Shed of Magical Creatures.

“You get to experience the action, the magic and fun, and the props and costumes and the re-created sets,” said Bonnie Wright, who starred as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter film series.

FRIENDS BOUTIQUE

Stage 48: Script to Screen is home to the “Friends” boutique that will be accompanied by the expanded Central Perk Café. The area features re-created sets inspired by the show including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica’s apartment and Central Perk. Some costumes worn by the cast and other props from the show are from the 25th anniversary in 2019. Monica’s famous door frame and a “Friends” reunion-inspired spirit jersey, coffee mugs along with souvenirs and collectibles are included.

Central Perk offers a New York deli-inspired menu that includes a special blend of Central Perk coffee, pizza wedges, corned beef melts and cold sandwiches.

“I don’t think people are going to want to leave,” said Maggie Wheeler, who played the recurring role of Janice on “Friends.” The hit TV series starred Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow.

“It feels like the show,” Wheeler continued. “It feels like memory lane. I think people are going to be really, really excited to walk through and spend time here.”

CELEBRATE AWARDS SEASON

The tour concludes with an exhibit spotlighting costumes and props, including the jersey worn by the late Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in the film “42” and the miniature blimp from Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner.” The trombone that Robert Preston played in “The Music Man” is also on display.

Guests will have an opportunity to hold an authentic Oscar trophy. (Be sure to grasp with both hands. It’s heavy.)

Lockdowns In Asia As Some Nations See 1st Major Virus Surges

BANGKOK (AP) — Several countries around Asia and the Pacific that are experiencing their first major surges of the coronavirus rushed to impose tough restrictions, a year and a half into a pandemic that many initially weathered well.

Faced with rapidly rising numbers of infections in recent months, authorities in such countries as Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam announced or imposed measures Friday that they hope can slow the spread before health care systems are overwhelmed.

It’s a rhythm familiar in much of the world, where repeated surges deluged hospitals and led to high numbers of deaths. But many Asian countries avoided that cycle by imposing stiff travel restrictions combined with tough measures at home.

Now some are seeing record numbers of new cases and even deaths, blamed in part on the highly contagious delta variant combined with low rates of vaccination and decisions to ease restrictions that have hit economies hard. Though overall numbers are nowhere yet near those seen during outbreaks in hotspots in Europe and the United States, the rapid rise set off alarm bells just as many Western countries with high vaccine rates began to breathe a sigh of relief.

Thailand reported a record number of new deaths on Thursday with 75 — and they came in at 72 on Friday. South Korea set a record for number of new cases on Thursday, only to break it on Friday with 1,316 infections, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. For the first time, Indonesia is seeing a surge that has hospitals turning patients away and oxygen supplies running out.

Of Thailand’s 317,506 confirmed cases and 2,534 deaths since the pandemic started, more than 90% have come since the start of April.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s handling of the surge has been widely criticized, including the decision to allow people to travel for April’s Songkran festival celebrating Thailand’s New Year.

Thailand already has strict regulations on wearing masks and other rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but the government announced even more stringent measures Friday for Bangkok and the surrounding area, including closing spas, limiting the hours of public transit, and restricting the opening times of markets and convenience stores.

“There is something wrong with the government policies, our vaccinations are too slow, and we should get better vaccines,” said resident Cherkarn Rachasevet, a 60-year-old IT analyst, who hustled to the grocery store to stock up on supplies after hearing new restrictions were coming, wearing four masks and a face shield.

She lamented that she isn’t due for her first shot until the end of the month.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, immunization rates have lagged for a variety of reasons, including production and distribution issues as well as an initial wait-and-see attitude from many early on when numbers were low and there was less of a sense of urgency.

In South Korea — widely praised for its initial response to the pandemic that included extensive testing and contact-tracing — critics are now blaming a current spike in cases on the government’s push to ease social-distancing because of economic concerns. Meanwhile, a shortage in vaccine supplies has left 70% of the population still waiting for their first shot.

The recent death toll has been low, however, and authorities attribute that to the fact that many who have been vaccinated were at-risk older Koreans.

Amid a spike in infections in the Seoul area, authorities announced Friday that starting next week they would impose the strongest restrictions yet. Those include prohibiting private social gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m., shutting down nightclubs and churches, banning visitors at hospitals and nursing homes and limiting weddings and funerals to family-only gatherings.

No country has been worse hit in the region recently than Indonesia. The seven-day rolling averages of daily cases and deaths both more than doubled over the past two weeks.

Health experts say a partial lockdown imposed July 3 was too little too late and warned the current wave, which is mostly on the islands of Java, Bali, and a few cities on the island of Sumatra, will soon start to spread across the vast archipelago — and the health system is already buckling under the pressure.

Despite a strict national lockdown in nearby Malaysia under which residents are confined to their homes, with only one person per household allowed out to purchase groceries, new cases since it began June 1 continued to shoot up, and a record 9,180 daily cases were reported Friday. The total death toll more than doubled to 5,903 since June 1.

It’s the second national lockdown over the past year and the government said it will stay in place until daily infections fall below 4,000 and at least 10% of the population is vaccinated — but it comes at a tremendous cost, deepening economic hardships, with scores of businesses forced to shutter and thousands losing their jobs.

Vietnam also imposed tighter restrictions on Friday, locking down Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest metropolis and its economic and financial hub, for two weeks. The southern city’s 9 million residents are only permitted to leave home to buy food, medicine and for other urgent matters during that time.

Vietnam was able to limit its total coronavirus cases to 2,800 during the first year of the pandemic, and reported almost no new cases in the three months up to the end of April when they began to climb rapidly. In the last two months, the country has recorded some 22,000 new cases, and the less stringent restrictions imposed so far have been unable to stem the rise.

“It is a difficult decision to lock down the city, but it is necessary to curb the pandemic and get back to normalcy,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during a government meeting Thursday evening.

Currently, about 4% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, though the Health Ministry said it hopes to inoculate 70% of the country’s 96 million people by the end of the year.

One exception to the regional rule appears to be India, where the delta variant was first detected — perhaps because its surge came first. The country has slowly emerged from a traumatic April and May, when a devastating spike in infections tore through the nation, hospitals ran out of beds and oxygen supplies, and overwhelmed crematoria were forced to burn bodies in pyres outdoors.

New cases and deaths are now decreasing, but with less than 5% of the country’s eligible population fully vaccinated, authorities are scrambling to distribute more shots and are investing heavily in field hospitals and ICU beds, and stockpiling oxygen supplies.

Japan and Australia also announced new restrictions this week. Japan is particularly being watched since its state of emergency means spectators will be banned at most venues a the upcoming Olympics.

With the detection of the delta variant last month in Australia’s New South Wales, state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Friday that this is now the “scariest period” of the pandemic yet as she announced new restrictions in Sydney after the city reported 44 new cases, in line with the country’s approach to move quickly with targeted measures to stamp out new outbreaks.

“New South Wales is facing the biggest challenge we have faced since the pandemic started,” she said. “And I don’t say that lightly.”