Caribbean Islands Reopen to International Tourism

JumpStory

An image of Gros Piton, or Grand Piton, a mountain in the southern tip of the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. JumpStory

Skift Take: A cluster of Caribbean islands, including Saint Lucia, are reopening this month for international tourism. But be cautious. Federal forecasters expect an above-average hurricane season amid a pandemic.

— Sean O’Neill

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Austria to Lift Coronavirus Travel Restrictions With Its Neighbors — Except Italy

Emmanuel DYAN  / Flickr

Austria will continue to enforce travel restrictions to and from Italy due to that country’s higher coronavirus infection rate. Emmanuel DYAN / Flickr

Skift Take: Austria’s continued plans to enforce travel restrictions against Italy show shared borders don’t mean automatic admittance to a travel bubble during the coronavirus recovery.

— Cameron Sperance

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Prague Tempts Visitors With Cheaper Czech Beer and Other Perks

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An image of the Charles River flowing through Prague, Czech Republic. JumpStory

Skift Take: Only last December, the Czech capital had many residents griping about overtourism. The pandemic has since crushed tourism, prompting local businesses to tempt visitors back with cheaper prices. Hopefully a balance can be struck.

— Sean O’Neill

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Hotels in Asia Revise Renovation Designs to Suit Post-Covid World

Wharf Hotels

Artist impression of Marco Polo Prince Hotel’s Club Lounge: Note the more spacious layout, plus private sections. Wharf Hotels

Skift Take: It’s clear there’s going to be a new normal when guests start traveling again. Hotels in Asia that are renovating in times of Covid-19 are altering designs, although some things don’t change.

— Raini Hamdi

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UK Hotels Threaten Legal Fight Over Rejected Insurance Claims

Kokky92  / Wikimedia

Britain’s hospitality sector is threatening a wave of lawsuits against insurance firms like AXA over rejected business interruption claims stemming from coronavirus. Kokky92 / Wikimedia

Skift Take: British lawsuits could set a global precedent for how insurance firms perceive a global pandemic in terms of business interruption coverage.

— Cameron Sperance

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Travel Agency Flight Centre to Shutter 800 Storefronts as Part of $1.2 Billion Savings Effort

Flight Centre’s retail footprint will be reduce by half in the new measures proposed.

Skift Take: This cost-cutting package could be one of the largest we’ll see in this crisis. On paper, the cuts look like they’ll be enough, but there will be collateral damage to its brand with so many shop closures.

— Matthew Parsons

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