While the adoption of guidelines for future travel by G20 nations last week is a positive step, according to IATA, the association says governments must quickly follow-up their endorsement “with actions” that will continue to support recent developments that are “building momentum to restore travel.”
“The G20 has the right focus and agenda to restart travel and tourism,” says IATA director general Willie Walsh. “The combination of vaccinations and testing are the drivers to make travel broadly and safely accessible. Moreover, (Italian) Prime Minister (Mario) Draghi’s promise that Italy is ready to welcome back the world and encouragement to book holidays should be an inspiration to other world leaders. It captures the urgency that is needed to move forward quickly and safely in restoring the freedom to travel.”
IATA points to several encouraging developments in recent weeks:
• A travel bubble opened between Australia and New Zealand
• The European Commission and the European Parliament each announced efforts to welcome vaccinated travellers, and travellers from low-incidence countries to Europe
• The UK is pursuing the gradual resumption of international travel from May 17
• Italy announced it was planning to implement the European ‘Green Certificate’ in May to facilitate opening borders, and,
• France is planning to reopen its borders to international tourists with a “health pass” from June 9.
Also encouraging, says the airline association, is the introduction the “G20 Rome Guidelines for the Future of Tourism” document from the G20 Ministers Meeting in Rome, particularly the five-point agenda to safely restore mobility:
• Sharing information among industry and governments to inform policies and decisions to ensure safe mobility.
• Agreeing common international approaches to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, certification, and information.
• Promoting digital traveler identity, biometrics, and contactless transactions for safe and seamless travel.
• Providing accessible, consistent, clear, and updated information to travelers to encourage and facilitate travel planning and journeys.
• Maintaining and improving the connectivity, safety, and sustainability of transport systems.
IATA praised the plan’s emphasis on information sharing, working together to implement practical processes, and data-driven policies as a basis for managing the risks of COVID-19 while moving towards normality.
It adds that is similarly doing so of its own according through the development and implementation of the IATA Travel Pass to help prevent testing fraud, and partnership in the UNWTO/IATA Destination Tracker, which enables travellers to confidently plan travel by knowing the measures that are in place and requirements to travel.
“The G20’s call for a combined effort of industry and governments to share information moves us towards the risk management framework that is needed for a restart,” says Walsh.
“While these are all important steps that build momentum towards re-opening the travel and tourism sector, we need more. People want to fly and exercise the freedom to travel that has been denied by government restrictions. But expensive testing requirements will make travel unaffordable for many, weakening the boost to economies that will occur when borders are reopened.”
“That,” he maintains, “shouldn’t be allowed to happen,” adding that “simple, efficient, and affordable programs will be needed to manage the testing and vaccine verification regimes that will underpin a safe restoration of the freedom of mobility.”