Tourism Amid Pandemic In Russia: Summer Season

According to a study done by an international research team Ipsos that ran from February through March 2021, 69% of Russians intend to travel domestically in the upcoming spring-summer season, while 36% of those surveyed plan to travel abroad. Just 16% of people don’t plan on travelling, afraid of catching the virus, or unwilling to spend time and money on PCR testing, going through quarantine, or even simply due to lack of money. Most Russians (70%) prefer beach resorts, which is a long-standing trend. Eco-tourism saw an increase in popularity. Backpacking has become an attractive option for 30% of those surveyed. It’s also worth noting that the study showed 47% of people planning to visit their friends and relatives from other areas of the country. 18% of Russians plan to go on a cruise, or go the health tourism route (12%).

https://modihost.io/

Marriott Tries Out Self-Service Contactless Tech

Marriott International is launching a pilot program of contactless kiosks for self-service check in and check out in select locations in addition to new vending machines with food and drinks.

Contactless kiosks at Marriott handle check-in, check-out, room keys, and a real-time messaging service if guests need to contact the hotel staff.

“The pandemic has accelerated the demand for contactless services and we continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of our guests,” Stephanie Linnartz, president of Marriott International.

Some Marriott guests can already enjoy the new technology, checking in and receiving their room keys with the help of a mobile app and a touchscreen kiosk. These are equipped with “antimicrobial technology baked into the touchscreen glass, powered by UV light to kill bacteria and viruses,” Marriott claims.

Self-service tech will help hotels optimize their processes and increase efficiency.

https://modihost.io/

How Greece Will Admit Tourists This Summer

The country’s tourism minister Haris Theoharis has stressed that Greece will ensure safe entry and stay for everyone using five lines of defence. The first one is requirements for entry: a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a recovery certificate, or a negative PCR test. The second line of defence is random testing upon arrival. The third line is immediate quarantine in case of the test coming back positive. The fourth line of defence is strict adherence to health safety rules, such as mandatory face masks and other anti-infection protocols in public spaces.

The fifth line implies tourists adhering to the same rules as Greeks. The minister has emphasized the importance of wearing a mask for all Greek and foreign citizens, regardless of their vaccination status. In addition to that, the Greek hospitality industry workers get priority vaccination in an effort to strengthen health safety for all visitors.

https://modihost.io/

Importance of the Data Platform for Hospitality

Kristofer Holmquist, engineer & computer scientist speaks about how innovative technologies are transforming the hospitality industry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDFzMpSiuwU

Thailand Cuts Quarantine Time For Most Tourists

Starting April the 1st, Thai authorities have updated the rules for foreign travelers. The new rules will be in force until 30 September 2021. The main update to the set of restrictions is the reduced quarantine time — from 14 to 10 days for most visitors.

By the way, until July, tourists will have to self-quarantine for 7 days even if vaccinated. Besides, foreign visitors must have three negative PCR test results — one made before the trip, second upon arrival, and the third after 5-6 days of isolation.

https://modihost.io/

European Hotel Business Won’t Fully Recover Until 2024

In 2020, due to strict travel restrictions dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the European hotel industry has suffered 115 billion euro losses.

France and Germany saw a 43% and 44% decline respectively, which is, thanks to the high summer demand, relatively benign compared to other countries. In the UK, Italy, and Spain the industry lost 53%, 61% and 64% of revenue, says Euler Hermes, a global leader in credit insurance.

The company’s experts believe that the gradual removal of restrictions will allow hotels to come back to normal, and see some recovery in demand for the summer season. In 2021, Europe is likely to see revenues increase 28% compared to the previous year, which is still 39% lower than 2019 figures.

The countries, cities and hotels focused mainly on domestic tourism will be the fastest to recover.

Euler Hermes experts forecast that the weak demand will press hotels to resort to innovative tech solutions in an effort to tap into novel revenue streams.

https://modihost.io/

Here is a friendly reminder that AIM token is on CoinMarketCap!

The AIM token listed to CoinMarketCap and you can always track it there.

CoinMarketCap is a service that tracks the market capitalization of every cryptocurrency there is on the market today. With its help you can monitor multiple coins on multiple exchanges on various timescales.

You can track AIM at the link: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/modihost/

EU Refused Universal Tourism Policy

In 2020, hospitality businesses in Europe suffered tremendous losses. EU countries decided to take the initiative in their own hands. Each country prepares for the tourist season their own way.

Spanish resorts expect Dutch, French and German tourists despite warnings from Angela Merkel about staying home for the Easter holidays.

In Italy, a hotel federation has been protesting the government’s stance on restricting domestic travel, even though citizens can freely visit the Canary islands.

Greece has been preparing for the tourist season. Tourists who got the jab are free to enter, regardless of the brand of vaccine they have taken, including the Russian Sputnik V vaccine or the Chinese Sinofarm.

https://modihost.io/

Do you want to take part in global digitalization?

The first step is to invest in the most promising project of this autumn! Investment in ModiHost tokens is an investment in the future!

AIM tokens are available for purchase at www.hitbtc.com/AIM-to-BTC

Investing in digital technologies is easy!

Blockchain In Tourism: Why?

The pandemic has made this question as relevant as ever. From the standpoint of the benefits the blockchain technology can offer the tourism industry, it is stability and safety that are among the highest rated ones. Decentralization means that no information will ever be lost or altered in a cyberattack, which guarantees transactions are always valid and traceable.

The tourism industry relies on companies sharing information between each other. For example, travel agencies have to pass the information about their clients to airline companies and hotels. Even tourists’ personal belongings are often moving between one company’s custody to another. Blockchain can make access to this important information simpler and more reliable.

The most important blockchain use case in the tourism and hospitality industry is contactless, cashless payments. Here the range of applications spans from a global ledger, making financial transfers simpler and safer, to a full-on payment processor, allowing tourism companies to accept Bitcoin and other crypto as payment.

https://modihost.io/

ModiHost is an innovative SaaS hotel management system facilitating easy access to AI technologies for hotels of any size or complexity.

Using blockchain for transparency, the system harnesses the power of AI to deliver the best possible customer experience - for hotels and their guests. ModiHost predicts customers' needs beyond their expectations.

AI and robotics automate routine daily hotel operations, reducing costs and freeing staff to focus on maximizing the quality of hotel services in other vital areas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDMrWJjvvrk

Safe Stay In Croatia

The Croatian government is launching a “Safe Stay In Croatia” campaign that is aimed at ensuring the highest health safety standards against COVID-19. This comes from the country’s Tourism Minister, Nikolina Brnjac, who released the announcement on Monday, says Reuters.

The announcement also said that the country would organise testing in tourist resorts, offering PCR and fast antigen tests as well as implement a range of prevention measures to combat coronavirus.

“All tourist facilities, as well as transport companies and facilities like airports, seaports, train and bus stations, can get a ‘Safe Stay in Croatia’ sticker provided they guarantee to implement the necessary health and safety measures,” Brnjac said in an interview.

https://modihost.io/

What Hotel Service Tokenization Offers

Experts believe that one of the most promising blockchain use cases in the tourism industry is hotel service tokenization.

Everyone who’s ever been abroad has had to exchange their currency for the local one at exorbitant rates, especially when using bank cards. Not to mention the risk of getting fleeced on every corner. To solve this problem, hotels can issue their own internal tokens that will serve as a currency for their services.

Crypto enthusiasts believe that hotel service tokenization will benefit both hotels (it’s always easier to spend the tokens you’ve already bought, which increases hotel revenues) and tourists — they know the exchange rate in advance and can buy hotel’s tokens risk-free, and sell the leftover tokens on a digital exchange. Tokens also open up new opportunities for providing special offers and sales during the low season.

With settlements moved to crypto, transaction costs will be down to almost zero. The travel market players are constantly making cross-border payments in different currencies. Payment processors and banks usually make 2-3% margin on these transfers, which ultimately ends up either on the hotel’s cost sheet or the end user’s bill. This is significant because the travel market operates on rather low margins already - from 3% to 15%.

It’s difficult to forecast whether or not popular hotel chains will implement a system like this, but this topic is no less relevant than the pandemic.

https://modihost.io/

Egypt Ramps Up Tourist Flow

The President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has warned his citizens of the looming third wave of coronavirus, stressing the importance of following the health safety measures. It’s important to remember that on 24 of January Egypt began its inoculation campaign, currently targeting health workers and vulnerable populations.

Resort areas of Egypt have seen few coronavirus cases since their reopening. The tourism ministry of Egypt has been handing out certificates to hotels compliant with the country’s COVID-19 health safety measures, and thus approved for reopening. In particular, hotels must operate at half capacity. Hotels must also follow a strict cleaning routine, including frequent disinfection procedures.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled al-Anany said that Egypt has received more than two million tourists from over 20 countries worldwide since inbound tourism to Egypt resumed back in July 2020. “Inbound tourism to Egypt continues to rise, which is evidence of tourists' confidence in our country as a safe destination”, said the Minister.

https://modihost.io/

WHO Estimates Possibility Of International Tourism Recovery

It’s too early to talk about a full recovery of international tourism, says World Health Organization official Dr. Melita Vujnovic. In her words, the number of cases has been on the rise recently, along with high transmission rates. She has also added that some countries are facing vaccine shortages.

In this context, prioritizing the vaccine for travellers might lead to inadequate inoculation rates among the groups most vulnerable to COVID-19, says the WHO official. She has also called for European countries to return to more strict measures. Previously, WHO has insisted that the coronavirus is unlikely to be fully defeated in 2021, but reducing the infection, hospitalization and death rates is possible. Dr. Melita Vujnovic, who heads the WHO Office in the Russian Federation, has noted that Russia has demonstrated good progress in reducing the number of infections, especially compared with Europe, which is going through a new wave after six to seven weeks of slowdown.

https://modihost.io/

Do you want to take part in global digitalization?

The first step is to invest in the most promising project of this autumn! Investment in ModiHost tokens is an investment in the future!

AIM tokens are available for purchase at www.hitbtc.com/AIM-to-BTC

Investing in digital technologies is easy!

On March 17 the European Commission approved COVID certificates for tourists, which will allow foreigners to travel across Europe. The certificate is supposed to become legal starting the 1 of June 2021, but until then the papers should also be approved by EU member states  at the European Parliament.

"Today the Commission adopted a legislative proposal establishing a common framework for a Digital Green Certificate.

The Digital Green Certificate offers an EU-wide solution to ensure that EU citizens benefit from a harmonised digital tool to support free movement in the EU. Our key objectives are to offer an easy to use, non-discriminatory and secure tool that fully respects data protection", said an EC representative.

The EC claims that COVID certificates will facilitate safe free movement inside the EU, and will be available free of charge. The certificate will include a minimum set of information necessary to confirm and verify the holder’s vaccination, testing or recovery status.

https://modihost.io/

Tourist Season In Bulgaria To Start On May 1

Tourist season in Bulgaria will kick off on May 1, with hotels getting booked by domestic tourists and visitors from Romania alike — Mariyana Nikolova, the Bulgarian Tourism Minister, has announced on her Facebook page as well as on the local television.

According to the Minister, the list of requirements for hotels, restaurants and beaches is being prepared. She has clarified that the requirements will be strict, and observed just as strictly. “It’s important for us to have a successful season”, she said, adding that this week Europe will be discussing digital tourism passports.

Mariyana Nikolova has also mentioned that to enter Bulgaria, foreigners will need either a vaccination or immunity certificate, or a negative coronavirus PCR test.

https://modihost.io/

15 European Destinations Open To Vaccinated Travelers

The list of 15 countries has been published in Forbes.

Experts point out that the tourism industry provides 27 million jobs across Europe, and generates some 10% of the EU gross domestic product. Most countries are extremely interested in welcoming summer tourists with digital covid passports, or vaccination certificates.

We have to note that not all countries on this Forbes list are EU member states:

1. Tbilisi, Georgia.
2. Madeira, Portugal.
3. Kefalonia, Greece.
4. Azores, Portugal.
5. Rethymno, Crete, Greece.
6. Iceland.
7. Cavtat, Croatia.
8. Seville, Spain.
9. Athens, Greece.
10. Rubjerg Knude, Denmark.
11. Rhodes, Greece.
12. Copenhagen, Denmark.
13. Canary Islands, Spain.
14. Kos Island, Greece.
15. Stockholm, Sweden.

We also have to point out that in the grand scheme of things, Europe has not yet reached any semblance of certainty regarding the upcoming summer tourism season.

https://modihost.io/