Blanket travel ban to delay economic recovery – WTTC

MANILA, Philippines — The World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC) has urged countries against imposing blanket travel bans, saying this would not work and would seriously delay the recovery of every sector of the economy.

In a statement, WTTC president and chief executive officer Gloria Guevara said while protecting public health is paramount, blanket travel bans is not the answer, emphasizing that they have not worked in the past and would still not work now.

This statement was prompted by the move of several countries to ban travelers from the UK amid concerns of a new variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

“If a comprehensive and quick turnaround testing regime were in place at airports across the country to test all travellers before they depart, it would ensure only those infected with COVID-19 are isolated and are prevented from travelling. There would be no need for countries to introduce damaging and counterproductive wholesale bans on UK travellers,” Guevara said.

She added that travellers pose no higher risk than other members of the community if they follow all the internationally recognized health safety protocols, including the mandatory wearing of masks and regular testing.

“While we understand the concern and need to curb the spread of COVID-19, the growing number of blunt travel bans are incredibly disruptive and economically damaging. We should not underestimate the terrible social impact of increasing isolation and its effect on mental health,” Guevara said.

“Every sector of the economy, not just travel and tourism, will suffer – as will those countries imposing the ban as their own economies feel the impact of border closures and the loss of business,” she said.

Guevara emphasized the need to save the global travel and tourism sector, due to its role in the recovery of economies.

“The travel and tourism sector will be critical to powering the economic recovery, which is why it is absolutely crucial that action must be taken now to save it. If not, it will collapse, and millions of people will lose their jobs,” Guevara said.

The WTTC earlier said 174 million travel and tourism jobs all over the world could be lost this year due to the pandemic.

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, travel and tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), made a 10.3 percent contribution to global GDP and generated one in four of all new jobs.

Earlier this month, the WTTC along with Airports Council International, the World Economic Forum, International Chamber of Commerce, said the world cannot wait for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

While it recognized that public health is paramount and welcomes the recent roll out of the game changing vaccines, which in the long-term will play a major role in combating coronavirus and restoring international travel, the WTTC said vaccines should not be a requirement to travel as this will further delay the revival of the already ailing travel and tourism sector, which needs to restart now to save itself, millions of jobs in the sector and beyond, and the global economy.

“Getting people back to work will also provide enormous health benefits to those around the world, whose livelihoods have been affected by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.

Moreover, Guevara also stressed the need to make testing easier for travelers.

“People should not be deterred from travelling because they simply can’t find or arrange to get tested at a local testing center or lab. We need to make it much easier for travellers to get a test prior to their journey,” Guevara said.

The WTTC launched earlier the world’s first global safety and hygiene stamp called the Safe Travels Stamp. It was created to restore traveler confidence in the destinations they choose to visit, the new global standards and a stamp facilitates recognition of the businesses and destinations that follow best practices.

To be a recipient of the stamp, a destination must ensure that its own safety guidelines align with the WTTC’s core requirements such as standardized health and hygiene protocols. These include guidelines on retooling manpower, revising cleaning procedures, mandating masks where needed, monitoring guest numbers to facilitate social distancing, contact tracing, putting up appropriate signage to encourage guests to use safe hygiene practices and others.

In September, the Philippines became the 100th destination to be awarded the WTTC Safe Travels stamp.