What we learned about global travel this week
![The Philippines announced that it will soon reopen to tourists](https://news7g.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/211119014430-philippines-tourism-boracay-file-100121-super-tease-780x470.jpg)
(CNN) – Countries around the world have imposed travel restrictions after the discovery of a new variant of Covid-19 in South Africa, more than 2.3 million Americans traveled by air over Thanksgiving, and in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand and the Philippines unveiled new reopening plans.
Here are some of the biggest travel developments this week:
A new variant has triggered the ban on flying
So far, there have been only a handful of cases of infection with the new strain of bacteria called Omicron, but the World Health Organization says it is cause for concern and experts warn it can spread quickly. .
Europe continues with its winter
![The opening of the Austrian resort of Ischgl has been delayed to December 3 because of the national lockdown.](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/e_blur:500,q_auto:low,w_50,c_fill,g_auto,h_28,ar_16:9/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F211119121840-ischgl-austria-november-2021.jpg)
The opening of the Austrian resort of Ischgl has been delayed to December 3 because of the national lockdown.
Jan Hetfleisch / Getty Images
US travel disruption continues its record year
Philippines and New Zealand reveal reopening plans
Vaccinated foreign tourists will be allowed to visit the Philippines quarantine-free from December 1, as long as they have been in the “green list” countries for at least 14 days prior.
Egypt reopens its ancient Avenue of the Sphinxes
The more than 3,000-year-old road, connecting two Egyptian temple complexes, was first discovered in the late 1940s and has undergone decades of excavation and restoration efforts.
The site has undergone decades of excavation and restoration efforts and today hundreds of sphinxes and traditional sheep heads line its path.
The Department of Tourism and Antiquities describes the site as “the largest open museum in the world.” According to Reuters, Egypt will lose about 9 billion USD in tourism revenue in 2020, so there will be high hopes for this new project.
A restaurant group is organizing family trips home for its employees
In addition to money for flights and the many, many Covid tests, workers will also receive an extra week of unpaid leave to help them through the hotel quarantine in Hong Kong, which the company is also working on. pay. The city’s notoriously strict entry restrictions mean returning residents are required to spend two or three weeks in designated hotels.
Black Sheep restaurants will also provide nightly meals for their employees to their quarantined hotels. To qualify for this impressive employee privilege, they need to complete a year of service at the company upon return.
A holiday love story
The cutest ‘birth event’ you’ll see this year
Scientists say the event is a positive sign that the reef can regenerate despite ecological threats.
In case you lost it
Amsterdam Airport has a pilot project to raise pigs
The first recorded flight to the continent was in 1928.
France has suffered a wine ‘catastrophe’
Strange symbols carved in the desert of Qatar
CNN’s Celine Alkhaldi, Ghazi Balkiz, Chris Dwyer, Tamara Hardingham-Gill, Jack Guy, Marnie Hunter, Caitlin McGee, David McKenzie, Sandee LaMotte, Pete Muntean, Francesca Street, Gregory Wallace and Lizzy Yee contributed to this report.
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