Starfish Travel Corporation Team

The objective is to integrate the population in tourist efforts, the director of the Mauritius tourist Authority said. Lindsay Morvan, Director of the Mauritius tourist Authority, spoke with TravelDailyNews International at the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference (GSTC) 2023 about the way to tourist recovery following the epidemic. Lindsay Morvan also discussed Mauritius’ response to the overtourism situation. He also spoke about the more environmentally friendly policies that would guide the sector going forward. Along with Adan Kaptanolu, Chairperson, TURMEPA, Rachel McCaffery, Director, Green Case Consulting/Chair, GSTC’s Destination Stewardship Working Group, Kevin Fsadni, Director of Product Development, Malta Tourism Authority, and Luigi Cabrini, Chairman, GSTC as Moderator, Lindsay Morvan took part in the panel discussion on “Sustainable Coastal Destinations.” From May 9 to May 12, the GSTC2023 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference took place in Antalya, Turkey. Source: traveldailynews

One of the top hotel businesses in the world, IHG Hotels & Resorts, more than doubles its luxury and leisure footprint in Italy, solidifying its position in this important growing region. The six new hotels are the result of IHG’s dedication to sustainable growth throughout Europe and include the eagerly awaited openings of Six Senses and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in the Italian capital of Rome, as well as four additional signings, including a Vignette Collection property in Rome and Hotel Indigo properties in Florence, Turin, and Trieste. The addition of these properties to our luxury and leisure portfolio is a significant contribution to IHG’s expansion in Italy, a vital market for us, said Eric Viale, Managing Director, Southern Europe, IHG properties & Resorts. It also expresses the faith our owners have in the popularity of our brands and the confidence our customers have in the services they provide. In a market like Italy, where we are seeing a lot of investment from our partners in luxury and lifestyle projects, making the most of growing consumer appetite for upscale travel and stay experiences, our differentiated brands are well-positioned, from our upper luxury Six Senses offering and glamour of the InterContinental life, right through to the originality of our Vignette Collection brand and the boutique neighbourhood charm of Hotel Indigo. With the hiring of Fabrizio Piolanti as Director Development, Italy, we are pleased to have strengthened our local development infrastructure to support that. The three new Hotel Indigo locations complement a significant existing footprint in Verona, Venice, Rome, and Milan, whilst the new Six Senses and Vignette Collection properties are brand debuts in Italy: SIX SENSE ROME IS NOW OPEN The hotel, which opened on March 16th, has 96 keys and 12 various room types, including suites with views of the lively Via del Corso and the nearby San Marcello al Corso Church as well as quiet rooms with courtyard views. The Eat With Six Senses philosophy is available to guests at the NOTOS Rooftop or at the all-day dining BIVIUM Restaurant-Café-Bar. Learn more about the debut of this hotel here. On the storied Via Veneto, the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace is now open. The hotel, which has 160 rooms and opulent suites, has both charm and historical magnificence. There will be a variety of dining options, including Charlie’s Rooftop, Anita’s Bar & Lounge, and Scarpetta NYC, which serves upscale Italian and American food. The only year-round rooftop venue in the city will be Charlie’s Rooftop. Learn more about the debut of this hotel here. OPEN SOON: The centre of the city’s Hotel Indigo Florence, which is a short stroll from the city’s most important historical sites and upscale retail districts, will welcome guests in the second half of 2023. The hotel, which has 160 guest rooms and will open alongside Grape Hospitality after a complete conversion and restoration, will be IHG’s return to the area. Hotel Alexandra, Vignette Collection – IN THE PIPELINE The Hotel Alexandra, a joint venture with Molo Hotel Group, will take advantage of its location on the renowned Via Veneto, just minutes from the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, when it opens in the first half of 2025. The hotel will be the first Vignette Collection facility owned by IHG in Italy and will include 81 guest rooms, a restaurant on Via Veneto, and a gym. IN THE PIPELINE: Turin’s Hotel Indigo – With partners Gruppo CHC, this 50-room hotel will debut in the upcoming months. Being adjacent to the Piazza Castello, Royal Theatre, and Gardens in Turin’s historic centre will draw tourists, business visitors, and attendees of local events to the Pala Olimpico. Hotel Indigo Trieste’s Palazzo Kalister is on the pipeline. The restoration of a historic palace erected in the 19th century into a Hotel Indigo hotel, scheduled to debut in late 2025, is being done in partnership once more with Gruppo CHC. This hotel will benefit from the expanding neighbourhood, which is located on the border of Italy and Slovenia and has lately witnessed significant investment because of its local port, rise in cruise ship tourism, and building of a conference facility.In Italy, IHG owns and operates 27 hotels* under the six* brands Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. Seven more* residences are in the works, six of which are in the luxury and leisure market. Source: breakingtravelnews

Edinburgh and Beijing will be connected twice weekly by Hainan Airlines. This summer, Edinburgh Airport will be happy to see a direct flight back to Beijing when Hainan Airlines lands in Scotland. From June 26 to October 8, the airline will run twice-weekly flights between Scotland’s main airport and the Chinese capital. When it launches next month, this will be the only flight that connects Scotland and China directly. As we prepare for an incredibly exciting summer, Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “The reintroduction of direct flights to Beijing is excellent news and is further proof of the robust recovery we’re experiencing here at Edinburgh. “When it launches, this service will be the only one running between Scotland and China, and Hainan Airlines is really demonstrating its trust in the market by offering it. Scotland’s universities and tourist sector will benefit from this crucial link, which will also provide a plethora of new economic prospects and improve access to other regions of the globe. We’re confident that it will be widely regarded by everyone, including students who are crossing the border to study, families who are reuniting, and visitors who are going to new regions. “I welcome the announcement of this direct service between Edinburgh Airport and Beijing, which is a significant development for both Edinburgh and Scotland’s international connectivity,” said Transport Minister Kevin Stewart. For individuals and companies in Scotland and China, this direct connectivity is excellent news since it fosters strong ties for trade and exports and makes it simpler for tourists and students to visit Scotland. Source: traveldailynews

This platform, run by New Perspective Media Group, encourages financial literacy and fosters successful partnerships for a wealthy future. UAE’s DUBAI – The largest investment conference and property exhibition for the Philippines was launched in Dubai by His Excellency Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Minister of the Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The Radisson Blu Hotel, Deira Creek, Dubai, hosted the first Philippine Economic and Investment Summit (PEIS) and the ninth Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition (PPIE) on May 12–13. The public can attend the two-day international activities without charge. The UAE Travellers Festival Chairman, His Excellency Awad Mohammed Sheikh Al Mujrin, and the Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Alfonso Ver, officially opened the two events in front of important local and international investors. PEIS and PPIE are sponsored by Ayala Land as a silver sponsor, Rockwell Land and RLC Residences as gold sponsors, and New Perspective Media Group as the organiser. Speaking at the event will be H.E. Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Minister of the Philippine DILG, Hon. Renato Dueas Jr., Consul General of the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, and Charmaine Mignon Yalong, Commercial Attaché to the Middle East and Africa for the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry. Awad Mohammed Sheikh Al Murjin, Chairman of the Emirates Travellers Festival, Michael Makdah, Director of Market Intelligence, The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, Atty. Gisela Z. Kalalo, Executive Vice President, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Atty. Arifa A. Ala, Assistant Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines), Valerie Jane The Minister of the Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government, H.E. Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., stated, “We are pleased about the excellent economic opportunities that lie ahead of us. Our objective is to improve the procedures, governance, and ease of doing business at all levels, from the community to the industries. This dedication will guarantee a smooth and effective business environment. The people of Dubai have our sincere thanks for their constant support of the Philippines and for making us feel incredibly proud to be Filipinos. The most precious capital we have here, according to H.E. Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, Philippine ambassador to the UAE, is our people. They serve as a catalyst for luring investments, with the government providing crucial regulatory backing. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Karen Remo for taking this action. This project provides yet another way for us to advance and deepen our bilateral relationships. The chairman of the Emirates Travellers Festival, H.E. Awad Mohammed Sheikh Al Mujrin, said: “I am happy to be here and ready to offer my views and trade information about your nation. I’ve had the privilege of travelling to the Philippines around ten times, and each trip is one of my most treasured and lovely experiences. The people’s friendliness and kindness, together with their sincere grins, make for a very unique experience. In my opinion, the Philippines is a country that merits more research. I’m convinced it has a bright future in front of it. We are steadfastly devoted to widening avenues for collaboration and offering whatever essential assistance to make your efforts easier. Through the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition (PPIE), the largest and most established international Filipino investment expo and conference, New Perspective Media Group has been promoting financial literacy for Filipinos as part of its CSR initiatives for almost a decade. The event is currently in its ninth iteration, thanks to all of your support, said Dr Karen Remo, CEO & Founder of New Perspective Media Group and Chairman of PPIE and PEIS. In an effort to provide institutional and ordinary investors with a larger variety of investment ideas and tools, we created the Philippine Economic & Investment Summit this year. “And by doing so, NPM Group can further reinforce and strengthen the economic and social ties between the Philippines and the Middle East by providing a platform that can bring forth a better and wealthier future, for everyone,” continued Dr. Remo. Source: traveldailynews

The World travel Organisation (UNWTO) and Qatar Tourism have partnered to create the Qatar Tourism Awards, a programme intended to commemorate and honour the extraordinary contributions made by companies in providing exceptional and distinctive travel experiences in Qatar. By honouring tourist companies that consistently perform exceptional customer service, the Qatar tourist Awards aim to draw attention on the elements that go into designing a visitor’s experience at every touchpoint of their journey. The goal of this effort is to inspire all parties involved in the direct or indirect delivery of tourist experiences to keep creating and emulating extraordinary initiatives that stand out for their originality, sustainability, accessibility, and high level of service. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar tourist and Chief Executive of the Qatar Airways Group, stated: “We are thrilled to announce the Qatar Tourism Awards, which are intended to highlight the outstanding work of stakeholders in the tourist sector. The vision, tenacity, and passion of the organisations and people involved in the tourism industry have allowed Qatar to become home to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world. Through this programme, we seek to motivate and inspire our collaborators to create fresh, cutting-edge projects that will further enhance Qatar’s standing as a premier travel destination. The three main categories of the Qatar Tourism Awards—Cultural Experiences, Smart Solutions, and Service Excellence—highlight various facets of the traveller experience. All tourism firms, operators, entrepreneurs, visitor attractions, organisations, and events that operate in Qatar and market Qatar to a local and worldwide audience are eligible to enter the Qatar Tourism Awards. The awards are already accepting submissions, and later this year, a special event will be held to announce the winners. Source: breakingtravelnews

In the first quarter of 2023, Dubai received 4.67 million foreign overnight guests, up from 3.97 million visitors in the same period of 2022. According to the most recent information provided by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), this is a 17% YoY gain and the city’s highest Q1 performance since the pandemic, putting it firmly on course to become the most popular foreign destination. In order to solidify Dubai’s position as one of the top three cities in the world, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 in January. This growth puts the city on track for a full tourism recovery. His Majesty “The remarkable growth in international visitation achieved by Dubai in the first quarter of 2023 demonstrates the city’s emergence as one of the key destinations leading the way in the rebound of the global tourism sector,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. This accomplishment is the result of the leadership’s expansive ambition to make Dubai the world’s leading centre for tourism, talent, entrepreneurship, and investment. Dubai is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises. His Highness just announced the Dubai Economic Agenda. Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, lays out an ambitious new course for Dubai in order to increase its contributions to determining the direction of the world economy. In addition to being one of the strongest economic foundations in our country, the tourist industry plays a crucial role in enabling Dubai’s unique position as a global link between markets, cultures, and regions. In the next years, Dubai will keep launching innovative new projects in an effort to stand out as a tourism destination and fulfil its ambition of becoming the finest city in the world to live, visit, work, and invest. At 98% of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023, according to the most recent industry results, Dubai is the destination that is recovering the fastest globally, beating the UN World Trade Organization’s prediction that international tourist arrivals could reach between 80 and 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels this year, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. A remarkable achievement since turning the tide in July 2020 by reopening the city to international tourists, and in spite of current global economic headwinds, was the number of visitors in Q1 2023, which fell just two percentage points short of the pre-pandemic volume of 4.75 million tourists that arrived in Dubai in the first three months of 2019. The sector’s achievement also marked the culmination of a stellar first quarter for Dubai, which saw the city named the top worldwide destination once more in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023. This is just the second occasion in history that a city has received the prestigious award for two years in a row. The Honourable “Q1 2023 has set us off on a very strong trajectory for the year and is driving us closer to realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the most visited and returned-to destination,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. The robust performance of the industry is confirmation of our clearly defined strategy and evidence of the unwavering support of our stakeholders and partners in the travel and tourism sector. As we put more effort into fulfilling the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033, the next ten years will witness our sector go through unprecedented phases of transition in terms of infrastructure, technology, attractions, and experiences. The multi-pronged strategy that helped us succeed in 2022 will be continued in order to keep Dubai’s appeal as the top travel destination in the world: evolving the destination promise, taking a multi-geographic approach to markets, constant international outreach through global campaigns, hosting international MICE, business, and leisure events, and further strengthening stakeholder relationships. The pillars of sustainability, cuisine, trade, and technology will serve as the cornerstone of our future success as we anticipate more accelerated momentum in our tourist sector. A significant milestone for us is that this year has been designated as the UAE’s “Year of Sustainability” as the nation gets ready to host COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference. As we aim to become the finest city in the world to live and work in, sustainability will be at the centre of all we do. We will integrate sustainable practises into every part of the visitor experience. strong reversal The effectiveness of the city’s diversified multi-geographic approach is further demonstrated by the fact that Dubai’s traditional source markets continued to have a positive influence on foreign visitors during the first quarter of the year. The top area was made up of the GCC and MENA, which contributed 29% of the overall volumes, demonstrating the city’s sustained attraction to visitors from nearby markets. South Asia accounted for 16% of all overseas visitors, followed by CIS and Eastern Europe with a combined contribution of 15%, the Americas (7%), North Asia and South East Asia (6%), Africa (4%), and Australasia (1%). Western Europe accounted for 22% of tourist arrivals. While four regions have fully recovered and surpassed Q1 2019 levels, including MENA (32% vs. Q1-2019), the Americas (9% vs. Q1-2019, and Australasia (2% vs. 2019), the majority of regions have shown significant growth in Q1 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. In terms of tourism volume, South Asia and Western Europe are both almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Dubai’s hotel industry is driving development Performance at hotels in Dubai increased significantly in the first quarter of 2023. The industry’s average occupancy from January to March was a staggering 83%, ranking among the highest in the world and nearly matching the

The Singapore Tourism Awards 2023 honoured 25 people and companies for providing extraordinary experiences and exhibiting business excellence when tourism fully resumed the previous year. The Singapore Tourism Awards, given out by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), are intended to increase the competitiveness of the industry by encouraging people and organisations to provide engaging experiences and implement best practises. From 90 finalists[2] submitted for the Experience Excellence (Leisure/MICE), Enterprise Excellence, and Customer Service Excellence categories, winners[1] were chosen. “I congratulate all of our award recipients and finalists for their outstanding achievements,” stated STB Chief Executive Mr. Keith Tan. Their initiatives have improved the experiences of tourists to Singapore and benefited Singapore’s tourism industry. I hope that others in the tourist industry will be motivated by their successes to rise to the occasion and provide even more in the future. Outstanding Lifetime Achievement for Tourism Contribution The Award’s highest honour, Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, was given to Mr. George Tanasijevich, former president, chief executive officer, and managing director of Marina Bay Sands. He led the successful 2006 bid by Las Vegas Sands Corporation to build the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. It is currently one of the most famous tourist sites in the world, generating good jobs for locals and substantial economic gains for Singapore. Recognising excellence in travel For their exceptional efforts in Experience Excellence (Leisure/MICE), Enterprise Excellence, and Customer Service Excellence, 24 people and businesses were also recognised. Avatar: The Experience received the Outstanding Attraction Experience award in the area of Experience Excellence (Leisure). While giving a “eco-smart tourable experience” that can be moved about and reused, it engaged visitors in the “Pandora” universe while lowering its total carbon footprint. fish in a kayak The Outstanding Tour Experience award was given to Fever’s Kayak Sailing in Singapore, Mangrove and Culinary Adventure for bringing tourists near to the natural ecology and habitats while providing a unique look at life on Pulau Ubin. Due to its innovative use of an open wood and charcoal fire smokehouse and grill to create distinctively Asian flavours with Nanyang Teochew cuisine at the centre, Blue Smoke was selected Outstanding Casual Dining Experience. For splitting FHA 2022 into two tradeshows, Informa’s Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) won the Outstanding Business Event award under the Experience Excellence (MICE) award category. It attracted significant attendance, making it Asia’s best-attended Food and Hospitality event. For transforming Marina Bay Sands from a single venue attraction to a lively and connected district, Sands Expo and Convention Centre (Marina Bay Sands) received the Outstanding Event Venue Experience award. Additionally, it received the Exceptional Achievement[3] award for three consecutive years of Outstanding Event Venue Experience. For demonstrating leadership in sustainability and conservation, Mandai Wildlife Group received the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability award from the Enterprise Excellence award category. The organisation concentrated on improving neighbourhood habitats and ecological linkages at Mandai Wildlife Reserve in order to conserve biodiversity. Additionally, it reduced the amount of single-use plastics in the parks by 80% and changed the trams and buggies inside the parks to run on electricity. The Discovery Neverending NFTs from Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) won the award for Outstanding Marketing Idea because it effectively increased brand recognition and user engagement by capitalising on the acceptance of non-fungible tokens (NFT) among its target markets. The creative marketing strategy raised SDC’s loyalty programme sign-ups and attracted significant involvement, obtaining 1.96 million impressions on their social media platforms. It also included a clear analysis and mapping of audience behaviour. Due to its organised approach to personnel management and development, Resorts World Sentosa was honoured as an Outstanding Employer (formerly known as the Exemplary Employer award). In 2022, the business created a tiered skill allotment system and completed about 300,000 training hours. A specialised Innovation Department is also there to support and collaborate with other departments on work practises and innovation. Outstanding wellness experience receives a new award The Outstanding Wellness Experience award was launched this year in keeping with STB’s vision for Singapore to develop into a global hub for urban wellness and to expand our tourist services in this field. The first-place prize was won by Xiu Nature Connections. Xiu Nature Connections has developed a novel approach for tourists to see Singapore through its unusual forest bathing experience that draws on Singapore’s little pockets of greenery. Additionally, it worked with partners including Far East Hospitality, Seek Sophie, and ClassPass to promote their forest bathing activities internationally. The Singapore tourist Awards, which are presented by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), unite Singapore’s tourist industry to honour those people and businesses who succeed at providing unique experiences and achieving business excellence. The Awards are a crucial component of STB’s initiatives to increase the competitiveness of the Singapore tourism industry by inspiring businesses and individuals to provide memorable experiences or adopt best practises. Visit www.singaporetourismawards.com for more details. Source: breakingtravelnews

Greater China is driving the expansion of APAC’s recovery, with pre-pandemic hotel occupancy levels in APAC exceeding post-pandemic levels by 5% in Q1 2023 compared to Q1. As the sector moves into the second half of the year, travel demand is rising across all markets in the Asia Pacific region (APAC), indicating that the industry is well on its road to recovery. Amadeus’ Demand360® data reveals that due to the recent reopening of Greater China’s border, the region’s hotel occupancy growth trajectory in the first quarter of 2023 (January-March) increased by 61.7%, surpassing 2019 levels by 3%. Greater China is driving the expansion of APAC’s recovery, with pre-pandemic hotel occupancy levels in APAC exceeding post-pandemic levels by 5% in Q1 2023 compared to Q1. The greatest hotel occupancy rate in APAC for Q1 is seen in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), which saw an increase from 64.5% in January 2023 to 76.5% in March 2023. Throughout Q1 2023, hotel occupancy rates in significant APAC markets increased. Tokyo is one of the markets that performed well, with hotel occupancy rates exceeding records from mid-March to April 2023 during the cherry blossom season, reaching over 80%. In addition, from February to March 2023, hotel occupancy in Sydney was 85% on average. Hotels in Singapore fared 2-3% better in February and March 2023 than previous record highs in 2019. Hotel occupancy in Seoul increased 7% from January to March 2023 compared to the same period in 2019. Notably, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, and Beijing are the top markets with the highest regional hotel occupancy rates in Q1, with rates above 70% over the Easter week from April 7–10, 2023. “We are beyond thrilled by the hospitality resurgence that is currently taking place across Asia Pacific compared to pre-pandemic levels,” says Maria Taylor, Head of Commercial, Asia Pacific, Hospitality, Amadeus. As domestic and international tourism have picked up, this is a positive indication that hoteliers in APAC may anticipate a sizable return in the long run. Source: traveldailynews

A new round of strikes will cause additional disruption for passengers, according to Ben Chapman of ITV News. Due to ongoing salary issues, train drivers and other workers are striking, causing further travel disruptions for rail customers. Following strikes on Friday, members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at train operators will walk out on Saturday in connection with ongoing issues. On May 31 and June 3, the days of the FA Cup final at Wembley, more strikes will take place. Here is a summary of each operator’s strike day strategy: West Coast Avanti No trains on Friday. With the exception of a few routes to and from Liverpool, which is hosting the Eurovision song contest, fewer trains than usual will run on Saturday and only between 7am and 7pm. c2c Friday: Regular schedule. Saturday: There won’t be any significant effects, although all services will go to/from London Fenchurch Street and won’t stop at Stratford or London Liverpool Street. Scottish Sleeper Friday: Regular schedule. On Saturday nights, The Caledonian Sleeper does not run. Railways Chiltern No trains on Friday. No trains will operate on Saturday north of Banbury. Only during the hours of about 9am and 9pm will services between London Marylebone and Banbury, Oxford, and Aylesbury through Amersham be reduced to one train per hour in each direction. CrossCountry No trains on Friday. On Saturday, there will be no direct trains between Birmingham New Street and Aberdeen, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham, or Stansted Airport. The services that do run will only be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Northeastern Railway No trains on Friday. On Saturday, services are available from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Between London St Pancras and each of Nottingham, Sheffield and Corby as well as a few regional lines, such as between Derby and Matlock, they will be limited to just one train per hour in each direction. line Elizabeth Friday: Regular schedule. On Saturday, there will be some service changes even though the Elizabeth line is not a party to the RMT’s labour dispute. Between Maidenhead and Reading, there are no trains at all before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Express to Gatwick No trains on Friday. No trains will run on Saturday, however Southern and Thameslink will provide service to Gatwick. Big Central Friday: Regular schedule. Saturday: There will be a few minor service changes, although Grand Central is not a party to the RMT’s labour dispute. Superior Northern No trains on Friday. On Saturday, only a limited service will be provided, and only from 7am to 7pm. There won’t be any trains running between King’s Lynn and Ely. Western Great Railway On Friday, just a restricted service will be provided from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm. Reading and Didcot, Reading and Basingstoke, Reading and Redhill, Westbury and Swindon, Cardiff and Bristol, and Plymouth and Gunnislake will be the only lines that are available. There will be no Night Riviera sleeper service. On Saturday, just a limited service will be provided, from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm. Compared to Friday, more routes will be available, including new ones between Penzance and Plymouth, Slough and Windsor, London Paddington and Didcot Parkway, and London Paddington and Cardiff. larger Anglia Friday: Only between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge, Norwich, Southend, and Stansted Airport will a limited service be provided. On Saturday, trains will run from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. The majority of routes will have regular or almost normal service, while certain routes may have a decreased frequency. Airport Express No trains on Friday. No trains on Saturday after 9 p.m. U.K. Trains Friday: Regular schedule. Saturday: Regular schedule. LNER, or London North Eastern Railway On Friday and Saturday, only a restricted timetable between London King’s Cross and Leeds and Edinburgh will be in effect. Northwestern Railway in London No trains on Friday. On Saturday, only a limited service will be provided, and only from 7am to 7pm. Only the routes connecting Birmingham New Street with London Euston, Birmingham International, and Liverpool Lime Street will be open. British Overground Friday: Regular schedule. On Saturday, a few of London Overground’s services will be somewhat altered despite the fact that it is not a party to the RMT’s labour dispute. Lumo Saturday and Friday: Regular schedule. Merseyrail No strikes had an impact on Friday or Saturday. Due to Eurovision, additional services will be provided. Northern No trains on Friday. Only a limited service will be provided on Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm. There won’t be many routes operating, such as those between Darlington and Saltburn, Leeds and York, and Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester. ScotRail Saturday and Friday: Regular schedule. Western South Railway Friday: Isle of Wight trains are not running. Between London Waterloo and Exeter, as well as in the Romsey region and on the suburban network, services will be cut back. On Saturday, a limited service will be available exclusively from 7am to 7pm. The only routes that will be available are those that go from London Waterloo to Windsor through Hounslow, Windsor via Richmond, Woking, and Basingstoke, between Basingstoke and Salisbury, and on the Isle of Wight. Southeastern No trains on Friday. On Saturday, just 58 of the 180 stations will be open, resulting in a lower level of service. Services may begin later and end sooner than usual, and trains that do operate will likely be busier than usual. Southern No trains on Friday. On Saturday, there will be a limited service. Between Hemel Hempstead and Clapham Junction, London Bridge and Norwood Junction, Southampton Central and Barnham, and Eastbourne and Ashford International, no trains will operate. St. Pancras Express On Friday, the number of trains will be cut in half to one per hour in each direction. On Saturday, trains will run at a frequency of one per hour in each direction, starting later and finishing sooner than usual. Thameslink No trains on Friday. On Saturday, only north and southbound trains will run between

Due to a new strike and the intensification of ongoing pay conflicts, rail travellers will face more travel mayhem on Saturday. On the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool, RMT members will stage walkouts at 14 railway operators around England. The action on Friday by the railway drivers’ union, Aslef, crippled services, resulting in a daylong train strike in several areas of England. Despite the ongoing impasse over the wage dispute, Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan disclosed that there had been no discussions with the Government since early January. He stated that unless they received a reasonable compensation offer, they would be willing to continue participating in industrial action. An offer of an 8% pay increase spread over two years has been called “risible” by Aslef. “The government seems to think they can starve us back to work, or that we will give up, but that isn’t going to happen,” said Mr. Whelan, who joined picket lines in Manchester and Liverpool. “There will be more strikes because we are in this for the long haul.” On May 31 and June 3, the days of the FA Cup Final at Wembley, Aslef has urged for more stoppages. After several weeks of discussions, the Rail Delivery Group claimed to have offered a “revised and fair offer” to the Aslef leadership, including a salary increase of 8% over two years. It would have implemented long-needed, logical upgrades that were already in place in some areas of the network, resulting in more trains operating on time for passengers. Sadly, this was turned down, a spokeswoman stated. On Saturday, travellers were advised to verify before leaving. Since Merseyrail is not impacted by the strike, it is anticipated that it will operate normally throughout the Eurovision Song Contest. Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT, predicted strong support for the walkout on Saturday. This strike is being held in response to a recent re-ballot of members working for 14 railway operating firms, which overwhelmingly reaffirmed a mandate for more strike action, the speaker stated. “Throughout this conflict, the railway firms have been unable to propose a fair settlement because of government restrictions. “We’re striking so the government and employers can understand the intense resentment among train employees is very genuine. They need to acknowledge that fact, confront reality, and come up with better alternatives. “We are requesting that the rail companies sit down with RMT and engage in sincere negotiations to improve the situation for rail workers.” The RMT noted that when it recently reballotted its members, a “massive” vote in favour of continuing strike action was received. According to the union, Saturday was picked as the strike date since it was the final one permitted by employment regulations. On Saturday, there will be more rail services than on Friday, although several firms are limiting the number of routes and operating hours. Source: hindustantimes