Call for immediate action to safely restart international travel , without waiting for vaccines
Travel Biz News —
Five major international industry bodies have called for the immediate restoration of international travel using proven processes and without waiting for or requiring vaccinations.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) along with Airports Council International (ACI), the World Economic Forum (WEF), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), say international travel can safely restart, without waiting for COVID-19 vaccines.
WTTC recognizes that public health is paramount and welcomes the recent roll out of the game changing vaccines, which in the long-term will play a major role in combating coronavirus and restoring international travel.
“However, they must not be a requirement to travel as this will further delay the revival of the already ailing travel and tourism sector, which needs to restart now to save itself, millions of jobs in the sector and beyond, and the global economy. Getting people back to work will also provide enormous health benefits to those around the world, whose livelihoods have been affected by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.”
Recent research from WTTC shows a staggering 174 million global travel and tourism jobs are now threatened.
The safe opening of existing travel corridors such as London Heathrow – Dubai, with appropriate testing and hygiene protocols, demonstrates that international travel can already take place at minimal and acceptable risk.
Together with ACI, WEF, and ICC, WTTC has identified four key measures which need to be implemented to restore international travel safely, including globally recognised testing regimes before departure, common health and hygiene protocols that are aligned with globally-established standards set out by ICAO, a risk management regime, and internationally consistent and recognized travel passes, according to a statement issued by the Council in London today.
WTTC and the industry bodies warn against the introduction of so-called ‘health passports’ – as opposed to internationally-recognized travel passes currently being considered – which would only further delay the recovery.
Dec. 14 , 2020
Photo credit : Travel Biz News /Hong Kong
