World Travel & Tourism Council Calls for 72-Hour Quarantine-Free Journeys

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has said that international business travel could restart if agreements are secured to safeguard journeys of up to 72-hours free from quarantines.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (EASA/ECDC) have joined forces to call for an exemption on quarantine for people travelling for less than 72 hours.

The proposal is also under active study by the UK government, according to the Report of the Global Travel Taskforce which was prepared for the Department for Transport.

The guidelines from EASA/ECDC considered the reduced likelihood for infection for those travelling for short periods, such as those expecting to return within 72 hours or less, and where contacts with the local population are limited and avoiding any social interactions.

It suggests such travellers should not be subjected to quarantines and/or COVID19 testing unless they show any symptoms of the virus. However, it continued to recommend all of those who travel must still ensure they adhere to local social distancing rules, to protect themselves and others around them, at all times.

The WTTC has welcomed the recommendations but has also said that they fall short, as they do not address the replacement of quarantines for a testing regime at departure.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said, “The revival of international business travel is crucial to kickstarting the global economic recovery, as last year, inbound international business travel across Europe accounted for US$111.3 billion (€99.8 billion), whilst globally it accounted for more than US$272 billion. The EASA/ECDC proposed guidelines to exempt passengers from quarantines for travel of 72 hours or less would be a significant step in the direction towards the wholesale revival of business travel.

“Airlines, hotels and a vast infrastructure of businesses within the global the travel and tourism sector, all heavily rely upon business travel. The loss of international business travel leaves airlines especially exposed, particularly on highly competitive short-haul and transatlantic routes, which depend upon them for the bulk of their profits.

“While we welcome all initiatives which could lead to the revival of international travel, we hope to persuade EASA and ECDC to focus on testing at departure, rather than at the point of entry, so as to reduce the possibility of transmission on board aircraft and reduce unnecessary barriers to travel.

“These measures will help ensure the long-term resuscitation of the global travel and tourism sector, which, according to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), and made a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generated one in four of all new jobs.”

(Source: Travel News Asia)