ONE VOICE: Global travel agent associations target travel bans

A collection of global travel agent associations, including the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), says that closing borders is not the answer to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and are calling on government leaders globally to expedite the lifting of all country- and region-specific travel bans.

Besides ACTA, the group of travel associations include the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), Association of South African Travel Agencies (ASATA), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA), and World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), collectively representing the hundreds of thousands of people who work at travel agencies and related businesses around the world,

Citing World Travel and Tourism Council statistics that say one in 10 jobs globally belong to the travel and tourism industries, the agent group says, “Closing borders and implementing new restrictions affects untold millions… It also is putting already vulnerable businesses at further risk from ever recovering, while government revenues continue to be eroded due to the loss of economic activity from the industry.”

“When elected officials make public policy decisions in the interest of public health, those governments have an obligation to provide financial resources to those industries and individuals most affected by their decisions.”

With recent and more stringent border closures severely impacting international travel, the group is urging global governments to follow best available science, such as strong biosecurity protocols, including masking, social distancing, and vaccination requirements when determining border measures, including testing and prohibitions.

Key elements would include:

• Governments around the world must prioritize the global distribution of vaccines while continuing to support the freedom of movement using scientifically tested and sensible measures – masking, enhanced sanitation protocols, reasonable testing requirements and now, vaccination credentials.

• The global infrastructure to accommodate rapid turnaround times for PCR and other acceptable testing all within the span of a 24-hour timeline for results, is arduous in even the most advanced markets. Testing needs to be widely available and affordable, and it is the duty of governments worldwide to provide the resources and support the science-based approach to testing and vaccination requires.

Echoing the World Health Organization, which advocates against the implementation of travel and trade restrictions, the group adds, “The addition of new border measures has significant economic impacts on travel and tourism businesses that may not add additional community protection. It is critical that government policy is guided by science, not political pressure or the desire to be seen as ‘doing something’ since these measures have significant, sometimes irreversible impact on businesses and jobs.”

Pointing to Canada’s pledge of support for some travel-reliant businesses through May of 2022 to help mitigate the effect of the country’s COVID restrictions on the tourism industry, the group is urging other countries to follow its lead.

“We implore governments to take responsibility for their actions by sustaining travel reliant businesses until such time as they lift restrictions and normal travel patterns re-emerge. Thus far, government responses to this economic factor have been uneven at best.”

The group concludes, “Given its clear and devastating impact on the global economy, travel restrictions and outright bans cause severe economic harm. The ability to travel safely continues to be a fundamental marker for our success over this virus. Restricting access to travel only perpetuates the economic impact and postpones global recovery in terms of travel and multiple other economic drivers around the globe.”