Dawit Habtemariam

I cover what destinations around the world are doing to attract tourists and the top trends in global tourism. Prior to joining Skift, I covered corporate travel at Business Travel News.

Latest Stories

News Blog

Norwegian Cruise Will Drop Covid Test Requirement

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd will no longer require vaccinated travelers to take a Covid test before sailing on its cruises, effective September 3. Unvaccinated travelers will have to provide proof of a negative Antigen or PCR test no more than 72 hours prior to boarding. “The relaxation of protocols coupled with continued easing of…

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

News Blog

International Inbound Travel to U.S. Still Just 2/3 What It Was Pre-Pandemic

Around 4.3 million international visitors came to the United States in May, amounting to 64 percent of its May pre-pandemic volume, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. This volume was reported for May, the last month before the U.S. lifted its testing Covid requirement for inbound international travelers. Canada (1.3 million), Mexico (1…

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

Tourism

A Brazil Proposal to Privatize Beaches for Hotels and Developers Roils Locals

Brazil is utilizing privatization to grow its tourism infrastructure. On privatizing sections of beachfront, it runs the risk of building a tourism industry that can’t sustain itself if it doesn’t take into account the input of local communities.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

A Brazil Proposal to Privatize Beaches for Hotels and Developers Roils Locals

Tourism

Visa Wait Times Put Drag on U.S. International Travel Recovery

One more impact of the global labor shortage is the protracted wait time for visas that will continue to hurt the U.S.'s international tourism recovery if quick solutions aren't found.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

Visa Wait Times Put Drag on U.S. International Travel Recovery

News Blog

New Zealand Considers Official Name Change

New Zealand may be getting an official name change in our lifetime. The New Zealand Parliament might change the country’s name to Aotearoa, which is Māori for “long white cloud,” and restore cities and towns to their original Māori names. Shedding the island’s colonial names could sustainably boost its tourism industry. When historically marginalized communities…

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

News Blog

U.S. Travel Industry Calls for Clean Energy Tax Incentives

More than 100 travel industry stakeholders on Tuesday signed a letter to Congress urging them to prioritize passing clean energy tax credits and deductions. The letter was spearheaded by the U.S. Travel Association. The letter urged the passage of tax incentives to expand sustainable aviation fuel production, electric vehicle charging station installations, clean energy technologies…

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

Tourism

UK Overhauls Destination Marketing for New Era of Tourism

The UK is actively trying to reorganize and restructure its DMOs to operate under more sustainable models. The government’s development model pilot is hoping to show the way forward.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

UK Overhauls Destination Marketing for New Era of Tourism

Tourism

How Cancun Supercharged Its Recovery

Mexico’s risky policy to stay open while other countries closed during the pandemic has paid off for the state of Quintana Roo. The state wisely used the time to hone its brand as more than a beach-going destination and expand its air accessibility long term. The payoff is evident in recent surging tourism numbers.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

How Cancun Supercharged Its Recovery

News Blog

CDC No Longer Tracks Cruise Ship Covid Outbreaks

The Center for Disease Control has retired its Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships, effective Monday. Under the program, the CDC monitored Covid outbreaks on cruise ships. Under the program's color-coding system, cruise ships were coded with colors indicating the number of positive Covid-19 tests among the crew who boarded within a 14-day span.  "While cruising…

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

Tourism

Tourist Quotas Come To French Countryside to Combat Overtourism

National park and rural authorities in France have absorbed lessons from domestic overtourism during the pandemic.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 years ago

Tourist Quotas Come To French Countryside to Combat Overtourism