News
GLOBAL SNAPSHOT
NORTH AMERICA
US to open borders for vaccinated travellers
The US has confirmed a new travel policy that from 8 November it will allow vaccinated foreign travellers into the country . Vaccinated people will still need a negative test in the 72 hours before travelling .
Clive Wratten , CEO of the Business Travel Association in the UK , was relieved by the news : “ With over £ 200bn ( US $ 274.8bn ) in annual trade between our two countries , the US has been an integral part of so many UK business travel itineraries .”
ASIA
Thailand events set to return
The approval for events to resume , given by Thailand ’ s Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration ( CCSA ), has come following the government ’ s decision that fully vaccinated overseas visitors could enter Thailand from 1 November without having to quarantine .
Limits on a venue ’ s operating hours and number of attendees will be relaxed . Event spaces will be allowed to operate until 10pm , while the number of attendees allowed will be dependent on a site ’ s risk level .
EUROPE
SITE & SITE Foundation get up close and personal again
The international boards of directors and trustees of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence ( SITE ) and SITE Foundation concluded three days of in-person meetings in Paris on 21 October . They were the first in-person board meetings for both organisations since the onset of the pandemic , and provided a platform for future planning , as incentive travel programmes resume .
The meeting also saw the re-launch of the SITE France Chapter .
AUSTRALASIA
BEIA welcomes National ’ s plan to support event insurance
Business Events Industry Aotearoa ( BEIA ) has welcomed the New Zealand National Party ’ s ‘ Back to Business ’ plan , which would see the government fund the premium for event industry insurance cover .
Lisa Hopkins , the chief executive of BEIA , stated : “ National ’ s proposal would see a NZ $ 50m fund to allow major events , such as festivals and concerts going ahead with confidence , avoiding the significant financial losses incurred by organisers , customers and suppliers .”
6 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 115