Covid-19’s second wave has jolted the travel and hospitality sector quite badly. Leave alone travelling, persons are even cautious about stepping out of their residences. While travelling saw return of some activities in the initial quarter of 2021, the second wave has absolutely taken the green out of newly sprouting shoots. The travel and hospitality segment has been dealt a serious blow by the second wave. In an exclusive conversation with TheSpuzz Online Liam Findlay, General Manager, Experience Hub at Yas Island, Abudhabi talks about influence of Covid-19 on the travel sector, how the travel sector will bounce back and travel to Yas island. Excerpts
What has been the influence of Covid-19 on the travel sector?
One of the most adventurous and entertaining techniques of meeting new persons is via travelling, to discover new areas and immerse oneself in experiences like in no way just before. With the outbreak of Covid-19, the travel and tourism sector came to a halt. Tourism is understood to be a essential driver for socio-financial progress, heavily contributing to the worldwide GDP. Taking the hardest hit of all sectors, the pandemic impacted the tourism sector and with it the related sectors of hospitality, travel agencies, and so on. Sporadic border closing due to lockdowns brought overseas travel to a standstill. In addition to this, there was a drastic fall in enterprise travels, also affecting leisure tours, worldwide events and MICE tourism.
How has Yas Island been impacted with the outbreak of pandemic?
On February 27, 2020, we have been informed by neighborhood authorities that two members of a tour group tested positive for Coronavirus. The persons concerned have been not guests at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, while they have been in make contact with with guests at the hotel lately. As a precautionary measure the authorities placed the hotel on short-term lockdown and undertook vital wellness screenings. The security and well-being of guests and associates is usually of paramount value to the hotel and they and the rest of the island hotel and attractions continue to comply with the public wellness and security path offered by the UAE authorities. W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island resumed standard operations a couple of weeks later, as quickly the hotel had clearance from the authorities.
How will the travel sector bounce back post-pandemic?
A lot of measures will have to weigh in for the Travel & Tourism sector. As vaccination programmes roll out, the tourism sector continues to program to get back to standard as quickly as attainable, contingency organizing for recovery in the close to future. Tourism has and will continue to stay crucial for Global financial recovery in the Post –epidemic Era. The Tourism sector has currently confirmed to be of help by placing its infrastructure, provide chains and employees at the service of public wellness and humanitarian help. The sector has remained vigilant in closely monitoring and reacting with agility to the crisis to make sure the security of public wellness , major the way for tourism to recover as financial activity developing extended lasting synergies among public wellness and tourism is an investment in making sure that the sector is nicely ready for future crisis, and contributes to the self-confidence and trust amongst future travellers, offered the value and existing sensitivities towards public wellness. The harmonization, coordination and digitalization of COVID-19 travel-associated danger reduction measures, which includes testing, tracing and travel wellness certificates, are critical foundations to market secure travel and prepare for the recovery of tourism after situations enable.
Given the existing situation, what precautions are undertaken at Yas Island to facilitate a secure knowledge for vacationers?
We aim to be amongst one of the initial totally vaccinated vacation destinations in the world. In the wake of the ongoing scenario, we have introduced extensive measures on wellness and security protocol following UAE authorities’ guidance to make sure guests really feel confident to return to the location like nowhere else. We have demonstrated our commitment to wellness and wellbeing by supporting Abu Dhabi’s vaccination system. Over 93% of our workers working at attractions, experiences, hotels, restaurants and retailers at Yas Island, are vaccinated against COVID-19 to date.
Could you inform us about the security measure in spot at Yas Island?
The wellness and security of guests is Yas Island’s major priority. We have implemented a selection of precautionary measures to make sure that guests and workers really feel secure at all Yas Theme Parks, attractions and the hotels. We have grow to be the initial location in Abu Dhabi to obtain the coveted WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp in recognition of our sophisticated security efforts.
Maintaining the highest requirements of public wellness and security, Yas Island introduced a lot of security measures which includes the ‘#TogetherAtYas’ on the web platform which gives guests a guide to the public wellness and security protocols on Yas Island, and the broadly commended ‘Yas Wellness Program’, which grants guests direct access to a committed group of Yas Wellness ambassadors.
The Wellness Ambassadors are a group of specially educated people who are in a position to answer guests’ queries on the wellness and security measures in spot. In order to continually bridge guests to Yas Island, the Wellness Ambassadors are contactable through phone, social media, WhatsApp and e-mail from 8 am to 5pm UAE time, each day.
What are the travel recommendations and quarantine guidelines in spot for vacationers?
If the tourist visa has been authorized by Abu Dhabi, then passengers can enter the emirate any nation. But passengers carrying check out visas issued by any other Emirate can enter the emirate of Abu Dhabi if flying from one of the nations in green list. Tourists are necessary to verify and stick to the recommendations of the departing nation If their validity for the PCR test is significantly less than 96 hours or if they demand children beneath the 12 years of age to conduct the Covid-19 PCR test. Passengers will have to carry adverse covid-19 PCR test benefits to show at the verify-in counter.
After arriving in Abu Dhabi, the passengers will have to download AlHOSN mobile application and the passengers coming from Green nations are not necessary to do quarantine. Talking about the passengers coming from other nations, they would be necessary to self-quarantine for 10 days.
Can you shed a light on what one can anticipate from their check out to Yas Island in terms of a wholesome family knowledge?
From award-winning theme parks to a lot of leisure activities, Yas Island has a lot to offer you to the vacationers. The Island has a mix of award-winning leisure and entertainment experiences, from one-of-a-sort theme parks, world-class buying and excellent dining, to the globally renowned hyperlinks golf course, fascinating water and motorsports, and spectacular musical, entertainment and family events… all inside the 25 sq km Island.
The travellers can immerse themselves in an knowledge like no other at the award-winning theme parks Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the record-breaking CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit (home to the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX™), the glamorous Yas Marina, the award-winning Yas Links golf course, as nicely as Abu Dhabi’s biggest mall, Yas Mall.
The Island is home to eight hotels, which includes W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Park Inn Radisson, Abu Dhabi, Centro Yas Island, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi Yas Island and Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island, plus more than 165 dining experiences, the location also features indoor and outside concert venues which includes MAD and Etihad Arena – all of which are complemented by a variety of visitor services that connect all attractions to one a further.
What are the have to-to-do activities for persons going to Yas Island?
All the activities obtainable at Yas Island such as indoor sky-diving, wall climbing are set to give thrills to the travelers who check out a location like nowhere else. There is usually entertaining and excitement in all the things that Yas has to offer you to its vacationers. So, we recommend when you are at Yas attempt all the things and live life to the fullest.