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Emirates and Air Canada form strategic partnership Travel Trade Journal

Emirates and Air Canada today announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement that will create more options for customers when travelling on the carriers’ networks while also enhancing the customer experience throughout the journey. Emirates and Air Canada intend to establish a codeshare relationship later in 2022 that will offer enhanced consumer travel choices for Air Canada customers to travel to the United Arab Emirates and to destinations beyond Dubai. Emirates customers will also enjoy an enhanced travel experience when travelling to Toronto or to key destinations across the Air Canada network. Customers will have the ability to book connecting travel between both airlines’ networks with the ease of a single ticket, seamless connectivity at the carriers’ respective global hubs and baggage transfers to their final destinations. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said, “This is a significant partnership that will enable our customers to access to even more destinations in Canada and the Americas, via our Toronto and US gateways. It also opens up many new route combinations for travelers across Emirates’ and Air Canada’s extensive networks in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. We are pleased to partner with Air Canada, one of North America’s most established airlines and Canada’s flag carrier and we look forward to jointly progressing on various areas to provide even better customer flight choices and experiences.” “As we continue pursuing our strategy of expanding our global reach in response to growing opportunities in VFR markets (Visit Friends and Relatives) that serve Canada’s large multicultural communities, we are very pleased to form a strategic partnership with Emirates, a highly respected flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates with a hub in the vibrant city of Dubai. This strategic agreement will create network synergies, and Air Canada customers will have additional, convenient options when travelling between Canada and the United Arab Emirates as well as destinations beyond Dubai,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada. “We look forward to introducing Air Canada codeshare service on key Emirates flights, as well as adding the EK code on select Air Canada flights, and welcoming Emirates customers on our services later this year.” To further enhance the customer experience, the carriers will also establish reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and reciprocal lounge access for qualifying customers. Further details of the partnership and specific codeshare routes will be announced when finalised and will be subject to regulatory approvals and final documentation.

Jamaica Announces A New Zone For Tourism Development

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, JULY 12, 2022 – Jamaica has announced that it is creating a new zone for high-end tourism stretching from Oracabessa to Port Antonio along the island’s northern coast. The new “Revere Zone” will feature only low-density development. “Jamaica continues to be among the world’s most sought-after destinations for international travel,” said Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett. “As we are working to diversify our tourism sector, we could not be more pleased to create an area that provides a different type of experience for a high-end traveler. This new zone will be supported by additional non-stop air service flying directly into Ocho Rios, providing easier and more direct access to this beautiful region of our island.” The Jamaica Revere Zone will include the northern coastal towns of Oracabessa, Port Maria, St. Ann’s Bay, Runaway Bay, Discovery Bay, and of course Ocho Rios itself. Especially once planned new highways are constructed, travelers entering the island through the Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios will have easier access to this zone as well as to any part of Jamaica in approximately one hour. Redevelopment projects are also underway in Port Antonio to increase the area’s appeal to high-end travelers. Creating this zone will also encourage more travelers to explore areas beyond the primary tourist towns of Montego Bay and Negril, resulting in more tourism dollars being filtered to more people and businesses throughout the island. Extending the reach of tourism into additional communities is part of Jamaica’s Blue Ocean Strategy to build back better and support smaller to medium-sized businesses and individual entrepreneurs operating within the sector, ultimately promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience.

Indonesia’s New Digital Nomad Visa allows travelers to live tax-free. Financial Express

Indonesia has announced “Digital Nomad Visas” for travellers to attract foreign tourists as their earnings come from outside the country. The impact of Covid-19 can be seen in Indonesia’s economic condition. While Bali is one of the most renowned areas in the country for beaches and bars. Indonesia is hoping to advance for another element through these visas – The spiritual element. Those who are looking for detailed information on “Digital Nomad Visas” can go through this article to know who are digital nomads? What is the use of Digital Nomad Visas? Which are the other countries offering such visas? Digital Nomads – How is this word originated? Digital Nomads are those who choose to work remotely and independently. Besides working in one place, they chose to spend their earned income in the country they are travelling to. According to the 2020 State of Independence in America Report by MBO Partners, Digital Nomads are those who work independently and remotely with the enabled amenities of technology and the internet. Unlike other remote workers who usually stay in one place and do work, digital nomads travel and explore while working. It was reported that around 10.9 million American workers described themselves as digital nomads in 2020 which was above 49 per cent from 2019. As the pandemic occurred the majority of the work areas were moved on the web, while certain workplaces have started to open, most organisations have declared remote work. Presently, as the world has moved to vaccinations and all borders have opened up, individuals can continue their regular jobs from any corner of the world. What is Indonesia’s purpose behind providing a “Digital Nomad Visa”? Remote workers will be able to stay for a long time in Indonesia, including Bali, tax-free through Digital Nomad Visa. The visa policy was announced by Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno to boost tourism in the country. Digital Nomad Visa would be the longest digital nomad visa compared to other countries and it would be applicable for five years. The purpose of announcing Digital Nomad Visas is to get over 3.6 million overseas travellers into the country over the next year to explore spiritual retreats as well as the eco-tourism of Indonesia. According to a Bloomberg report, Uno said that If we get millions of travellers through this visa, then, it would create a million jobs for Indonesians as the borders have now opened for foreign tourists. Earlier, there were three S which stands for Sun, Sea and Sand. Now, we are moving it to Serenity, Spirituality, and Sustainability. This way we are getting better quality and better effect on the nearby economy, he added. He further said the decision was taken after a survey that showed Indonesia was “top of mind” for 95% of the remote workers. He also informed that similar plans were in the last year for digital nomad visas which had to be put on pause due to the covid-19 pandemic. “Now the situation of a pandemic is controlled and all the ministries getting involved and cooperating from the health side to the immigration office, we believe that this is a chance to relaunch this idea,” Uno added. Presently, there are various types of visas available in the country for digital nomads such as Visa on Arrival (VoA), Tourist of Cultural Visa and the country’s Free Visa. However, the duration of these visas is between 30 and 180 days. Which countries are providing Nomad Visas? In March, Italy released a new permit for non-EU nationals or digital nomads who can stay up to 90 days in the country without a visa. while Antigua and Barbuda are providing nomad visas for two years where the travellers will have to maintain their health insurance. Barbados provides a year-long remote working visa which can be extended further. Other countries like Croatia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Mauritius, Norway, and Spain among many others are offering nomad visas.