Travel to return gradually under new normal – WTTC

MANILA, Philippines — The global travel and tourism sector is expected to see the gradual return of travel in the coming months under a new normal, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said.

In a statement,  WTTC said the global travel and tourism sector would face a gradual return to travel over the coming months as a “new normal” emerges before a vaccine becomes available on a mass scale, large enough to inoculate billions of people.

“Travel is likely to return first to domestic markets with staycations; then to a country’s nearest neighbors before expanding across regions, and then finally across continents to welcome the return of journeys to long-haul international destinations,” the WTTC said.

WTTC said  the younger travelers in the 18-35 age group, who appear to be less vulnerable to COVID-19, may also be among the first to begin travelling once again.

It emphasized that a public-private collaboration between business and governments is vital to develop new health protocols which will form the travel experience and also provide people with strong reassurances when travelling.

“It is vital for the survival of the travel and tourism sector that we work together and map out the road to recovery, through coordinated actions, and offer the reassurance people need to begin travelling once again,” WTTC president and chief executive officer Gloria Guevara said.

“We have learned from past experiences that when the protocols from private sector are taken into account and we have a coordinated approach the recovery timeframe is significantly reduced, so the private-public sector collaboration is crucial,”she added.

Guevara stressed that new, unnecessary procedures that create bottle necks and slow down the recovery should be avoided.

“However, a quick and effective restart of travel will only happen if governments around the world agree to a common set of health protocols developed by the private sector, such as those we’ve outlined,”Guevara said.

He emphasized that the health protocols should provide the reassurance that travelers and authorities need, using new technology, to offer hassle-free, pre-vaccine ‘new normal’ travel in the short term.

Meanwhile, cruise operators are expected take further measures to ensuring ships are free of COVID-19 such as staff wearing gloves at all times which are then frequently changed; and more frequent room cleaning.

“Travelers at airports will find themselves tested before they fly and upon arrival at their destination airport. They can expect to see social distancing measures at the airport and during boarding, as well as wearing masks while onboard,” the group said.

In addition, aircraft will also be subject to intensive cleansing regimes. These measures will be combined with contact-tracing, via mobile app, that will allow flights to leave airports COVID-19-free.

“The protocols, which have been developed using experience from China’s initial recovery and from new successful standards used by retailers, will be fully announced in the next two weeks and shared with governments globally, so there is a coordinated approach to travelling within the COVID-19 world,”the WTTC said.