Travel industry has reacted with caution upon a report from the UK Government’s Global Travel Taskforce. The report shows how international travel could resume from 17 May 2021 at the earliest, in an accessible and affordable way. This includes the removal of the permission to travel form – meaning passengers would no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country.
Its recommendations also include the launch of a new traffic light system and ‘green watchlist’, and the introduction of travel certification. A traffic light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel, will be set up to protect the public and the vaccine rollout from international COVID-19 variants.
Key factors in the assessment will include:
- –the percentage of their population that have been vaccinated
- –the rate of infection
- –the prevalence of variants of concern
- –the country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing
Commenting upon the report, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said, “Report marks an important step towards regaining the social and economic benefits of the freedom to travel from 17 May. There are some positives. The framework that this initiative is setting gives some clarity to both travelers and the travel industry. The intention to use a digital system, such as IATA Travel Pass, to manage testing and vaccination documentation is an important assurance of efficiency for check-in and border processes. And developing a plan to reopen travel is a step ahead of most other countries.”
He further said that, the success of this initiative will ultimately be judged by travelers who need a system that does not involve quarantine. And it must be easy to understand, predictable, affordable and convenient. With that in mind, there is a lot more work to do between now and 17 May.
Taskforce report has said that the risks posed by new variants remain significant, and restrictions for inbound passengers, such as 10-day managed quarantine, home quarantine, and stringent testing will remain in place – but will apply to people differently depending on whether the destination visited is categorised as ‘green’, ‘amber’ or ‘red’.
Green: arrivals will need to take a pre-departure test as well as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on or before day 2 of their arrival back into the UK – but will not need to quarantine on return (unless they receive a positive result) or take any additional tests, halving the cost of tests on their return from holiday
Amber: arrivals will need to quarantine for a period of 10 days and take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 with the option for Test to Release on day 5 to end self-isolation early
Red: arrivals will be subject to restrictions currently in place for ‘red list’ countries which include a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, pre-departure testing and PCR testing on day 2 and 8
In this regard Walsh said that, the biggest concern is the sole reliance on PCR testing. This is far from the “affordable and accessible” promise that the government has made. PCR testing is expensive, inconvenient and, in short supply in some destinations. Studies show that the best rapid tests could deliver similar levels of accuracy and put the cost of travel within the reach of many more people. And it has the potential to replace the need for quarantine for “amber” countries. IATA has requested to give travelers the ability to use more cost-efficient rapid testing.
Whereas, commenting upon report, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said, “We welcome announcement to restart international cruises alongside the wider resumption of international travel, in line with the “traffic light” system.
“This announcement is the culmination of extensive collaboration between industry, government, health authorities and ports during the last twelve months to further strengthen health measures, which now go beyond any other travel sector. The industry’s protocols have already been tried and tested as almost 400,000 people have sailed on cruises since last summer elsewhere around the globe.
“Latest decision sends a signal of confidence in the industry and is a welcome boost to the thousands of people employed in the sector or whose livelihoods depend upon cruise, including travel agencies, hotels, tour guides, port operators and many other service providers up and down the country.”
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