The World Travel & Tourism Council and a number of international industry bodies have joined forces to call for the immediate restoration of international travel using proven processes and without waiting for or requiring vaccinations.
WTTC said that vaccines were not a requirement to travel “as this will further delay the revival of the already ailing Travel & Tourism sector, which needs to restart now to save itself, millions of jobs in the sector and beyond, and the global economy”.
The group said that the safe opening of existing travel corridors such as London Heathrow to Dubai, with appropriate testing and hygiene protocols, demonstrated that international travel could already take place at minimal and acceptable risk.
WTTC and the industry bodies warned against the introduction of so-called ‘health passports’ – as opposed to internationally-recognised travel passes currently being considered - which would only further delay the recovery.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC president & CEO, said: “WTTC welcomes the incredible developments and hugely encouraging medical advances on COVID-19 vaccines which has seen the beginning of coronavirus vaccinations.
“The vaccines currently being rolled out are truly game-changers, and hopefully just the first of many which could transform the world, mark the beginning of our return to a more normal way of life and see the return of safe and confident international travel.
“Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines will be critical to combatting COVID-19 and restoring confidence for people to interact with one another. However, it will take considerable time to vaccinate the world and for the vaccines to have a significant effect on the global population, and the global Travel & Tourism sector simply cannot wait. Vaccination must not be a requirement to travel but should co-exist with testing regimes and be considered as a progressive enhancement to already safe travel.
“Governments must now demonstrate leadership by opening bilateral travel corridors on key international routes with countries that apply the same robust risk management processes.”