The restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The global tourism group fears that tourists could be turned away at borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognized and approved COVID-19 vaccines.
This comes just days after a number of British travelers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, were rejected entry into Malta despite the drug being chemically identical to the U.K.-made vaccine. WTTC adds that over the past few weeks reports of travelers facing obstacles to entry have been on the rise, with some even being prevented from boarding their flights to destinations.
WTTC believes that once again, the lack of international coordination to agree on a list of approved vaccines, is creating yet another major stumbling block for the restart of international travel. This comes despite most vaccines having the approval of the World Health Organization (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs), such as the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the European Medicines Agency.
According to the WTTC, reports of travelers being turned away because they have the “wrong” or “unrecognized” vaccines have fueled concern from consumers, deterring them from booking.
The plea for reciprocal recognition for all vaccines and vaccine batches forms part of WTTC’s four new guidelines, which are aimed at safely resuming international mobility and saving the millions of jobs and livelihoods that depend on the travel and tourism sector, while kick-starting the global economic recovery.
Through a combination of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, digital health travel passes and the use of health and safety protocols, such as wearing face masks, safe international mobility can resume while at the same time saving millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on the sector and kick-starting the global economic recovery. WTTC’s fundamental guidelines to restore international mobility while safeguarding public health include:
- Appropriately reduced protocols for vaccinated travelers, including no need for testing or quarantine for those fully vaccinated. Global recognition for international travel of all vaccines authorized for use and deemed safe and effective by the WHO or by the WHO recognized SRAs.
- A data driven, risk-based and internationally harmonized approach to re-establishing freedom of movement, that is consistent across countries, easy to communicate and clearly understood by travelers.
- Global adoption of "digital health passes," which enable travelers to easily obtain and verify their vaccination status, negative COVID test result or natural immunity from a previous infection. These must work with existing border control and travel operator systems accepted by all countries. Digital verification of a traveler’s COVID status prior to travel will avoid lengthy and unsafe queues in transport hubs and terminals.
- Continued implementation of high-quality health and safety standards throughout all areas of the Travel & Tourism sector, including continued adoption of the WTTC’s “Safe Travel Protocols” and “Safe Travel Stamp,” with the continued wearing of face masks in crowded and enclosed areas as well as on all forms of public transport.
WTTC advocates the full implementation of these proportionate and responsible guidelines for travel during over the next few months, as many travel restrictions begin being eased as major travel markets begin to reopen.
Visit www.wttc.org.
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