WTTC Report Identifies Solutions For Recovery
In a new report, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is providing clear recommendations to governments and identifying four key digital solutions to restore international mobility.
The WTTC report calls on governments to adopt a more internationally coordinated response to COVID-19 for the travel and tourism sector and implement digital solutions that will facilitate the resumption of safe and stress-free international travel.
Following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, WTTC has identified four of the most widely used digital COVID vaccination certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate, ICAO Visible Digital Seal, DIVOC, and SMART Health Cards), and urges governments to accept these major international standards as proof of COVID-19 status, whilst working towards a single global solution.
The report, ‘Digital Solutions for Reviving International Travel,’ shows how international travellers, whether fully vaccinated or testing negative, would then have a globally recognized digital COVID certificate that would enable them to travel freely and safely anywhere in the world.
It also addresses the current global challenge posed by the existing patchwork of policies and processes, which are not only complex and unsustainable, but also further hinder the recovery of an already struggling sector.
To address this, governments should create their own ‘Digital Travel Portal,’ allowing travellers to electronically share their digital COVID vaccination or test certificates with their destination before they begin their journey.
After booking their trip, travellers would simply go to the online portal managed by the destination, where their digital COVID certificate would be uploaded, verifying the status online and in seconds, avoiding confusing processes and long queues.
Along with WHO, the report and recommendations also draws on guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) and commitments made by Governments at the G7 and G20 for solutions to revive safe international travel.
For the full report, go to https://research.wttc.org/digital-solutions-for-reviving-international-travel
