#Croatia welcomes tourists braving coronavirus crisis

A few intrepid European tourists have returned to Croatia's picturesque Adriatic coast, where the owners of yachts and campsites are hoping their relative isolation will bring the numbers up over the next six weeks.

In the Dalmatian port of Krilo-Jesenice, the Black Swan is among dozens of sailing cruisers still tied up. Six weeks of lockdown began to be eased late last month, two weeks after the season should have begun.

"Sadly, we're still stuck here waiting for the first guests, said owner Denis Grubisa, whose yacht can accommodate 38. "We hope guests will start pouring in from late June or early July."

Even a dozen at a time would make him very happy, he said.

Further up the coast near Split, an ancient port city packed with visitors throughout a normal summer, two couples from Germany have the run of the Stobrec camping facility, which can take up to 1,100 people.

"I don't think about corona.virus because we have enough distance," one of them, Rudi, said with a smile.

Tourism accounts for almost a fifth of Croatia's economic output, which the government expects to shrink by almost 10 percent this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it still hopes to earn four billion euros from the sector, a third of last year's income, after containing the spread of the disease. Reported COVID-19 deaths stand at just 101, with case numbers at 2,244.

"For the majority of our guests we're reachable by car," said Veljko Ostojic from the Croatian Tourist Association. "Safety standards are in line with recommendations by the experts."

Distance and disinfection

Croatia has reopened its border with Slovenia and expects a rising number of guests from Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia from early June and from Germany or Poland later in the month, by which time hotels are also set to reopen.

The Simuni campsite, on the island of Pag, opened on May 15, one of the first to begin the most uncertain summer season since Croatia's war of independence from former Yugoslavia in 1990s.

"So far we've had some Croatian guests and a few from Slovenia," Tena Hoti, who is in charge of contact with clients, said, reporting a growing number of inquiries.

"Now we're strongly focused on making sure that our employees and guests feel safe."

The site, which normally also attracts Austrians, Germans and Italians, can accommodate around 4,000 people in their own vehicles or tents as well as in bungalows.

Employees wear masks, gloves and visors and buildings are often disinfected, with hand sanitizer available at entrances.

Guests are asked to keep at least 1.5 meters apart, including on the beach, where employees are supposed to monitor to prevent the overcrowding seen at many beauty spots worldwide when lockdowns end.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Schengen countries extend suspension of visa issuance in China in wake of coronavirus

China

Following the suspension of all visa issuance in China, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the visa centers of the seven Schengen member countries that were supposed to re-open on Feb. 3, have remained closed.

The member countries have instead announced that the suspension period will be extended until Feb. 9 at the earliest.

A notice published by the Slovak visa center in China indicated that the re-opening of the centers may change, dependent on advice from authorities.

“In light of the current coronavirus alert, please note that the Slovakia Visa Application Centers across China will remain closed until Feb. 9 (included). However, the re-opening of the centers may change, subject to further notifications from central, provincial and city authorities. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and kind co-operation. Please return to this page for further updates,” the notice reads as reported by schengenvisainfo.com.

As there is no improvement in the coronavirus epidemic, with the death toll rising to 497 as of Wednesday, authorities for the Schengen member countries extended their closure for at least a week more than intended.

The Schengen members involved are:

    Austria – Feb. 9
    Belgium – Feb. 9
    Estonia – Feb. 10
    Liechtenstein – Feb. 10
    Norway – Feb. 10
    Slovakia – Feb. 9
    Switzerland – Feb. 10

France remains the only Schengen country that has announced the closure of the Wuhan Visa Application Center, while the European Union prepares to tighten entry conditions for Chinese nationals who have traveled to China in recent months.

Cautionary action has been taken by numerous countries as the coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people in China since emerging in December and has now spread to more than 20 countries. 

Source - TheJakartaPost

THAI temporarily cancels flights to Europe after Pakistan closes airspace

Thai Airways International on Wednesday announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Pakistan and Europe after Pakistan closed its airspace amid rising tensions with India.

The flights cancelled on Wednesday night were TG341 and TG342 on the Bangkok-Karachi-Bangkok route, the TG345 and TG 346 Bangkok-Lahore-Bangkok flights and TG349 and TG350 Bangkok-Islamabad-Bangkok flights.

THAI also cancelled fights to Europe that fly over Pakistan airspace, namely Bangkok-London (TG916), Bangkok-Moscow (TG974) and Bangkok-Phuket-Frankfurt (TG926).

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 Due to safety concerns, the airline has also cancelled all 11 flights from Bangkok to Europe for passengers checking in on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. The cancelled flights are: Bangkok-Frankfurt, Bangkok –London, Bangkok –Munich, Bangkok- Paris, Bangkok – Brussels, Bangkok- Milan, Bangkok-Vienna, Bangkok-Stockholm, Bangkok-Zurich, Bangkok-Copenhagen and Bangkok-Oslo.

Inbound flights from the above European cities, including Rome, were also cancelled for Wednesday. 

THAI said it was closely monitoring the situation and plans to re-route its flights. 

Passengers can call THAI at +662 356 1111 24 hours or visit www.thaiairways.com for updates on the flight schedule.

THAI passengers who hold tickets on routes affected by flight cancellation may change their itinerary. Fees and charges will be exempted, and conditions apply.

THAI operates flights to three destinations in Pakistan:  one flight per day to Karachi and Lahore and four flights per week to Islamabad on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

 All flights have now returned to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Source - TheNation 

#Paris once again the world's undisputed fashion capital.

When Paris fashion week begins on Monday, it will do so in a city that is once again the undisputed fashion capital of the world.

New York, Milan and London have all tried to take its crown, but more than ever Paris remains fashion's reference point, analysts insist.

An exodus of American designers to Paris left New York fashion week earlier this month a withered shadow of its former self.

The loss of Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne and Altuzarra to Paris prompted a bout of soul-searching in the US fashion industry which had felt that momentum was on its side.

"Three is a trend, but now there's four," said US Vogue's Nicole Phelps. "And it's not just any four; it's four of the best regarded, most influential labels on the calendar. New York has lost a good-sized chunk of its new guard."

The iconic New York brand Tommy Hilfiger also decamped to London, with sportswear giant Lacoste following the rush to Paris. And on Friday the ever so British Mulberry also said it was quitting its traditional London berth for Paris.

While New York fashion week's slimmed down line-up now lasts six days like Milan, and London is all over in four, Paris is a whirlwind of nine mostly madly packed days.

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- New York's bid to rewrite rules -

The turnaround in fortunes is all the more startling given that 18 months ago New York looked like it was going to turn the whole fashion calendar on its head.

Its big commercial brands were pushing a shift to the "see now, buy now" model, where clothes go straight on sale after shows.

Paris resisted ending the traditional four- to six-month lag from runway to retail, warning of the environmental impact of unsold clothes no one liked and claiming it would steamroll creativity and younger labels who need to try out ideas on the catwalk.

With many designers already questioning the need for fashion shows in an age of Instagram launches, Paris looked like it might be caught on the wrong side of history.

But things have worked out quite differently, French analyst Nicolas Boulanger of L&CPG consultants told AFP.

Paris has only become more dominant, he said.

"There is a density of luxury brands (in Paris) that you do not find elsewhere, and the fact that it is the home city of large groups like Kering and LVMH, who dominate luxury brands, only reinforces its historic hold," Boulanger said.

He argued that Paris has a "greater legitimacy in some respects over other fashion capitals" because of the "holy unction" imparted by haute couture, the elite shows of handmade creations that are only held in the French capital.

Boulanger said part of the reason that Paris has been "shining even more" in recent seasons was because haute couture opened its doors to younger talent.

 - Tom Ford's return -

Steven Kolb, head of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which runs the New York shows, remains bullish, citing how New York poached pop star Rihanna's Fenty Puma show back after two years in Paris.

The council is also making the best of a bad lot by showcasing 13 American designers' work in Paris.

Kolb told reporters that the US brands who defected to Paris had done so for personal or strategic reasons, mostly to prolong the time their collections stay in the shops.

"If you were to ask any one of them, I think they would confirm that it's not a negative statement on New York," he said. 

And Boulanger agrees that talk of New York fashion week's demise is off the mark. "Tom Ford's return to show in New York... means he sees his future there and it would be foolish to write it off in an industry where everything moves so fast," he said.

As if to prove the point the Global Language Monitor, which measures the online and media impact of major events, this month named New York on top of its annual "global fashion capitals" list, toppling Paris.

Boulanger insisted that having a few fashion capitals rather than just one was "important in a truly global business... so having different capitals with different personalities is a strength," he added.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Italy - #Venice bans opening of new fast food outlets

Venetian authorities no longer want to see tourists strolling into Saint Mark’s Square or around its legendary canals with a sandwich or a snack in hand.

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Authorities in Venice have passed a law preventing the opening of new fast food outlets in a bid to preserve the identity of the Floating City.

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Venetian authorities no longer want to see tourists strolling into Saint Mark’s Square or around its legendary canals with a sandwich or a snack in hand. The city’s authorities want to put a brake on the expansion of outlets selling burgers, kebabs and other fast-food items intended for eating on the hoof.

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Paola Mar, the city’s tourism chief, considers that such establishments “are not compatible with the preservation and development of Venice’s cultural heritage.” The law also seeks to limit the growth of outlets selling take-out pizza by the slice.

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Venice is used to seeing students gather in the Campo Santa Margherita square to devour their slice of pizza. Other successful street food outlets have also modernized the Venice food scene, like in the San Polo district, where Acqua E Mais serves the famous Italian polenta topped with local fritto misto (mixed fried seafood) in a cone to go.

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It is currently prohibited to eat take-out food in Saint Mark’s Square, nor is it not possible to sit on the steps of the square’s basilica. Tourists wanting a bite to eat must instead ask for a table in one of the historic cafés in the emblematic Venetian location.

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This isn’t the first time that Italy has gone to war with fast food. Verona, an hour’s train ride from Venice, prohibited the opening of new kebab shops in 2016. McDonald’s also caused anger in Rome when it opened a restaurant a stone’s throw away from the Vatican early that same year.

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A cardinal even wrote to Pope Francis asking him to intervene. At the end of 2016, the Mayor of Florence refused the opening of an American fast food joint on the Piazza Del Duomo, one of the Tuscan capital’s main squares.

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Push for visa-free travel between #Britain and the #EU

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The travel industry in Britain is appealing to the British government to maintain visa-free travel between Britain and the rest of Europe, and to protect British holidaymakers’ rights to health insurance and free mobile-roaming during Brexit negotiations.
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Recently, the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) released a report titled “Making a success of Brexit for travel and tourism”, outlining a set of priorities the group sees as essential for the travel industry’s post-Brexit prosperity.
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Given that the EU is Britain’s biggest market for overseas holidays, Abta is asking the government to maintain visa-free travel to countries within the EU.
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In 2015, British residents made 37 million holiday and business trips to countries within Europe.
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Conversely, EU residents also made more than 16 million trips to Britain.
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“While immigration is a contentious issue, securing visa-free travel for holidays and short business trips should be the goal of the government,” reads the report.

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 “It is important that we maintain fast and efficient processes through our airports and ports and avoid lengthy queues to enable EU nationals to easily visit us, and UK visitors to travel to the EU.”.
The group is also urging the government to safeguard consumer travel rights that all European citizens enjoy, including access to free or reduced cost healthcare via the European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) which was used more than 215,000 times in 2015 by British citizens. As part of EU membership, travellers are likewise entitled to compensation for delayed and cancelled flights, while the EU Package Travel Directive protects people on package holidays..

Abolish roaming fees.
“Abta urges the government to secure the UK’s continued participation in the Ehic scheme, which guarantees UK travellers reciprocal access to healthcare systems across Europe.”

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The group is also asking that Britons be able to take advantage of the abolition of roaming fees in Europe that will be effective next month.

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“The government must replicate this EU-level agreement to ensure that British and EU customers continue to benefit from the abolition of these additional charges.”

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Source - TheJakartaPost