World Tourism Channel

30/04/2022

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13/04/2022

Destinations To Discover As International Borders Reopen

Read more at >>
https://worldtourismchannel.com/destinations-to-discover-as-international-borders-reopen/

After over two years of eagerly awaiting the reopening of international borders, avid Malaysian travellers can finally scratch that travel itch as the long-awaited permit to travel overseas finally received the green stamp of approval.  With borders now open for fully vaccinated Malaysians, it is t...

03/02/2022

https://worldtourismchannel.com/tasmania-welcomes-international-travellers/

From 19 January, all fully vaccinated travellers from low or high-risk areas will no longer be required to quarantine or undertake pre-departure COVID-19 testing when travelling to Tasmania. Unvaccinated travellers or travellers who have been in an extreme-risk area in the 14 days before arrival...

30/05/2021

The Wonders Of The Arts With SIFA on Demand

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https://worldtourismchannel.com/the-wonders-of-the-arts-with-sifa-on-demand/

If you miss the thrill of going to the theatres and catching a live dance or orchestra performance; Singapore is bringing its biggest arts festival, the annual Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA), to you in the comforts of your home. From 5th to 12th June 2021, join SIFA on Demand a...

02/03/2021

People want to travel again and a large majority of the population is planning trips in 2021

Who is longing to travel far away? Who finally wants to go on a beach holiday again? Who is planning what trips to where this year? And what is the short to long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel behaviour? These are just some of the questions that ITB Berlin and the market research institute Statista have been examining. A recent online surveyhas been conducted in Germany, the US, and China investigating travel behaviour of the past 12 months as well as travel plans for 2021.
People plan to spend more on travel again in 2021 – the end of the pandemic will likely spur long-term growth
The survey’s findings reflect a positive mood. Around 70 per cent of those surveyed in Germany, the US and China are thinking about private trips this year. Specifically, 37 per cent of Germans, 42 per cent of Americans and 66 per cent of Chinese are planning one or more trips. Close to 25 per cent of respondents in Germany and the US and over 35 per cent in China also believe they will spend more money on travelling over the next 12 months than during the same period to date. In China there also appears to be significant pent-up demand for travel, where close to 50 per cent of interviewees think they travel more on an ongoing basis once the coronavirus pandemic has passed, compared with 25 per cent in the US and 17 per cent in Germany.

Personal safety is very important on a private trip – well-being is more important than travel choices
The majority of people not planning to travel this year say this is due to the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as no great surprise that the pandemic still heavily influences holiday planning. However, it is worth noting that perceived personal safety on a trip weighs more than travel choices being restricted. 50 per cent of Germans not planning to travel in 2021 say they feel uneasy about taking trips during the coronavirus pandemic. In the US the corresponding figure is 34 per cent, and in China even 56 per cent. By comparison, only 23 per cent of German respondents, 21 per cent of Americans and 45 per cent of Chinese state travel restrictions as their reason for staying at home. Thus, tour operators this year face the challenge of instilling a sense of safety and well-being among their customers.

Beach holidays are popular in every country – for Germans and Americans visiting family and friends is most important – Chinese prefer city breaks
A closer look at people’s travel plans in 2021 shows a preference for beach holidays in all countries, with 34 per cent of Germans, 36 per cent of Americans and 42 per cent of Chinese taking them into consideration. However, for 37 and 42 per cent of Germans and Americans respectively, visiting family and friends comes first, whereas for 49 per cent of Chinese city breaks are most important. The majority of respondents in all countries plan to stay in hotels, although the figures vary significantly from country to country. In China 86 per cent of private travellers intend to stay in hotels, whereas in the US and Germany the proportion is much lower, at 56 and 42 per cent respectively. In Germany and the US close to one-third of prospective travellers in 2021 intend to stay overnight with family or friends. In China, the corresponding figure is only 16 per cent. It is presumed that among other things the living conditions in the respective countries are responsible for these variations.

Holidaying at home – Germans also plan to take trips abroad
Questioned as to their long-term plans for the future, 35 per cent of German respondents, 38 per cent of Americans and 50 per cent of Chinese believe their travel behaviour will change long-term. The reasons given were environmental considerations (47 per cent in China) and the coronavirus pandemic (83 per cent in Germany, 64 per cent in the US, 83 per cent China). Among those who say their travel behaviour will change in the long run, 76 per cent of Germans, 77 per cent of Americans and 88 per cent of Chinese agree with the statement “I will take more vacation in my country.“ This trend also applies to destination planning in 2021. In China and the US only 29 and 15 per cent respectively of those planning trips are aiming to go abroad. The figure for Germany is significantly higher, at 61 per cent. It is presumed that Germany’s location in the middle of Europe and proximity to many other countries is responsible for the higher number of international trips planned.

Fewer business trips planned for 2021 – outdoor activities are becoming more popular
In addition to their private travel plans interviewees were asked about possible business trips. In contrast with private trips, the findings on business travel point to a downward trend. In Germany only 27 per cent, in the US 34 per cent and in China 51 per cent of respondents are planning business trips in 2021. This is also reflected in the answer to a question on long-term changes in travel behaviour. A high proportion in all cases, namely 65 per cent of Germans, 66 per cent of Americans and 63 per cent of Chinese interviewees agree with the statement “I will take fewer business trips.“ Outdoor activities appear to be on the rise, with 61 per cent of Germans, 68 per cent of Americans and as many as 91 per cent of Chinese respondents agreeing with the statement “I will take more nature/outdoor trips.“

27/02/2021

In a major move to strengthen the bilateral and trade ties between Europe and Asia, Pakistan Railway to launch Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train from 4th march this year, which will connect Asia with Europe.

ITI freight train project will boost the trade and economic channels with Iran and Turkey. Later on, the railway route will get the extension with European countries.

The distance of Islamabad-Istanbul-Tehran railway route is 6,500 kilometers and the train will reach the destination in just 12 days.

Finally some good news to hear from Pakistan Railways!

22/02/2021

STATISTICS TO GUIDE RESTART OF TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN AMERICAS

From the need for enhanced political engagement to developing relevant expertise, the World Tourism Organization, jointly with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, have united their Members in the Caribbean to address the key challenges they face in making effective use of statistics to drive the restart of their tourism sectors.

https://www.unwto.org/news/statistics-to-guide-restart-of-tourism-in-the-caribbean

From the need for enhanced political engagement to developing relevant expertise, the UNWTO, jointly with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, have united their Members in the Caribbean to address the key challenges they face in making effective use of statistics to drive the restart of tourism secto...

12/02/2021

https://www.traveloffpath.com/russia-is-officially-open-to-tourists-from-these-7-countries/

Russia has reopened air borders and is welcoming tourists coming from select countries. See the full list and all entry requirements

26/01/2021

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will host an exciting web-based B2B promotion, “Tokyo Online City Promotion 2021,” from February 2 - 4.

https://www.gotokyo.org/english/agent/citypromotion/mailnewsletter/index.html

The purpose is to enhance tourists’ and tourism industry professionals’ understanding of Tokyo's unique appeal and attractions. Tokyo government representatives and tourism-related companies will livestream seminars from studio, and a special web portal for the event will be up and running from ...

19/01/2021

Qatar Airways Becomes The First Global Airline In The World To Achieve A 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating By Skytrax


Doha, Qatar – Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax.



The announcement follows a detailed audit, carried out by the Skytrax team in December 2020, which assessed how effectively and consistently the airline’s stringent COVID-19 hygiene and safety standards and procedures are adhered to, from flight check-in to on-board aircraft. This included a full review of procedural efficiency checks, visual observation of hygiene and safety levels at all stages of the passenger journey, and on-board Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) sampling tests to measure the potential level of contamination of contact surfaces.



The achievement of the Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating is in addition to Qatar Airways’ home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), recently being named as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating in December 2020.



Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As an industry leader and the ‘World’s Best Airline’, as named by Skytrax, we are well-used to setting the standard for others to follow. We are delighted that our commitment to providing the most rigorous and comprehensive COVID-19 safety programme in existence within the global aviation community has been recognised with the Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating.



“This achievement highlights the fastidious measures and procedures Qatar Airways have employed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our passengers throughout the global pandemic to date, and follows HIA’s recent success as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating.



“It also provides assurance to passengers across the world that airline health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. As Qatar Airways continues to deal with the ongoing impact and challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, we would like to reinforce the message that air travel does not need to be a source of concern to passengers.



“In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to provide the safest possible experience for travellers across the world, and expanding upon our role in assisting the recovery of the commercial aviation industry over the coming months.”



Skytrax Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Edward Plaisted, said: “We congratulate Qatar Airways on being awarded with the highest 5-Star COVID-19 Safety Rating and being the world’s first major airline to be certified at this level. Qatar Airways kept flying throughout COVID-19, taking over 3.1 million people home since the start of the pandemic, and it is this experience that enables them to deliver an excellent standard of health and hygiene safety measures to keep customers and staff safe.”



Qatar Airways’ on-board safety measures include the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew and a complimentary protective kit for passengers. Business Class passengers on aircraft equipped with Qsuite can enjoy the enhanced privacy this award-winning business seat provides, including sliding privacy partitions and the option to use a ‘Do Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator. Qsuite is available on flights to more than 45 destinations including Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, London and New York.



In addition, the airline also uses the most advanced HEPA air filtration systems on board all aircraft, and recently became the first global carrier to introduce Honeywell’s state-of-the-art Ultraviolet Cabin System, operated by Qatar Aviation Services, as a further step in the cleaning of its aircraft. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented onboard and in HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.



Qatar Airways currently operates more than 800 weekly flights to over 110 destinations across the globe. By the end of March, Qatar Airways plans to rebuild its network to 130 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivalled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to change their travel dates or destination if they need to.



A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times. In addition to this, Qatar Airways home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) was ranked the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ and ‘Third Best Airport in the World’ by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020.

06/01/2021

FUNDACIÓ MALLORCA TURISME REWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE WITH UNWTO.QUEST CERTIFICATION

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has awarded its UNWTO.QUEST Certification to Fundació Mallorca Turisme. The award further advances UNWTO’s work to promote and recognize excellence and quality in destination management for the benefit of the whole of the sector. At the same time, it boosts competitiveness in Mallorca, one of Europe’s top destinations, and emphasizes the importance of placing sustainability at the heart of future growth.

Fundació Mallorca Turisme, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, becomes the fourth DMO (Destination Management Organization) in the world and the first in Europe to receive the UNWTO.QUEST Certification. The international benchmark was created to enhance and recognize excellence and quality in the three key performance areas at the DMO level: strategic leadership, effective ex*****on and efficient governance

Fundació Mallorca Turisme ranked particularly highly in the fields of promotion and communication and in fostering large events. The DMO was also recognized as an inspiring example in the advancement in competitiveness and for working with other public institutions and relevant partners, including academia.

Welcoming the news, Catalina Cladera, President of the Consell Insular de Mallorca, said: “Mallorca is proud to have obtained the UNWTO.QUEST Certification, a distinction that positions us as one of the leading tourism destinations for efficient governance, strategic leadership and effective ex*****on of plans and actions. Our island has demonstrated, through this comprehensive examination, that the strategy and formulas for tourism management are in line with the principles promoted by UNWTO.”

UNWTO.QUEST Certification, which is valid for four years, with possibility of renewal, is an example of the UNWTO’s leading work in the field of tourism standards. The initiative highlights the importance and success of public-private-community partnerships as well as horizontal and vertical cooperation in institutional governance. UNWTO.QUEST aims to strengthen internal and institutional capacities to face pressing challenges, among them reviving their reputation and brand, restoring tourists’ confidence and boosting demand.

https://www.unwto.org/news/fundacio-mallorca-turisme-rewarded-for-excellence-with-unwtoquest-certification

share this content Share this article on facebook Share this article on twitter Share this article on linkedin Fundació Mallorca Turisme Rewarded for Excellence with UNWTO.QUEST Certification All Regions 23 Dec 20 The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has awarded its UNWTO.QUEST Certification to F...

16/12/2020

09/12/2020

Maldives is the World’s Leading Destination of 2020!

Maldives has received the World’s Leading Destination award at the Grand Final of the World Travel Awards 2020 announced at a virtual event held today. This is the first time Maldives won the award in the history of the island nation, which is also the most distinguished award category of World Travel Awards. Maldives competed in this category with 22 other destinations including Dubai, Malaysia, Spain, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
World Travel Awards established in 1993, is the most prestigious honours program in the global travel and tourism industry recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.
Maldives receiving such an esteemed recognition during the most challenging of times faced by the tourism industry has never been more important.
Upon receiving the award, Minister of Tourism H. E. Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said “Maldives winning World's Leading Destination award is a strong endorsement of the popularity of Maldives amongst international tourists. This superb win reflects the strong determination and sound policies of HEP Solih and his administration, strive and strides of travel and tourism industry partners and employees; targetted promotion by industry partners and MMPRC and of course the warm smile of Maldivians. Congratulations!”
Maldives was also nominated for a staggering 40 categories at the Grand Final with 8 nominations in destinations category, 53 nominations for 30 categories in Hotels and Resorts and 3 nominations for 3 world categories competing against world class destinations, with several tourist establishments winning in these categories. These awards are:
● World's Leading New Resort 2020: Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
● World's Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020:The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
● World's Leading Luxury Island Villas 2020: Baros Maldives
● World's Leading Honeymoon Resort 2020: JA Manafaru
● World's Leading Water Villa Resort 2020: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda
Huraa
● World's Leading Seaplane Operator 2020: Trans Maldivian Airway
● World's Leading Airport Resort 2020: Hulhule Island Hotel

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maldives as a whole and the travel and tourism industry was hit hard, and it caused an unprecedented level of disruption. As the lockdown began, the marketing plans of the government’s national tourism body, VisitMaldives came to a complete halt, and the campaigns had to be shifted to digital platforms; all travel and tourism partners began adapting to the new situation. The means of communication changed, but it enhanced the way for a more effective channel between agents, partners, and customers across various key markets.
Efforts and planning for the reopening of borders were made with the contribution of the entire industry, where an emphasis was given on the unique geographical formation of Maldivian islands, and the key USP of one-island-one-resort concept. These characteristics make Maldives a relatively safe destination and a safe haven for visitors. The rest of the world was constantly being made aware of the safety measures and important procedures in place for tourists, which came with the reopening of borders on 15th July 2020.
Visit Maldives, alongside industry stakeholders and partners, continued working tirelessly to assure tourists of this, and keep them dreaming about the destination. Several marketing activities and campaigns were launched, providing a platform for tourists from around the world to relive the happiness and rediscover the wonders of Maldives.
All in all, Visit Maldives has carried out over 412 different types of marketing activities in 22 global markets. 314 activities were carried out during this pandemic as part of the crisis recovery plan; some of these include fairs (online as well as offline), webinars, FAM trips, online roadshows, outdoor campaigns, digital media campaigns and more.
Despite the challenges over the course of the year, this accomplishment is a remarkable testament of the love of tourists from around the world, as well as the massive effort and continuous contribution made by each and every one of the stakeholders, in order to revive and restore the industry in Maldives.
Speaking on behalf of Visit Maldives, the Managing Director Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who voted for Maldives and the tourism industry stakeholders. he stated,
“We are beyond thrilled to receive the World’s Leading Destination award for the first time in
the history of Maldives. This prestigious award means a lot to Maldives, especially as we
achieved this during these difficult times. Thank you everyone who voted for us. And thank
you to the travel industry partners for the immense work carried out to accomplish this. I would
like to thank His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the support and close
guidance especially in the recovery process of the nation and the tourism industry”.
Further to this, World Travel Awards has reported a record number of visitor traffic and engagement from public voters. This shows that as travel resumes in the world and the tourism sector recovers, the appetite for travel has never been greater. Tourists are constantly seeking the very best tourism products from across the world, and as Maldives is now the World’s leading Destination, it is a pivotal moment to market the country as one of the safest and top travel destinations in the world.
Maldives has also won 4 awards in the Indian Ocean category at World Travel Awards, attesting to this. These categories are Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2020 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020. The destination has also won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 12 times within the last 16 years, this year being the 13th time.

23/11/2020

Season 5 of ‘Mountain Monsters’ continues Trapper’s legacy beginning Sunday, January 10 at 10|9c.

21/09/2020

PETRA KASIH TO SUPPORT THE MALAYSIAN

KOTA KINABALU, 19 September - The PETRA Group today launched PETRA KASIH, an initiative to support economic recovery and uplift people’s spirits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The launch was held in conjunction with the PETRA Group Malaysia Day Celebration at The Magellan Sutera Resort. It was attended by dignitaries and celebrities from both Peninsular and East Malaysia
Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar, Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the PETRA Group, said, “In the face of COVID-19, we must put aside all our prejudices and stand together. Our country and our people have been seriously affected economically, with livelihoods lost, businesses closing down, and with many struggling to make ends meet. PETRA Group is about creating Solutions For Humanity. Hence, we are launching PETRA KASIH as our way of giving back to the Malaysian people and contributing to the country’s recovery. It is a national imperative that SMEs and farmers, the backbone of our economy, are provided with financial assistance and protection during these trying times.”
PETRA KASIH comprises four main programmes, a micro-financing investment scheme, a farm upscaling programme, the introduction and the cultivation of a new high-value crop and a concert in support of the local creative industry:
• The Sekhar Economic Initiative: An investment scheme to help SMEs and farmers to navigate through the current economic state by upscaling their business, investing in equipment and helping to craft a viable space for them to market their products effectively.
• The Ranau Project: Designed to provide assistance to farmers in Ranau, Sabah by focussing on six fundamental needs; basic necessities, medication, food, housing and education, as well as capital for farmers to upgrade their equipment and increase their production capacity.
• The Vanilla Initiative: A 15-year plan that aims to boost the Malaysian economy by exploring vanilla, the second most expensive spice in the world, as an alternative lucrative crop that will benefit farmers by providing a new and sustainable revenue stream. Vanilla thrives in tropical climates and has the potential to become a primary export crop for Malaysia.
• The PETRA KASIH Concert: A revival of the legendary Konsert IKHLAS 1992, the PETRA KASIH Concert aims to support the arts. It will feature leading as well as up-coming Malaysian artistes.

Spearheaded by the Chief Executive of PETRA Visionworks Studios, Dato’ Afdlin Shauki, the concert is slated to take place in 2021.
“The PETRA KASIH concert is our way of showing that culture, music, and the arts are integral aspects of a nation’s creative achievements. COVID-19 has heavily impacted the arts and culture scene in Malaysia with many people losing their income overnight. We hope that this concert will inspire Malaysians to hold on to and support the arts to help them come out of months of silence during the Movement Control Order. We are currently exploring avenues of organising the concert in the new normal without compromising the experience and atmosphere,” said Dato Afdlin.
A preview of the concert was featured at the PETRA Group Malaysia Day Celebration event. The line- up included Dato’ Zainal Abidin, Dato’ Afdlin Shauki, K-Clique, Vince Chong, Dasha Logan and The 15.

17/07/2020

Each state has its own conditions, mentality, social environment, economy and, accordingly, the ability to combat the epidemic. Some countries were able to overcome the epidemic relatively quickly, while some are still in crisis. COVID-19 has had a different impact on the development of countries and their plans. Kazakhstan, like all countries of the world, is going through its difficult period and does not hide its challenges and individual problems.

As in all countries of the world, the national healthcare system of the Republic of Kazakhstan is undergoing a severe test, both citizens and doctors, who are on the front line of the fight, are becoming ill. Just like in the whole world, there are human losses in Kazakhstan. All this naturally impacts the morale of the population, which, it must be acknowledged, previously did not completely trust the information about the new coronavirus.

Doctors, hospitals, public infrastructure, a medicine distribution system, and everything else are now operating to their limits and are under tremendous pressure. The population began to justly criticize a number of issues through the media and social networks. Within the framework of the concept of the “listening state”, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has taken prompt measures in response to the requests of the Kazakhstani society.

In addition to the epidemic, Kazakhstan has confronted panic, provoked by an overload of various information and a wave of incorrect assessments in foreign mass media. This led to a certain misunderstanding of the real situation in Kazakhstan. Thus, the so-called infodemia around the coronavirus, which the WHO warned about earlier this year, jumped the gun and exaggerated the risks in the minds of the population.

So what is the real situation? Currently, more than 61,000 cases have been recorded in the country, of which 375 have been fatal. According to the classification of the American Johns Hopkins University, Kazakhstan occupies the 31st position in the world in terms of the prevalence rate of the illness (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html). In these conditions, Kazakhstan is adapting to the changes in the epidemiological situation.

First. On July 10, at an expanded meeting of the Government, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, summed up the results of the work carried out to counter the epidemic and set out new tasks. In his statement, the Head of State directly answered all the resonant questions that concern the Kazakhstani society, and set the Government clear tasks for the new period of battle with COVID-19. The President publicly criticized the mistakes and shortcomings in the work of a number of central government bodies and local authorities in the regions of Kazakhstan.

The head of state put an end to the discussions and doubts regarding the statistics on the increase of incidence of the disease. He noted that all statistics in Kazakhstan are absolutely transparent, and various disinformation is aimed at destabilizing the situation. Such a public discussion of all pressing issues and urgent problems in the implementation of measures to combat the epidemic indicates the openness of the state and transparency of the state’s response to the epidemiological challenge.

Second. At a new stage in the fight against the epidemic, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has replaced the senior management in the healthcare system. A new experienced Head of the Ministry of Health has been appointed, and the state body has been given broader powers for interagency coordination in the field of combating the epidemic. The new leadership of the Ministry of Health has changed the methodology for counting the patients infected with coronavirus, which led to an increase in their number, and an uncertain perception of the epidemiological situation due to different statistics.

The new management at the Ministry is currently preparing an updated protocol for the treatment of coronavirus, taking into account the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus infection. In addition, the new management in the Ministry is preparing a package of measures to protect the population from COVID-19, which is based on the effective experience of states that have already managed the epidemic and which have good medical potential. For example, currently a group of several dozen doctors from Russia is working in the country, who are sharing their experience in treating coronavirus with Kazakh colleagues.

Third. In response to public criticism of disruptions in the supply of medical drugs and equipment, President Tokayev instructed to change the leadership of two organizations responsible for the distribution of medicines and public access to medical services. In particular, there has been a change of leadership in the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund, which must provide the population with equal access to health services. The leadership of SK Pharmacia, a state organization that distributes medicines in all regions of the country, has also changed. The new leadership has the task of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of necessary medicines.

President Tokayev ha also set the task of creating the necessary reserve of medicines and medical devices. It is planned to additionally purchase more than 4,000 ventilators in case of the worst case scenario of the development of coronavirus. More than 3,000 units will be purchased from domestic manufacturers. According to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan, starting in August, industrial production of ventilators will be established, and the first batch of 595 units will go to healthcare organizations.

Fourth. The country is preparing a package of measures to stimulate the national economy in a downturn in business activity. The Government and the National Bank are developing an action plan to support sectors of the economy and the population in the event of a likely worsening of the situation. To increase the efficiency of the budget revenues, tax preferences and benefits will be analysed. In order to create a stable environment for attracting direct investments, necessary amendments to the legislation will be introduced to the Parliament of Kazakhstan to ensure stability in maintaining conditions for strategic investors.

Fifth. For the period of July 5-19, there are a number of restrictions in the country due to quarantine measures. On 14 July, it was decided that the quarantine period in Kazakhstan will be extended for another two weeks until August 2. The state will provide financial assistance for food products to certain categories of the population, as well as make social payments in case of temporary loss of income.

Overall, the first stage of the global pandemic in March-May, under the conditions of a complete lockdown, passed generally unnoticed and without noticeable losses in Kazakhstan. Seemingly, that period consolidated the perception of Kazakhstan as a country where the risk of COVID-19 is minimal.

During the second post-quarantine stage, when it is necessary to deal with the epidemic and rebuild the economy, it has become much more difficult to cope: the epidemic in the country is reaching its peak. When comparing this period with previous months, there is to some extent a perception that a complete crisis is taking place in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan : New Measures At A New Stage In The Fight Against The Epidemic

In fact, from the point of view of the global situation, the current situation in Kazakhstan is in some ways better and in some ways worse than in other states. In addition, according to the World Health Organization, the epidemiological situation in the world is now getting worse.

However, there is no single recipe in the world for how to respond to COVID-19 without loss. Each state is coping with the epidemic based on its capabilities. The task of countering the epidemic in Kazakhstan is being successively addressed. Today, the state is working on mistakes, adapting to new trends and building a new strategy for its actions to protect the population.