Travel Week in Review – May 27th, 2022

“Please pack added patience.” That was one of the tips offered by David Pekoske, head of the TSA when he was recently asked about the upcoming summer travel season. Vacationers face a perfect storm this summer. People are venturing out again, many for their first real summer vacations since 2019, while airlines haven’t replaced all of the staff they lost during the pandemic, leading to delays and cancellations. Along with high demand for travel, fuel prices are driving up airfares this summer. Read More…

Several major cruise lines, travel agents, and even Google all seem to agree that Europe is in high demand this booking season. Data from various sources indicate that interest in and bookings for Europe travel have been strong in the past six months. European cities made up five of the top 20 destinations people are searching this year on Google, according to an analysis by Google Flights. The platform found Paris, London, Rome, Athens, and Lisbon made the list of top searches from January through mid-April. Read More…

In what is sure to delight many international travelers, Japan said it’d be reopening to tourists for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Sort of. Only tourists from four designated countries—Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States—are allowed in, as they’re considered priority markets in Japan. The guest list is also a mere 50 people, broken up into groups of roughly four, all of whom must be triple vaccinated. Read More…

Spain has reopened to unvaccinated tourists outside the EU, the government confirmed on Saturday. Holidaymakers from the UK still need to show a negative Covid test to enter the country, but the relaxed rules are “excellent news” for the tourism industry according to Spanish minister Reyes Maroto. With its sunny beaches, rich architectural heritage, and delicious food, there are plenty of reasons why the Mediterranean nation was the world’s second-most visited country pre-pandemic. Read More…

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it would increase the fee for international travelers in the Visa Waiver Program entering America. CBP officials released a notice in the Federal Register that the standard fee for inbound travelers would jump from $10 to $17, plus an additional $4 administrative fee, starting on May 26. International visitors from the 40 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program will dish out the extra cash to help maintain and utilize the ESTA. Read More…