Some holiday destinations are launching offers to try to get holidaymakers back to there countries to kick start tourism industries. Many countries are offering free hotels and subsidies towards travel and even free access to amusement parks and museums to lure tourists back.
Cyprus: Cyprus has pledged to cover the cost for accommodation, medicine, covering cost of medical bills and food for the patients and their families, if anyone tests positive for COVID-19 after traveling to cyprus. The tourists will only need to pay for the cost of there airport transfer and repatriation flight. Cyprus have also said that a covid-19 hospital with 100 beds will be provided exclusively for foreign visitors who contract the virus, if so additional beds will be made available if needed. It also plans to offer 112 intensive care units with 200 respirators and 500 rooms in in dedicated “quarantine hotels” will be offered to close contacts of the person infected. Travellers will need proof they have tested negative for the virus 72 hours of arriving in the country.
Sicily, Italy: The southern italian island of sicily have announced that they would be offering to pay some of incoming foreign tourists costs, to lure back tourists after the covid-19 lockdown. Sicily is planning to discount half the price of plane tickets and pay for one of every three nights in hotels. This is part of a plan of a €50 million scheme by the italian government intended to boost the visitor numbers. The region is reportedly also considering removing entry fees from museums and archaeological sites.
Mexico: According to local media reports, the hotel associations of Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres, The Riviera Maya, Cozumel and the Grand Costa Maya are working together to launch the #come2mexicancaribbean campaign starting june 15th 2020. Mexico are hoping to target tourists to start visiting Mexico again, mexico is set to launch a two-for-one special. It may offer two free nights of accommodation for every two nights paid, as well as a refund of the plane ticket price so visitors can bring a friend. It also has been reported mexico may offer a 20% off participating theme parks, golf courses and spas.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria looks to start to kick start its tourism sector after lockdown. To encourage tourists it is reported that bulgaria’s finance minister announced, one of the changes likely coming to beach resorts with sunny beach being the most popular is the waiving of fees often charged to allow a gradual return. Also reports say beach umbrellas, sun beds and tables would be free of charge for visitors. The average cost of a daily sun lounger on popular beaches is around £5 per person.
These are only some of the offers that may be offered once the airports start to reopen and countries start allowing tourism to start once covid-19 is under control. There may be more destinations around the world willing to do offers like these. So keep an eye out.
