As this year’s pandemic has halted and altered our daily routines, some industry sectors were greatly affected on how they would continue doing business as mandatory restrictions were set in place. One of the industries that were greatly affected was the Travel Industry. Bans and prohibited travel had our industry issuing refunds and managing credits at a magnitude that we had not seen in over two decades.
International routes into the United States are becoming more available but are still limited due to the lack of demand on these routes. It is best to secure flights with a carrier that is actively flying to and from your home country, to increase your flexibility of travel for any future cancellations or schedule changes.
For US hunters and travelers, travel is permitted to those countries which are open for international visitors such as, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Turkey, Tajikistan are all open for travel. Most of the countries require a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate which must be issued within a certain period prior to departure or arrival. These vary from within 48 hours prior to departure for Zimbabwe to within 14 days of arrival for Zambia. Please refer to the Interactive Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Regulations Map link below for the latest information.
For non-residents traveling to the US, make sure you fully understand the requirements to enter the USA. Check requirements for a visa to enter the USA here. For those countries which are visa exempt make sure you apply for the required ESTA travel authorization. Click here for more details.
Admission and Transit Restrictions to the USA for non-resident visitors (at time of publication):
– Passengers arriving or transiting Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or United Kingdom are not allowed to enter and transit the USA.
At the time of this publication, there are no current restrictions in the state of Texas for COVID testing or Quarantine. Travel restrictions are being placed or lifted daily, we are constantly having to monitor these changes and communicate this information to our clients. Some of the websites that we utilize daily are listed below to get up to date information.
FAQ’s
Where can I find the latest updates on travel restrictions?
Please refer to Iata’s Interactive Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Regulations Map
Is there a policy that airlines must follow regarding flight rebooking or refund for trips canceled due to COVID-19?
Each airline will have its own policies regarding refunds and flight re-bookings, subject to local rules and regulations. Please check with your airline or speak with your travel agent.
What can passengers do to protect themselves from an infection?
The range of simple measures advised by WHO are effective even for passengers on a flight: careful hand-washing on a regular basis, or at least hand sanitize, avoiding touching other people, covering coughs and sneezes (and then hand-washing), avoiding traveling if becoming unwell, and avoiding contact with anyone who appears to be unwell.
How high is the risk of contracting a virus on a plane?
Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes. Although the risk of infection on an airplane is low, travelers should try to avoid contact with sick passengers and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contain 60%–95% alcohol.
US Department of State-
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html
Interactive Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Regulations Map
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm
Texas Department of State health Services
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/travelers.aspx
