The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) says governments should abandon the concept of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on how individual ‘high-risk travellers’ are treated at borders.
To do so, the WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, believes governments around the world must redefine their whole approach to risk assessment, specifically urging a shift from focus from whole countries towards individuals.
Combined with a common international consensus on the metrics used to assess risk and a laser-like focus on a cost-effective, comprehensive and rapid departure and arrival testing for all travellers could pave the way forward for the meaningful return of travel, says the Council.
It would also ensure that only those affected are forced to isolate, while travellers who test negative can continue to travel safely by observing hygiene protocols and mask wearing.
“Risk based on entire countries is neither effective nor productive,” says WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara. “Redefining risk towards individual travellers instead will be key for unlocking the door to the return of safe international travel. We need to learn from past experiences and crises such as 9-11.
“We cannot continue labelling entire countries as ‘high-risk’ which assumes everyone is infected,” she continues. “While the UK is currently seeing high levels of infections, clearly not all Britons are infected; the same goes for all Americans, Spaniards, or the French. The reality is much more complex. Not only does it stigmatize an entire nation, but it also halts travel and mobility when many people who test negative on departure and arrival could safely travel without exporting the virus.”
Guevera says, “We must learn to live with the virus, as it will take time for the global population to be vaccinated. This is why WTTC has long advocated introducing a comprehensive and cost-effective test on departure and arrival for all international travellers, as a way of preventing those carrying the virus from spreading it.
“As always, there is a crucial balance to be struck between the priority on public health with the need to sustain economic activity. As well ensuring people are safe and healthy, we also need to secure the health of the global economy – and revive the 174 million Travel & Tourism jobs affected by this devastating pandemic.”
According to WTTC’s 2019 Economic Impact Report, Travel & Tourism contributed US$8.9 trillion, or 10.3 percent towards the world’s GDP. It accounted for one in 10 global jobs, giving employment to 330 million people through the Travel & Tourism sector.