The travel industry must encourage widespread global vaccination to ensure the world can truly open up, delegates at a Travel Weekly conference were told.
Speakers at the Future of Travel Conference admitted there was a tendency to look at reopening through a “UK lens” but argued that a global perspective was essential.
Siroja Sirisena, Sri Lanka’s high commissioner to the UK (pictured), said: “The UK has been fortunate to have a regular supply of vaccines. The importance of vaccine sharing is clear. We are not going to be safe until we are all safe.
“The world needs to collaborate more. If there are going to be booster shots or similar then the whole world needs them.”
Claudia Miguel, UK director of Visit Portugal said: “Until the world reaches a certain level of immunity and vaccinations we will still risk variants of concern.
“It is amazing to see how different [approaches are] in different countries, like Germany and Brazil. Brazil can’t afford to lock down. We will continue to have lots of uncertainty, at least from countries where lockdowns can’t happen.”
Sirisena said the pandemic had highlighted the importance of all countries having robust healthcare systems in place.
She said: “Countries can’t afford to take their health care systems for granted. Every country has to be able to provide health care for its people, regardless of its economic level. Governments can’t cut back on healthcare. It’s non-negotiable.”
Speaking before Sri Lanka was removed from the UK’s red list, Sirisena also said the Sri Lankan government had been providing the UK with information on a bi-weekly basis in an attempt to open routes between the countries.
She added: “The authorities have been engaging in terms of trying to work together.”
Sri Lanka requires double vaccination and a negative PCR test for arrivals, who are asked to stay for one day in a hotel until the receive their result. A UK Foreign Office advisory against all non-essential travel to the country was removed on Tuesday.