Globe Aware volunteers can soon start planning their volunteer vacations in India and Vietnam. India will begin granting tourist visas for the first time in 18 months and Vietnam plans to reopen tourist destinations from December to vaccinated visitors from countries deemed “low risk.”
Travel news: India, Bali and Vietnam announce opening plans
Maureen O’Hare CNN October 9, 2021
(CNN) — This was a pretty good week for the world’s wannabe jetsetters. The UK and Israel both cleared out their travel “red lists,” while India, Bali and Vietnam all announced reopening plans.
Here are 10 things we learned in pandemic travel this week.
Globe Aware volunteers can be excited to learn that Machu Picchu has become the first international destination to obtain the carbon neutral certificate. This means the historical site is an environmentally friendly tourism spot.
Machu Picchu is now the world’s first carbon neutral tourist destination!
TIMESOFINDIA.COM |TRAVEL NEWS, PERU Sep 30, 2021
Machu Picchu has become the first international destination to obtain the carbon neutral certificate. The certification was awarded to the Historic and Natural Sanctuary of Machu Picchu by the Green Initiative, which is an institution that seeks to promote green and environmentally friendly tourism. The Green Initiative positioned Machu Picchu as a global reference in terms of sustainability.
Volunteer alum Jodi Lipson speaks of her Globe Aware experiences with her family, and find out how you can book your meaningful volunteer vacation.
How to Volunteer While Traveling With Your Kids
Looking for meaningful travel? Volunteering lets you give back and grow as a family.
BY KEN BUDD JULY 15, 2021 The Voluntourist
When Jodi Lipson’s daughter was seven, the duo embarked on a mommy-daughter adventure — and no, they didn’t travel to Disneyland. For one week, the pair did maintenance work at a hostel in Peru and helped local schoolchildren learn English. They soon worked on three more projects with volunteer organization Globe Aware in Guatemala, Cambodia, and Costa Rica. The experiences, said Lipson, who works in book publishing in D.C., have expanded the worldview of her now 13-year-old daughter.
Positive news to share with our Globe Aware volunteers and coordinators! The U.S. announced it will send 55 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa, in order to “defeat COVID-19 and to achieve global health security.”
U.S. to split 55 million Covid vaccine doses between Latin America, Asia and Africa
JUN 21 2021 Berkeley Lovelace Jr.
The Biden administration announced Monday it will send 55 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa as the coronavirus continues to rapidly spread in low- and middle-income nations.
The 55 million vaccine doses are the remaining portion of 80 million shots President Joe Biden has committed to donating abroad. Earlier this month, the administration said it would send the first 25 million doses to South and Central America, Asia, Africa, neighboring countries and U.S. allies.
Face shields required in airports at Peru, 21-day quarantines in some countries…with international air travel surging in the summer our Globe Aware volunteers will run into quite a range of travel restrictions and entry requirements.
Flying Overseas? There’s A LOT You Need To Know. Here’s A Guide
June 11, 2021 FRAN KRITZ and DAVID SCHAPER NPR
Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you’d like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: “Weekly Coronavirus Questions.” See an archive of our FAQs here.
I live in the U.S. and am considering a trip to another country. What do I need to know about international air travel at this stage of pandemic?
First of all, you have plenty of company. International air travel is expected to surge this summer. Americans are thinking of European vacations again. “We’ve had people asking a lot about Europe,” says Chicago-area travel adviser Kendra Thornton of Royal Travel & Tours. “Not necessarily booking but wanting to keep tabs on it.”
As small business owners have been hit hard by the pandemic-related economic brunt, consider their products and services as holiday gift options. Globe Aware encourages the support of small businesses.
Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Travel Products Made By Women
By Michele Herrmann Contributor Travel
As small business owners have been hit hard by the pandemic-related economic brunt, consider their products and services as holiday gift options. In buying what they make to give to others, it’s a way of giving back by financially supporting them in return. Here are our gift suggestions for travel-related or inspired products by women business owners and entrepreneurs.
Machu Picchu, located in Cusco, will officially reopen its doors to international travelers, under a series of health rules and protocols. Our Globe Aware Peru program offers a separate tour to the famous Inca grounds, but requires booking ahead of time.
Peru: Machu Picchu reopens its doors to national and foreign tourists
The emblematic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, located in the Andean region of Cusco, will officially reopen its doors to national and foreign tourists today, under a series of health rules and protocols —after being closed for almost eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The expectations caused by the reopening of this tourist jewel was so colossal that it caused entrance tickets —valid for local and national tourists thru November 15— to sell out fast.
The emotion —without any doubt— is immense, because tourism in Machu Picchu will officially resume, after a first attempt in July, which was discarded since coronavirus infections continued to increase in Cusco —the region hosting the citadel.
Machu Picchu
Since Machu Picchu opened its doors for tourism purposes in 1948, it had only closed for two months in 2010, when a flood destroyed the railway from Cusco.
The numbers registered in Machu Picchu —declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 9, 1983— were impressive.
Before the pandemic began in Peru last March, between 2,000 and 3,000 people used to enter the citadel per day and in high season up to 5,000.
That month, on the last day of visits, 2,500 people were registered in the area.
Protocol
According to the protocol established to prevent the spread of COVID-19, daily access to the world wonder will be limited to 675 visitors per day —30% of the total authorized number in a normal season.
Visitors must enter the archaeological park in groups of 8 guests —including a guide— and must comply with social distancing of 1.5 to 2 meters.
Likewise, each sightseer must wear a face mask, avoid crowds, and have his/her temperature measured to verify that he/she do not have a fever, as part of the biosafety protocols at this stage of the new normality.
The official reopening ceremony will kick off today at 6:00 p.m. (local time).
Countries re-opening to tourism as lockdown restrictions are eased
As lock down restrictions are eased in many countries, borders are being opened up again too. Many countries rely heavily on travelers during the summer therefore it is vital for the economy to get tourists vacationing back in their country again.
Where can I travel this summer? Countries open for tourism
June 15, 2020
The coronavirus has forced several countries to close borders and airline companies to ground flights but what countries can I travel to this summer?
The coronavirus continues to spread in some areas of the world and is fluctuating in others from week to week. As lockdown restrictions are eased in many cities and countries, borders are being opened up again too. Many countries rely heavily on tourism during the summer with Spain, for example, relying on the tourism industry for €159 billion a year and 2.65 million jobs. Therefore, it is seen as pertinent to the health of the economy to get tourists back into the country.
Globe Aware volunteer recognized for community service will share in a Lions Club scholarship as she prepares to attend Duke University.
Saratoga Lions Club Awards 2020 Scholarships
THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2020 BY SARATOGA TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club Scholarship Committee proudly presents $32,500 in academic awards to seven Saratoga Springs High School Seniors. All seven seniors are pursuing four-years + in academic programs with diverse fields of study.
It is disappointing that the annual Lions awards luncheon was unable to be held this June, however, we are anxious to share these students and the honor they receive for their hard work and perseverance during this difficult senior year.
With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations such as Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles. Volunteer vacation destinations closer to the U.S.’s proximity may be more likely to open for travel.
U.S. ‘Travel Bubbles’ Would Let Us Fly Safely and Bring Back Millions of Jobs
With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles.
Andres Oppenheimer Miami Herald (TNS) May 26, 2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles” — or corridors — between countries. That’s what Australia and New Zealand have just done, and it should be done everywhere.
Granted, it may be too soon to expect a significant resumption of international travel in the Americas. But it’s time to start planning for it.
