The White House is being urged to follow the UK and Canada in sweeping away pandemic-era travel curbs.
The US Travel Association reiterated a call to replace Covid advisories, requirements and restrictions with endemic-focused policies that will enable travel to resume “fully and freely”.
A letter to incoming White House Covid-19 response co-ordinator Dr Ashish Jha pointed out that the British and Canadian governments have recently taken similar actions to ease remaining restrictions on travellers.
The US travel trade body highlighted that the vast majority of pandemic-driven federal travel policies are still in place despite declining hospitalisations and infections, increased vaccination rates and immunity, and a more robust public health infrastructure to manage the virus.
The incoming Covid response co-ordinator should prioritise the removal of travel restrictions “that no longer fit with the current environment” and to set clear timelines and metrics for when others will be lifted.
The USTA’s recommendations to restore travel:
- Immediately remove the pre-departure testing requirement for all fully vaccinated inbound international arrivals.
- Repeal the federal mask mandate for public transportation by April 18.
- End “avoid travel” advisories and the use of travel bans.
- Work with other countries to normalise travel conditions and entry requirements.
- Develop benchmarks and timelines for a pathway to the “new normal” that repeals pandemic-focused travel restrictions by June 1.
- Send a clear message to the American public and the world that it is safe to travel again, particularly for vaccinated individuals.
A spokesperson said: “Effective, risk-based policies can be reinstated at any time if new variants of concern emerge or the public health situation deteriorates.
“It is now time for the administration to lead the country towards a new normal for travel and on a faster path to a full and even economic recovery.”