The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and other industry bodies have called for international travel to restart before a COVID-19 vaccine is introduced
A number of key bodies in the aviation and travel industries have called for international travel to resume before COVID-19 vaccines are fully rolled out, a process which could take months.
The WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council), ACI WEF and ICC have identified four key measures, which they believe can restore international travel without having to wait for vaccines.
The WTTC claimed that 174 million travel and tourism jobs are at risk and that getting international travel started again is the only remedy.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO, said: “Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines will be critical to combatting COVID-19 and restoring confidence for people to interact with one another.
“However, it will take considerable time to vaccinate the world and for the vaccines to have a significant effect on the global population, and the global Travel & Tourism sector simply cannot wait.
“Vaccination must not be a requirement to travel but should co-exist with testing regimes and be considered as a progressive enhancement to already safe travel.”
The four measures put forward by the travel industry bodies include globally recognised testing regimes on departure; common health and hygiene protocols to reduce the risk of transmission during travel; risk management regimes; and internationally recognised travel passes
The WTTC and industry bodies have also warned against the introduction of health passports, which they say would further delay the recovery of international travel.
Ms. Guevara added: “Governments must now demonstrate leadership by opening bilateral travel corridors on key international routes with countries that apply the same robust risk management processes.”
Other representatives echoed Ms. Guevara’s calls for a re-think on the methods of reviving international travel.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General, said: “As they become more available for travellers, there must be a proportionate approach to vaccination before travel balanced with a risk-based approach to testing.
“Just as quarantine effectively halted the industry, a universal requirement for vaccines could do the same and a coordinated and risk-based approach to testing and vaccination going forward will provide passengers with a safe travel environment and foster confidence in air travel.”
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