WTTC calls for measures to replace unnecessary quarantines

MANILA, Philippines — The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for new travel measures to replace unnecessary quarantines brough about by COVID-19, which impact the recovery of the global tourism industry.

In a statement, WTTC president and chief operating officer Gloria Guevara expressed the group’s support for measures designed to curb COVID-19 and protect public health, but called for the complete removal of unnecessary quarantines.

“Requiring inbound travelers and holidaymakers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test should ensure safe travel. This will be critical to encourage essential bookings for future flights and holidays,” Guevara said.

“However, there is still uncertainty around the type of tests, which will be accepted upon arrival, and they must be made widely accessible and affordable for all,” she said.

Guevara said that the requirement of some countries for arriving travelers to isolate themselves for 10 days or undergo a further test five days later is an unnecessary precaution.

“It will only stifle travel, putting yet more pressure on the embattled travel and tourism sector,” Guevara said.

“Continuing with these damaging quarantines and added unnecessary restrictions will impact forward bookings, which will be vital to revive international air travel, bring back travel and tourism sector jobs and resuscitate the global economy, while also protecting public health,” she said.

On the local front, all passengers arriving from flights from flagged countries are currently required to undergo and RT-PCR swab test and be subjected to a 14-day facility-based quarantine, according to the Inter-Agency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Among these countries the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, USA, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Finland,India, Jordan, Norway,and Portugal.

In an advisory, Department of Tourism (DOT) National Capital Region (NCR) director Woodrow Maquiling Jr. reminded accommodation establishments in Metro Manila operating as quarantine or isolation facilities of returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) coming from the flagged countries with existing booking at their properties to ensure the mandatory quarantine and negative RT-PCR result.

“Likewise, hotel management must ensure fast and convenient check-in procedure of ROFs upon arrival at their property to reduce the probable exposure and risk of getting COVID-19,” Maquiling added.

The WTTC urged countries against imposing blanket travel bans as it will delay economic recovery.

“WTTC has long called for an internationally recognized rapid and cost-effective testing regime upon departure at airports worldwide. This would avoid exporting the virus, especially by departing outbound passengers, and aid the restoration of international travel,” the WTTC said.

Guevara said earlier that travelers 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 may have been lost in 2020 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.