International travel can resume using proven processes without waiting for Covid vaccinations, World Travel & Tourism Council and industry bodies claim.
WTTC, Airports Council International, the World Economic Forum and the International Chamber of Commerce say the world cannot wait for the rollout of vaccines against the virus.
While welcoming the introduction of vaccines, they must not be a requirement to travel as this will further delay the revival of the already ailing travel and tourism sector, according to the organisations.
The safe opening of existing travel corridors such as Heathrow-Dubai, with appropriate testing and hygiene protocols, “demonstrates that international travel can already take place at minimal and acceptable risk,” they say.
WTTC has identified four key measures needed to restore international travel safely, including:
- globally recognised pre-departure testing regimes
- common health and hygiene protocolsthat are aligned with globally-established standards set out by ICAO
- a risk management regime
- internationally consistent and recognised travel passes.
WTTC and the industry bodies warn against the introduction of so-called ‘health passports’ – as opposed to internationally-recognised travel passes currently being considered – which would only further delay the recovery.
WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: “WTTC welcomes the incredible developments and hugely encouraging medical advances on Covid-19 vaccines which has seen the beginning of coronavirus vaccinations.
“The vaccines currently being rolled out are truly game-changers, and hopefully just the first of many which could transform the world, mark the beginning of our return to a more normal way of life and see the return of safe and confident international travel.
“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 and 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.
“Governments must now demonstrate leadership by opening bilateral travel corridors on key international routes with countries that apply the same robust risk management processes.”
ACI director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira added: “While we welcome the rapid development and deployment of vaccines, there will be a considerable period before they are widely available so, during the transition period, tests and vaccines together will play a key role on the industry recovery.
“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 co-ordinated and risk-based approach to testing and vaccination going forward will provide passengers with a safe travel environment and foster confidence in air travel.“
Christoph Wolff, head of mobility at the World Economic Forum, said: “Given the enormous challenge of achieving widespread vaccine distribution and availability, diagnostics will remain paramount for the foreseeable future.
“It is imperative that governments and industry collaborate to enable a hybrid regime of risk management interventions which may include testing, vaccines, and other measures as part of a broader hierarchy of controls.”