Global Business Development

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 9, Monday, July 27, 2020

Posted on Jul 27th, 2020 in World Economy | Comments Off

By William (Bill) Edwards, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” Harry Truman, the 33^rd President of the United States

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou

“The main thing is to have good health and to embrace opportunities which come along every day. As Sir Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts!”, Stewart Germann, Auckland

Introduction

The goal of this biweekly newsletter is to update the economic and business situation in key trading countries across the world. In our business, we monitor 30+ countries, 25 daily international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our team on the ground covers 43 countries and provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries.

Many of our newsletter readers send us their input and perspectives to help us publish a balanced overview about the world every other week. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.

Highlights In This Issue

This issue focuses on what is happening in more than 20 countries that impact health, consumer spending, business investment and travel. A few highlights:

McKinsey U.S. Survey says masks will be on people’s faces at least through early 2021
Google to Keep Employees Home Until Summer 2021 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The World Trade Organization has five charts that indicate the worst may be over for coronavirus and global trade
Patty power: The Economist’s latest Big Mac index: The McDonald’s Big Mac hamburger. It costs about US$3.10 in China and $5.71 in America. See below for what a Big Mac costs in key countries.
How retail shopping and eating will change as result of the pandemic

McKinsey Survey says masks will be on people’s faces at least through early 2021

“As of late May/early June, 88 percent of respondents in the United States thought the coronavirus infection rate would be the same or lower in the first quarter of 2021—whether there’s a vaccine or not. But most expect to still be wearing masks.”, McKinsey, July 14, 2020

International School Openings

“Some Countries Reopened Schools. What Did They Learn About Kids and Covid? Studies from around the world suggest that success depends on class size, distancing, the age of the students, and how prevalent the virus is locally. As school officials try to figure out whether to open classrooms this fall, the science they need to make these tough choices is still evolving. A few things are clear: That most kids don’t become as seriously ill from Covid-19 as adults, and have much lower fatality rates. That’s according to data from the US and China published by the Centers for Disease Control.”, WIRED, July 27, 2020

https://bit.ly/WIREDReopeningSchools

International Travel Updates

“Here Are The New Rules For Air Travel After The Pandemic: Canceled flights. Mandatory masks. Temperature screenings. Air travel just isn’t the same since the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re flying in a strange and often confusing world. So what are the new rules for air travel after the pandemic? Some changes, like new airline refund policies and mandatory face coverings, are widely known. Others aren’t. And it’s these unpublicized shifts — happening quietly behind the scenes — that suggest passengers have an advantage that they haven’t had in years.”, Forbes, July 24, 2020

https://bit.ly/ForbesNewTravelRules

“Business travel changed– but not forever: In the thick of the pandemic, it seemed hard to imagine that we would ever travel for business again. Health and hygiene concerns coupled with global lockdowns, conspired to take all our meetings online. However, now the future is looking brighter, will businesses stay loyal to Zoom, or will we return to the old ways of travel and doing business face-to-face?

https://bit.ly/RegusBusinessTravelChanges

“EU extends travel ban on Americans amid spike in US coronavirus cases: The European Union extended its travel ban on Americans on Thursday, as coronavirus infections continued to rise across the United States. The EU first started lifting international travel restrictions on July 1, welcoming visitors from 14 countries, including Canada, South Korea and Australia. The U.S. was left off that initial list and Americans remain barred from visiting the bloc for at least another two weeks under Thursday’s decision, announced by the European Council.”, USA Today, July 16, 2020

“U.S., Canada, Mexico to Keep Land Border Closed Until August: The borders will be closed until at least Aug. 21. ‘Based on the success of the existing restrictions and close collaboration with Mexico and Canada, @DHSgov will continue to limit non-essential travel at our land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico until Aug 20,’ Chad Wolf, the acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said in a tweet. ‘Close collaboration with our neighbors has allowed us to respond to #COVID19 in a North American approach and slow the travel-related spread of the virus.’ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the extension was a move ‘to keep people in both our countries safe.’ Since the land border was closed, passenger crossings have dropped by 90 percent or more, Reuters reported.”, Travel and Leisure magazine, July 26, 2020

“Virgin Atlantic resumed passenger flights on July 20, ending a three-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The first flight was London’s Heathrow Airport to Hong Kong. The first service, operated by a Boeing 787-9 aptly named Leading Lady, had special measures implemented to ensure that passengers can fly safely. These included mandatory face masks and a Health Pack for each passenger, which included three masks, surface wipes and hand gel. Since this flight, Virgin has resumed services to two additional destinations. These include New York, operated by an Airbus A350 named Queen of Hearts, and Los Angeles, which was served by the Dreamliner called Queen Bee.”, Airline Geeks, July 22, 2020

“U.S. passenger flights to India can resume July 23: The government of India has agreed to allow U.S. air carriers to resume passenger services in the U.S.-India market starting July 23, the U.S. Transportation Department said on Friday.”, Reuters, July 17, 2020

“Set sail and social distance: Taiwan resumes ocean cruise amid pandemic: Taiwan resumed an island-hopping ocean cruise on Sunday, joining a handful of places in the world to restart voyages after the coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a virtual standstill. Some 900 holiday makers are adapting to new safety measures when boarding Genting Hong Kong’s (0678.HK) Explorer Dream embarking from Taiwan’s northern Keelung port. The company now offers trips of up to five days from Taiwan to its scenic outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.”, Reuters, July 26, 2020

“Southwest Airlines backtracks on a full schedule by year-end as recovery stalls. It was less than two months ago when Southwest Airlines unveiled plans to fly a nearly full schedule by December in an effort to grow out of the coronavirus pandemic as it has past recessions. Dallas-based Southwest plans to fly about 25% less than it flew at the end of 2019 by December, CEO Gary Kelly said during the airline’s second quarter earnings call on Thursday.”, The Points Guy, July 26, 2020

Africa

“Welcome to Africa: A country-by-country guide to reopening: We’ve been doing a lot of stories about our dream trips and when we can realistically book them. Africa is at the top of our wish list. And several countries in Africa have reopened to tourism.”, The Points Guy, July 26, 2020

https://bit.ly/TPGGettingtoAfricaNow

Greater Asia

“A Country-by-Country Look at How Asia Is Reopening: All the reopening statuses and current travel restrictions. Nearly every country in the world has been touched by the virus, there are travel restrictions at most borders and, for the imminent future, we’re all staying pretty close to home. But because countries in Asia like China, Japan, and South Korea were impacted early on, they’ve also been earlier to peak, earlier to flatten their curves, and, generally, earlier to reopen.”, CNN Traveler, July 15, 2020

https://bit.ly/CNNTravelerAsiaReopening

Australia

“McDonald’s to open its 1,000th store in Australia – and the cutting-edge super green Melbourne restaurant will use solar panels, fibre cutlery and renewable energy. McDonald’s is set to open its 1,000th restaurant following 50 years in Australia at the end of the year.”, Daily Mail, July 25, 2020

“Australia extends jobs support as new COVID-19 outbreaks threaten economy: Australia will spend A$16.8 billion ($11.8 billion) to extend its wage subsidies for businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic, as a surge in new infections in the country’s southeast threatens to keep the economy in recession.”, Reuters, July 20, 2020

“Bank chief executives have backed the government’s revamp of a scheme to provide up to $40 billion in taxpayer-backed loans to help the recovery of small and medium-sized firms. Changes to the $40 billion scheme include lending larger amounts for longer terms of up to $1 million for five years, which is an increase from the scheme’s initial limits of $250,000 for up to three years.”, The Brisbane Times, July 20, 2020, compliments of Jason Gehrke, Managing Director, The Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane

Canada

“WestJet Announces Schedule Expansion for August: As the summer travel season moves forward, Canada’s WestJet is expanding its August schedule and continuing its flight operations for July. The Calgary, Canada-based carrier plans to add more than 200 flights to 48 destinations across Canada and beyond. Even though there seems to be no end in sight for the global pandemic, the airline is also dedicating efforts to safeguard its passengers.”, Airline Geeks, July 20, 2020

Mainland China

“Chinese GDP grows 3.2% in second quarter: Gross domestic product grew 3.2 per cent in the three months to the end of June, compared with the same period last year. The positive economic data follow the first annual decline in decades in the previous quarter, when China’s GDP fell 6.8 per cent as the country struggled to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.”, The Financial Times, July 16, 2020

“Passengers Now Need a Negative Covid Test Certificate Before Flying to China: The test, paperwork, and five-day time frame all add up to a lot of extra work for the traveler. Those airlines that are allowed to fly to China will probably be hoping it’s a very temporary measure.”, July 21, 2020

“Getting Expats Back to China During COVID-19: With the new school year due to resume in the fall, some AmCham China members are having to arrange alternative plans for their children’s schooling to contend with the very real possibility that they will not be able to return to China in time for the start of the fall term.”, AmCham China, July 24, 2020

https://bit.ly/GettingExpatsBacktoChina

“Yum China Holdings Inc was named as an official retail food services sponsor for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the KFC operator in China said on Monday. Yum China’s brands, including KFC and Pizza Hut, will be on site at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. The company, a licensee of Yum Brands Inc in mainland China, was also named as an official sponsor of the Chinese Olympic Committee through the end of 2024.”, Reuters, July 20, 2020

https://bit.ly/YUMChinaOlympics

“Beijing partially reopens movie theaters as coronavirus threat recedes: Cinemas in parts of the city deemed at low risk of cross-infection began admitting moviegoers under social distancing rules. Tickets must be booked in advance, attendance is capped at 30% of capacity and no eating or drinking is allowed during the show. As with most venues in China, a temperature check and online travel record were required for entry. Cinemas have been closed for around six months but began reopening this week in major cities throughout the country.’ Fortune and Associated Press, July 24, 2020

“Cinemas in China begin to reopen after six-month coronavirus closure: Some cinemas in Chinese cities from Shanghai to Chengdu reopened on Monday after a six-month closure, raising hope that the world’s second largest movie market can start to recover from painful losses during the coronavirus pandemic.”, Reuters, July 20, 2020

“Chinese car stocks get Covid-19 sales boost as consumers look for safer alternative to public transportation. Car sales improved in June as buyers returned to showrooms after worst of the coronavirus”. South China Morning Post, July 20, 2020

https://bit.ly/SCMPChinaautosales

The EURO Zone

“Eurozone business activity rebounds from pandemic hit: Bloc’s services sector posts notable uptick and German manufacturing recovers. Services sector businesses across the eurozone reported a substantial strengthening in July, according to the IHS Markit flash purchasing managers’ index that rose to 55.1, from 48.3 in June. The result exceeded the expectations of economists polled by Reuters, who had forecast a reading of 51.The index for manufacturing rose from 47.4 in June to 51.1 in July, and the composite PMI, an average of the two sectors, improved from 48.5 in the previous month to 54.8, above the 51.1 forecast by analysts.”, The Financial Times, July 24, 2020

France

“Disneyland Paris Is the Latest Disney Theme Park to Reopen Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic. Disneyland Paris welcomed guests back this week for the first time in months.”, Travel And Leisure magazine, July 16, 2020

Germany

“In Germany, the COVID-19 induced economic dive has led to a surge in Franchise leads by at least 50 percent; however, not all sectors are benefitting equally. There is massive interest for franchise systems that are doing well despite the downturn such as logistics brands InXpress or Mail Boxes Etc., security brand Signal 88 or care concept Home Instead. But buyers shun others, especially from the food, retail, fitness and wellness sectors out of fear of a second wave and another lockdown. “Candidates will be much more selective than in the past and will look at sectors that are COVID- and recession proof,” summarizes Franz-Josef Ebel, Managing Director of Master Franchise Germany.

“German cruise ship, Mein Schiff 2, sails with 1,200 people on board in first return voyage: Occupancy was limited to 60% so passengers can keep their distance. There were 1,200 people on board compared to the ship’s normal 2,900 capacity. The ship sailed from the port of Hamburg toward Norway, and passengers will spend the weekend at sea with no land stops before returning to Germany on Monday.”, USA Today, July 25, 2020

Italy

“It has been another important week for Lagardère Travel Retail Italia, which continues with the reopening of its stores around the country. Thanks to the collaboration of all the staff, we have achieved this new success, putting the safety of our employees and customers first. We are happy to celebrate these results once again, as we keep on looking into the future, working hard every day, to remain an important point of reference for Italians and international travelers.”, Lagardère, LinkedIn post, July 24, 2020

Japan

“Theme parks in Japan are telling visitors to ‘scream inside your heart’ — and it’s 2020 in a nutshell: As weird as this year has been, though, we didn’t see this new policy in Japan coming — namely, that you’ll have to “scream inside your heart” while riding roller coasters to stop the spread of COVID-19.”, The Points Guy, July 17, 2020

Mexico

“Mexico tightens coronavirus curbs in tourist spots, other pockets: The spread of the coronavirus has spurred Mexican authorities to impose local restrictions on mobility, commerce, and leisure, particularly in popular tourist destinations, even as the government seeks to revive the battered economy.”, Reuters, July 16, 2020

New Zealand

“There are lots of good things happening with business – new franchisors are preparing to break forth and multiple, and existing franchise systems are appointing new franchisees as many people are keen to own their own business and help shape their destiny….As a nation we should embrace the good things happening and not dwell on the negative – yes, there are escapees from hotels under isolation and that will continue, there are new cases of Covid but no community spread so far, and we live in NZ with our borders closed except for Kiwis returning from overseas.”, Extracted from a July 16, 2020 LinkedIn post by Stewart Germann, Germann Law Office, Auckland

Panama

“Panama has delayed the process of reopening the economy due to the increase in Covid-19 cases. There are only two economic sectors open out of six sectors . Restaurants were scheduled to open in June but because of the above reason, the entire opening process has been paused until an undetermined date. air travel suspended. Reopening of airport pending.”, Jose Enrique Tellez, Franchise and Business Consultant, Panama City

“Copa Airlines Pushes Back Restart for Fourth Time: The Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines was repeatedly forced to modify the restart date of regular operations. According to ALNNEWS, the Civil Aeronautical Authority (CAA), extended for the fourth time the suspension that weighs since March 22 on commercial aviation in Panama. Due to the suspension of flying until August 22, Copa Airlines reported that the new restart date would be September 5. With this new postponement, the 102 aircraft fleet will have been grounded for a total of 6 months.”, Airline Geeks, July 25, 2020

Saudi Arabia

The government is expected to restart travel to and from the Kingdom in August or September according to a Riyadh consulting firm.

Spain

“Spain’s coronavirus epidemic is under control, government says: Spain’s coronavirus epidemic is under control, the (Spanish) foreign ministry said on Sunday, after the British government imposed a 14-day quarantine on all travellers returning from the Mediterranean country in response to a surge in new cases there. Hospitals are coping well with the increase in infections and more than half of new cases are asymptomatic, the ministry said, adding that outbreaks in Catalonia and Aragon should soon be brought under control.”, Reuters, July 26, 2020

South Africa

“After Early Success, South Africa Buckles Under Coronavirus Surge: Lauded in the early stages of the pandemic for taking decisive steps to limit Covid-19 infections, South Africa is now battling one of the world’s fastest-growing outbreaks that is overpowering hospitals and has caused a dramatic increase in deaths. Public schools, which partially reopened in early June, will close for four weeks starting Monday, as the country enters a peak-infection period that models suggest could stretch into September. Africa’s most developed economy now has confirmed 434,200 cases of Covid-19, the fifth-highest toll in the world behind the more-populous U.S., Brazil, India and Russia. ‘The coronavirus storm has indeed arrived,’ President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday, in his 11th address to the nation since the first case of coronavirus was identified in early March.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 26, 2020

United Kingdom

“Retail sales rose by a better-than-expected 13.98 per cent month-on-month in June as they continued to recover after record falls at the height of the lockdown, according to data released this morning by the Office for National Statistics. City economists had forecast an 8 per cent rise. Jonathan Athow, from the ONS, said: “Retail continued to recover from the sharp falls seen in April, with overall sales now almost back to pre-pandemic levels.”, The Times of London, July 24, 2020

“Coronavirus: Gyms and swimming pools reopen in England as tourists are welcomed back to Wales: Indoor gyms, swimming pools, dance studios and leisure centres in England are allowed to reopen today for the first time in four months – but at least a third of public facilities are expected to remain shut due to financial hardship. Earlier this month, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced that gyms and leisure centres would be able to reopen today, with strict hygiene and social-distancing measures.”, Sky News, July 25, 2020

“McDonald’s has announced plans to reopen hundreds of restaurants for dine-in services across the UK from this week. Last week, it was reported that the fast food chain was testing safety measures as it moved towards reopening dine-in restaurants in the near future. The firm has now stated that around 700 restaurants across the UK will be reopened for dine-in customers from Wednesday 22 July.”, The Independent, July 21, 2020

“Coronavirus: Heathrow packed as passengers turn up eight hours before flights: Concern grows as families prepare for big getaway this weekend. Air passengers are arriving up to eight hours before flights at Britain’s biggest airport, fuelling concerns over crowding in terminals. Passengers told of being packed in “like sardines” at Heathrow with claims that some were failing to wear facemasks or comply with one metre-plus social distancing rules.”, The Times of London, July 23, 2020

“Air passengers from commercial hotspots like New York, Singapore and Dubai could be made exempt from quarantine in bid to boost economy: Government is being urged to approve new ‘test-on-arrival’ scheme at airports. Would see all passengers tested and, if negative, avoid 14 days of quarantine. Hoped new scheme would encourage business travel and boost the UK economy.”, Daily Mail, July 25, 2020

United States (including Hawaii)

“Hawaii islands could allow visitors to quarantine in ‘resort bubbles’: Officials on three Hawaiian islands – Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island – are considering a plan to let tourists have a vacation-like experience while adhering to their 14-day quarantine. The concept is known as the “resort bubble,” and it would let visitors roam beyond their hotel rooms as long as they stay within a “geofence,” or within the confines of the property where they’re staying. The plan, which is still tentative, would be in effect for selected resorts..”, Business Insider, July 26, 2020

“American Airlines has flown more than its competitors during the pandemic, and it’s paying off: Faced with the worst crisis in airline history, American cut less of its schedule and did so at a slower pace than either Delta or United in March. But by April, it had decided to fly a more robust schedule for the upcoming summer, providing connectivity across the country that presumed ‘some recovery in demand,’ as American vice president of network planning Brian Znotins put it. Soon, American’s hubs in Charlotte (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) were hopping once again. So much so that DFW was the busiest airport in the U.S. in May. There were even traveler complaints about crowded flights despite the airline never promising to block middle seats — even in the early days of the pandemic. Then, in a clear signal that America was ready to move again, more and more people kept buying plane tickets and flights filled up. So many people were buying seats that the carrier lifted what caps it had bookings even as competitors extended seat blocking measures saying they were needed to assure customers.”, The Points Guy, July 24, 2020

“Universal canceling Halloween Horror Nights because of virus: It’s hard to scare the bejesus out of someone in a haunted house while socially distancing, which may explain the decision by Universal to cancel its Halloween Horror Nights this year at its U.S. theme parks.”, ABC News, July 25, 2020

Articles About Doing Business in The Times Of COVID-19 and Beyond

“Google to Keep Employees Home Until Summer 2021 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic: Search-engine giant pushes back return to normalcy. Google will keep its employees home until at least next July, making the search-engine giant the first major U.S. corporation to formalize such an extended timetable in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The move will affect nearly all of the roughly 200,000 full-time and contract employees across Google parent Alphabet Inc., GOOG +0.92% and is sure to pressure other technology giants that have slated staff to return as soon as January.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 27,2020

https://bit.ly/Googletokeepemployeeshome

“COVID-19 and the great reset: Economic recovery depends on the return of the consumer—but shopping will never be the same. New McKinsey research considers the possibilities.”, McKinsey, July 23, 2020

https://bit.ly/COVIDbusinessreset

“5 charts that show the worst may be over for coronavirus and global trade: World trade fell steeply in the first half of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Government and central bank intervention helped stem the losses. World Trade Organization economists now say we have avoided the worst-case scenario. Risks to the outlook include a second wave of COVID‑19 or trade restrictions. The worst-case scenario for global trade in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been avoided, according to economists from the World Trade Organization (WTO).,” World Economic Forum, July 15, 2020

https://bit.ly/WEFGlobalTradeRecovering

“How Retail Shopping and Eating Will Change as a Result of the Pandemic: Both the retail and restaurant markets have been in a constant state of evolution, responding to generational shifts, technological advancements… and now, Covid-19. Will shopping at retail stores ever be the same post–Covid-19? How about dining at retail stores? The incorporation of food into retail stores was on the rise before Covid-19 (partially owing to the emerging Millennial generation and their experiential preferences), and is now on pause with stores closing or limiting their customer capacity.”, Franchising.com, July 26, 2020

https://bit.ly/FranchisingcomHowRetailWillChange

“Patty power: The Economist’s Big Mac index: In foreign-exchange markets, 7 yuan will buy you a dollar. But 7 yuan stretches further in China than a dollar does in America. One example is the McDonald’s Big Mac hamburger. It costs about 21.70 yuan (US$3.10) in China and $5.71 in America, according to prices collected by The Economist. July 16, 2020

https://bit.ly/McDPattyPower

About US

Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for U.S. businesses Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets and providing operational support around the world. Our U.S. based executive team has experience living and working in many countries. Our Associate network on the ground overseas covers 40+ countries.

Founded in 2001, Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) takes U.S. businesses global and currently has activity in 25 countries. Our Clients are all consumer-faced brands. Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence

Find out more about the services we provide U.S. companies Going Global at: www.edwardsglobal.com

William Edwards has 46 years of international operations, development, executive and entrepreneurial experience and has lived in 7 countries. With experience in the franchise, oil and gas, information technology and management consulting sectors, he has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East.

Mr. Edwards was named to the District Export Council of Southern California by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in 2016 and again in 2019.

William Edwards, CFE, is CEO and Global Advisor to Chief Executives, of Edwards Global Services (EGS). Contact Bill at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 8, Monday, July 13, 2020

Posted on Jul 13th, 2020 in World Economy | Comments Off

By William (Bill) Edwards, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

“Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.” – Warren Buffett

“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” – Anne Frank

“Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning.” – Barbara Kingsolver, Novelist

Introduction

Although we search for pertinent articles for this newsletter every day, this edition is mainly made of very recent articles due to the very rapidly changing COVID-19 case and travel situation worldwide.

Highlights In This Issue

This issue focuses on what is happening in 20 countries that impact consumer spending, business investment and travel. A few highlights:

⦁ COVID-19 has re-emerged in several countries causing governments to curtail business openings and add travel restrictions

⦁ “COVID-19 Travel and Tourism Reopening and Recovery Guidelines”, The U.S. Commercial Services has provided us with an extensive and detailed 44 Greater Europe country and territory reopening and recovery guidelines document

⦁ Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida and LEGOLAND near San Diego, California reopened

⦁ The UK government is investing £500 million next month to give diners 50% off meals at local restaurants

⦁ Melbourne, Australis is back on a 6 week lockdown

⦁ “Accelerating Recovery With Innovation – 5 Things to Keep in Mind’, there is link to this important coming out of COVID-19 article on by innovating efficiently and effectively near the end of this newsletter.

How Will the Global Economy be Different After COVID-19?

“Many trends already underway in the global economy are being accelerated by COVID-19, and even after the pandemic, may never fully return to their previous trajectories.” This excellent webinar brings together, Gillian Tett, Chair of Editorial Board and Editor-at-Large, US, Financial Times, Mohamed El-Erian, Chief Economic Advisor, Allianz and James Manyika, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company and Chairman and Director, McKinsey Global Institute. Click on the link below to access this timely YouTube webinar.

https://bit.ly/WAGlobalEconomy

International Travel Updates

“COVID-19 Travel and Tourism Reopening and Recovery Guidelines”, The U.S. Commercial Service posts in Greater Europe have produced an extensive and detailed 44 Greater Europe country and territory reopening and recovery guidelines document as of early July which can be accessed at this link:

https://bit.ly/2C0nrqa

“United Airlines adding about 25,000 flights in August, including Denver routes: United Airlines is adding nearly 25,000 domestic and international flights in August as travel demand slowly starts to pick up, although the number of flights is down 40% from where it was last year. The Chicago-based airline said its schedule for August is triple the number of flights it had in June, but travel demand remains “a fraction” of what it was at the end of 2019.”, Denver Business Journal July 1, 2020

“Why I believe we need to start traveling internationally again: A few days ago, in an interview on Irish radio, I made an argument in favor of renewing foreign travel. I talked about how the travel industry had cranked the gears and was cautiously coming back to life after months of mothballed inactivity. How Europe was open to visitors from other European countries. How Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, had ramped up its schedule from July 1 and was now flying 1000 flights a day – less than half of the 2400 flights it operates normally but still a combative expression of optimism in the face of a crisis without parallel in our lifetimes.”, Lonely Planet, July 10, 2020 Read the full article at this link:

https://bit.ly/LPTravelInternationallyAgain

“American Airlines Delays Resuming Hong Kong Flights Over Mandatory Coronavirus Testing: American Airlines Group Inc said on Thursday it delayed flights to Hong Kong, a day after the city introduced mandatory virus tests for all arriving crew members. Airline crew were previously exempted from tests and quarantine obligations in Hong Kong, but a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the city prompted its health chiefs to introduce stricter measures to combat rising concerns of a community outbreak. “Starting July 8, crew members of aircrafts entering Hong Kong via the Hong Kong International Airport will be subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing…in addition to a 14-day medical surveillance,” a spokesman for Hong Kong’s Department of Health said in an email to Reuters.”, Skift, July 9, 2020

“Emirates Adds Covid-19 Testing Requirement For 12 Countries: If you’re hoping to jet off on Emirates, you may soon need a negative covid-19 PCR test, or risk denied boarding, wherever your final destination may be. In fact, if you’re traveling from one of 12 countries, you absolutely will, and it’ll be at your own expense. Travelers originating from 12 countries will be subject to the new rules effective July 10th, 2020 in an effort to keep active covid-19 cases off of planes, and restore confidence to the skies. Recent negative covid-19 tests taken within 96 hours of departure will be mandatory.”, godsavethepoints.com, July 12, 2020

“EU travel unity unravels into confusion of border controls: European Union countries and their open border neighbours were supposed to ease restrictions in unison in mid-June and then start allowing non-EU visitors in this month. However, the coordinated opening agreed by ambassadors last week has started to unravel, with a patchwork of widely differing rules and countries going it alone with new controls. One senior EU diplomat said the issue was extremely difficult because the situation was unprecedented and dynamic, saying: “It’s learning by doing, and it is a moving target.”, Reuters, July 10, 2020

“Lufthansa, Austrian and Qatar announce more flights: For Lufthansa, that means thrice-weekly service between Frankfurt and both Boston and Los Angeles beginning Thursday. Frequencies on those routes will increase to five times weekly in August and to daily flights in September. Austrian, for its part, resumed three-times weekly service from Vienna to Washington, Chicago and Newark on July 1 according to Tal Mescal, a Lufthansa Group spokesman. Meanwhile in the Middle East, Qatar announced a resumption of service to 11 destinations beginning Wednesday, including Boston, Los Angeles and Washington. On July 4, the airline will also begin flying to Toronto for the first time with thrice-weekly service.”, The Points Guy, July 1, 2020

The Americas

“The continued shutdown of Latin America and Caribbean is hurting regional airlines: With COVID-19 infections accelerating, the majority of Latin America and Caribbean countries still closed to commercial travel, and Europe imposing travel restrictions, the tourism and aviation industry risks losing millions of jobs and seeing more airlines filing bankruptcy, two leading industry organizations say. On Thursday, the International Air Transport Association and the World Travel & Tourism Council called on regional governments not to abandon the airline industry in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. They also reiterated demands for financial support for regional carriers, and clear restart dates for commercial travel from regional governments. ‘We need governments to support and strengthen the restart by quickly implementing the International Civil Aviation Organization’s global guidelines for restoring air connectivity,’ said Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of International Air Transport Association.”, Miami Herald, July 10, 2020

Australia

“Westfield owner Scentre Group said it has seen a lift in customer visitation across its shopping centres. Over the weekend, despite some businesses still being restricted from operating as usual, customer visitation in Westfield shopping centres across the country returned to 86 per cent of what it was at the same time last year. In some centres, daytime visitation, which is 10am to 4pm, was back to 90 per cent of what it was compared with the same period last year. Night-time visitation is expected to lift throughout July as entertainment and leisure options open up.”, Inside Retail Australia, June 30, 2020. Contribute by Jason Gehrke, Managing Director, The Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane.

“Australia places Melbourne under 6-week coronavirus lockdown: Authorities to reimpose measures after rise in new Covid-19 cases: Australian authorities will reimpose a lockdown on Melbourne to contain a rise in coronavirus cases, reversing recent measures to relax restrictions in a country that was seen a leader in managing the pandemic….People will be allowed to leave their homes to buy essential items, such as groceries, or for exercise, medical care or work. Restaurants and cafés, which had begun to reopen with social distancing measures in place, will now only be allowed to service takeaway food and drinks.”, The Financial Times, July 7, 2020

“Qantas Halts International Service Until 2021: In the past few days, QF has removed inventory on all international flights [aside from New Zealand] through March 28, 2021. While the flights have not yet been formally canceled, a removal of inventory is almost always followed by a cancelation.”, Airwaysmag.com, July 11, 2020

Brazil

“Rio de Janeiro Beaches Will Remain Closed Until There’s a Vaccine: Rio’s mayor has rolled back June reopenings. This announcement follows a series of reopening measures—and subsequent rollbacks—that have taken place in a matter of weeks within the city. In June, Rio de Janeiro beaches opened after months during which residents were completely forbidden from stepping on the sand. But the quick amassing of crowds, as reported by the Financial Times, led to a July 2 move in which the local government forbade citizens from sunbathing and restricted beach activity to exercise.:, CNN Traveler, July 10, 2020

Croatia

“Croatia makes face masks compulsory in public indoor spaces: Croatia said on Saturday that wearing face masks will be obligatory in most closed public spaces from next week as the number of COVID-19 cases keeps rising. The number of new infections reached 140 on Saturday, the highest recorded so far in a single day. Most cases are in the capital Zagreb and in east of the country.”, Reuters, July 11, 2020

Mainland China

“Coronavirus: Beijing’s economic recovery from June outbreak offers hope ahead of China GDP release: The sight of more than a dozen patrons sitting on stools outside a popular barbecue restaurant on Beijing’s famous Gui Jie food street waiting to be seated is not only good for China’s services industry, but also offers hopes that it can maintain a delicate balance between containing the coronavirus and growing its economy. This typical scene on a normal Wednesday evening would have been unthinkable last month when the street lived up to the literal translation of its name, ghost street, after an outbreak of coronavirus originating from the Xinfadi wholesale food market sprang up in Beijing.”, South China Morning Post, July 10, 2020

France

“Eiffel Tower’s terrace reopens for post-pandemic partying: Visitors to the Eiffel Tower can once more enjoy a drink and even dance on its summer terrace, which opened this week to stunning views of Paris under a warm, blue sky. The tower shut in mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak, its longest period out of action since World War Two, but re-opened to the public on June 25.”, Reuters, July 10, 2020

Germany

“German experience gives hope for pub reopening, says Mitchells & Butlers: Mitchells & Butlers is hoping that its business in Germany provides a pointer to how trading will be in the UK as it prepares to reopen the majority of its pubs and restaurants to paying customers this weekend. The All Bar One and Harvester operator has about 44 bar-restaurants across Germany under the Alex brand and it reported that sales levels had grown each week since reopening in mid to late May.”, The Times Of London, July 2, 2020

Hungary

“Hungary Imposes Quarantines on Arriving Citizens and Other Travelers: Hungary has imposed new restrictions on cross-border travel as of next Wednesday in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a surge in new cases in several countries, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff said on Sunday. Hungary lifted most of its lockdown restrictions in May and opened its borders to travellers from European Union states and neighbouring non-EU members. On Sunday, Gergely Gulyas told an online news conference that new restrictions were needed to keep the coronavirus ‘outside the borders’ in order to avoid the re-introduction of domestic lockdown measures.”, Skift, July 12, 2020

India

“India reimposes lockdowns as coronavirus cases soar: India is set to reinstate mandatory lockdowns for cities as medical facilities across the country are strained due to a recent surge in new coronavirus infections, The New York Times reports. India’s total case count rose to the third highest in the world this week, with more than 820,000 confirmed infections and 22,123 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.”, Axios, July 11, 2020

“India Extends Blanket Ban for International Flights: DGCA, the Indian Directorate of Civil Aviation, announced today the renewal of the blanket ban of all international flights to and from India. The ban is valid until 23:59 on July 31; however, according to DGCA, there is some talking regarding the possibility of “bubble flights” taking place from Europe, Canada, the US, and the Gulf States.”, Airways Magazine, July 3, 2020

Indonesia

“Garuda Indonesia Set to Launch Nonstop Flight to Bali from U.S., France and India: The Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is slated to launch nonstop flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paris, New Delhi and Mumbai to the country’s tourism hotspot Bali. The plan was unveiled after the Governor of Bali announced on Monday that the island would open its doors to international tourists as of Sept. 11, 2020.”, Airline Geeks, July 8, 2020

Ireland

“Ireland launches COVID-19 app using Apple and Google’s technology: Ireland is the latest country to use Apple and Google’s Exposure Notification API. Users who download the app will be able to track symptoms, anonymously warn others if they have tested positive, and be alerted if they have been exposed to someone with the virus.”, iMore.com, July 6, 2020

Japan

“Tokyo shopkeepers brace for another slowdown as coronavirus flares: Two straight days of record novel coronavirus infections in the Japanese capital have dashed shopkeepers’ hopes that business can get back to normal any time soon.”. Reuters, July 10, 2020

“Government statistics shows 85 percent of companies in the Japanese retail industry stated that they experienced some level of setback from COVID 19 – pandemic on their activities and if include those companies who thinks they may have some impact in the future, close to 97 percent of the companies have been impacted. In June, the government allowed Vietnam and Taiwan to resume flights between the two countries.
Japan has started negotiations to relaunch business travel between ten additional Asian countries including China and South Korea as first step followed by Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia , Myanmar and Singapore.

Tokyo Disneyland reopened with social distancing as has Professional Baseball with fans admitted on a limited basis. Theaters, Professional Soccer League, Sumo Wrestling are also reopening. The majority of restaurants are re-opening while emphasizing the social distancing measures. The government has allowed bars to open. Many restaurants are reopening with caution and with limiting seating and opening hours as customers retain wary.”, Ichiro (Roy)Fujita, President, I. Fujita International, Tokyo and Torrance, California

“Japan Domestic Demand Increases, Full Recovery Expected by October: According to local media, Japan Airlines is expecting a full recovery of its domestic demand as early as this October following the diminished demand caused by the coronavirus crisis. ‘We expect to recover to 80 percent in August and fully operate in line with our normal schedule around October,’ Shunsuke Honda, an executive officer of Japan Airline said. He mentioned that the country is seeing a surge in travel demand since recent travel restrictions were lifted. In response to a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases in Tokyo in recent weeks, Honda believes the airline can increase the number of flights it operates or use larger aircraft to avoid fully booked flights.”, Airline Geeks, July 7, 2020

“Tokyo Disney reopens, sending Mickey Mouse fans ‘over the moon: Tokyo Disney Resort welcomed visitors on Wednesday for the first time in four months after being closed due to the coronavirus, with fans practicing social distance as they returned to see Mickey Mouse and other beloved characters. Visitors in face masks queuing on floor marks clapped as the gates of the Magic Kingdom reopened, and were encouraged to clean hands, pay without cash and avoid screaming while enjoying one of Japan’s largest theme parks. The resort will operate at a 50% capacity for the foreseeable future, while parades and shows remain suspended. “, Fox Business, July 1, 2020

New Zealand

“Air New Zealand Pauses New Bookings to Ease Burden on Quarantine Facilities: New Zealand said on Tuesday its national airline will not take new bookings for three weeks as the country looks to limit the number of citizens returning home to reduce the burden on overflowing quarantine facilities. As the Covid-19 pandemic worsens globally, thousands of New Zealanders are returning to South Pacific nation, which is among a handful of countries to have contained the coronavirus, reopened its economy and restored pre-pandemic normalcy. Bookings on Air New Zealand flights will be managed to ensure the government can safely place citizens into managed isolation facilities, Housing Minister Megan Woods said in a statement.”, Skift, July 7, 2020

Norway

“Norway lifts many European travel curbs, including parts of Sweden: Norway will lift travel restrictions to and from more than 20 European countries from July 15, including France, Germany and Britain as well as three of the 21 provinces of neighbouring Sweden, the government said on Friday. Norway, which is not a member of the European Union but belongs to the passport-free Schengen Area travel zone, currently has some of Europe’s strictest limitations on travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.”, Reuters, July 10, 2020

Sweden

“As Swedish Travel Impossible, Passports Exchanged for Burgers: Sweden’s passport was considered one of the world’s most powerful, but since its handling of Covid-19, Swedish travelers–unlike their neighbours–face severe travel restrictions, rendering passports ineffective. Now Burger King has seized the opportunity and is offering Swedish citizens the chance to exchange a stamp in their passports for up to five free burgers per person.”, Forbes, July 10, 2020

Thailand

“What an amazing time for the SSP Thailand team, with 14 restaurants opened in the past 14 days throughout Thailand. Suvarnabhumi Airport – Camden Foods, Don Mueang Airport – Burger King, Camden Foods, Bill Bentley, Dairy Queen, Noodle Express, Yentafo, Chang Mai – Dairy Queen, Had Yai – Ritazza Café.”, Shane Beyer, Managing Director, South East Asia, SSP, in a LinkedIn post on July 9,2020

https://bit.ly/LagardereThailand

“Thailand plans to set up an centre to help revitalise an economy hit by the coronavirus outbreak and is considering more relief measures for small businesses, government officials said on Friday. The government plans to extend debt moratoria for small-and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from October as the pandemic is likely to continue for a while…”, Reuters, July 10, 2020

Turkey

“Turkey is open for tourists: Everything you need to know: s of June 11, Turkey’s international borders are open for travelers from a number of countries, including the U.S. All travelers must wear masks in the airport and onboard flights inbound for Turkey, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Travelers who show signs of COVID-19 including but not limited to fever, runny nose, cough or respiratory distress will not be allowed to board flights or enter the country. Upon arrival, travelers will be asked to fill out a passenger information form and undergo medical screenings for infection, and anyone showing symptoms upon arrival will be tested for coronavirus. Anyone who tests positive will be referred to a Turkish hospital for quarantine and treatment.”, The Points Guy, July 3, 2020

United Kingdom

“Britain’s coronavirus quarantine rules end for many destinations: Quarantine measures for those travelling to Britain from around 70 countries and overseas territories, including France and Italy, no longer apply from Friday in a boost to the ailing aviation and travel industries hit by COVID-19. Those arriving from higher-risk countries will still have to self-quarantine for 14 days but many popular destinations are now exempt, meaning millions of Britons are able to take summer holidays without having to stay at home when they return.”, Reuters, July 10, 2020

“Gyms, pools and beauty salons to start reopening in days: Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will reopen from July 25 and nail bars and beauty salons from Monday, the government has announced. “Normal life is slowly returning,” Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, said as he disclosed that outdoor swimming pools would be allowed to reopen from tomorrow and indoor gyms, pools and leisure facilities a fortnight later.”, The Times Of London, July 10, 2020

“Diners to get half-price discounts on eating out: Diners are to be given half-price discounts on eating out through an innovative government scheme to fill up restaurants. An estimated £500 million of taxpayers’ money will be used to subsidise food next month, with pubs, cafés and other venues also covered.”, The Sunday Times, July 9, 2020

“London Heathrow Airport Could Start Offering COVID-19 Testing Upon Arrival — What to Know: Testing would especially be helpful for travelers coming from a country not in the UK’s “travel corridor. The test would be the same type of saliva swab test currently used by the National Health Service (NHS) and would be the first testing trial at a UK airport, pending government approval. It would be especially available for travelers coming from countries that are not the UK’s “travel corridor” that was established last week. If approved by the government, testing would be available as a private service for anyone with a flight landing in Heathrow’s Terminal 2, according to a press release. The program, entitled “Test-on-Arrival,” was developed by Swissport International, a ground and cargo handling service, and Collinson Group, which owns Priority Pass.”, Gravel and Leisure Magazine, July 7, 2020

United States

“Disney World Reopens With Masks and Without Lines: Hugging Mickey Mouse and Goofy is off limits; instead they wave from afar. Other Disney characters moseyed through Walt Disney World mounted on horses, guided by masked escorts on foot. Disney World’s two main parks, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, officially reopened Saturday at a significantly reduced capacity following a sneak peek for some annual passholders Thursday and Friday.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2020

CNBC has published 5 charts showing U.S. economic trends during the coronavirus pandemic. CNBC, July 12, 2020

https://bit.ly/CNBCUSCharts

“New York City’s Restaurants Are All In on Outdoors: Pandemic keeps clamps on indoor dining, so restaurant owners make the most of sidewalks, streets and parking lots. Outdoor seating is proving to be a critical but tenuous lifeline for New York City restaurants since Gov. Andrew Cuomo indefinitely postponed the reopening of indoor dining in the city over coronavirus concerns. More than 7,900 restaurants across the five boroughs have been approved for the city’s Open Restaurants program, which began June 22 and temporarily allows more expansive sidewalk and roadway seating than was permitted before the pandemic.”. The Wall Street Journal, July 12, 2020

“Legoland CA Hotel to officially reopen on July 17, 2020: As guests and employees’ health and safety remain the top priority at LEGOLAND California Resort, guests will experience some differences at the Hotel including reduced capacity, cashless payments, social distancing practices and enhanced cleaning regimes. Face coverings will be required for all guests three years of age and up as well as all hotel staff members.’, socalthrills.com, July 11, 2020

“Last call: Las Vegas to shut bars down again Friday night to thwart coronavirus spike: Bars are returning to Phase 1 restrictions under the state’s reopening plans at 11:59 p.m., PDT meaning those without food have to close except for curbside pick up where applicable. Nevada is the latest in a series of states to pause or rollback reopening plans. Restaurants must close their bar areas, even if they have tabletop video gaming machines, and can no longer serve parties larger than six people inside. Restaurants can still serve alcohol but for now, you can’t grab a drink at the bar while you wait for your table.”, USA Today, July 10, 2020

“Starbucks Latest Retailer Requiring Customers To Wear Masks: Coffee behemoth Starbucks said Thursday that it will require customers to wear masks inside their stores beginning next week, becoming the latest retailer to require the face coverings that have become a political hot button as the coronavirus pandemic rages through the U.S.”, Forbes, July 9, 2020

“The Latest Consumer Restaurant Trends & Insights from Black Box Consumer Intelligence: Black Box Intelligence continues to provide its regular updates detailing the current impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry. Here are some key consumer insights from the company as of the end of June can be found at this link to the Franchising.com website:

https://bit.ly/LatestRestuarantTrends

Vietnam

“Emerging from the pandemic, Vietnam must position itself for recovery: Hailed as one of the 11 outperformers among emerging economies, Vietnam is among the first countries to fully reopen its domestic economy.”, McKinsey & Co, July 1, 2020

https://bit.ly/VietnamEmerging

Articles About Doing Business in The Times Of COVID-19 and Beyond

Accelerating Recovery With Innovation – 5 Things to Keep in Mind by The EdgeDweller innovation group.

https://bit.ly/EDRecoveryInnovation

“What Does 1GB of Mobile Data Cost in Every Country?”, Visual Capitalist, July 3, 2020. This is important for when we can travel internationally again.

https://bit.ly/VCiGBDataCost

“What’s Next: The Future of Retail After Covid-19” by Pat Harriman, Franchising.com, July 3, 2020 at this link:

https://bit.ly/FranhisingcomFutureRetail

About US

Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for U.S. businesses Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets and providing operational support around the world. Our U.S. based executive team has experience living and working in many countries. Our Associate network on the ground overseas covers 40+ countries.

EGS is known for our extensive country, cultural and sector research and publications, including our quarterly GlobalVue™ country ranking chart which can be found at the following link.

https://bit.ly/EGSGV0520

Find out more about the services we provide U.S. companies Going Global at: www.edwardsglobal.com

Mr. Edwards was named to the District Export Council of Southern California by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in 2016 and again in 2019.

William Edwards, CFE, is CEO and Global Advisor to Chief Executives, of Edwards Global Services (EGS). Contact Bill at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.