UNWTO adds its voice to WHO statement on easing The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has welcomed the call of its sister UN agency World Health Organization (WHO) for restrictions on travel to be lifted or eased. Citing the varied global responses to the emergence of the of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, WHO has reiterated that restrictions on travel are not effective in suppressing the international spread. In line with UNWTO’s recurring warning against the use of blanket restrictions, the 10th meeting of the WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee (Geneva, 19 January) expressed concern that such measures can cause economic and social harm. They may also “discourage transparent and rapid reporting of emerging Variants of Concern”, the WHO added. FILE...
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# Sector sees a surge of more than 250% in European bookings for Easter compared to 2021# WTTC calls to remove all restrictions for fully jabbed travellers and allow free movement The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, has revealed bookings for intra-European travel over the Easter period have increased by more than 250%, while summer bookings are currently 80% above 2021 levels. According to WTTC’s knowledge partner ForwardKeys, the leading travel data and analytics company, intra-European flight bookings for the busy Easter and summer periods have surged ahead of last year, giving a welcome boost to Travel & Tourism businesses across the continent. During WTTC’s participation at FITUR, the internat...
Read MoreFrance announced it was slightly easing COVID-19 protocols for vaccinated travellers from Britain, dropping a requirement for proof of an essential reason for the trip and for obligatory self-isolation upon arrival. The demand for a negative COVID-19 test, conducted 24 hours before a trip, remains in place, the French government added on Thursday. The measures will take effect as from Friday morning. Travel industry has welcomed the development. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said, “WTTC welcomes the reopening of French borders to UK travellers. Once a variant is endemic closing borders is pointless and only damages livelihoods especially in travel and tourism one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic. FILE PHOTO: People wearing protective face masks walk on a s...
Read MoreTravel and tourism industry has once again expressed its displeasure on the way various countries are managing the travel guidelines in response to Omicron variant and increase in COVID infections. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) of the United Nations has called out against the introduction of blanket restrictions on travel, as witnessed in recent days. This call echoes the concerns raised by UNWTO Members during the 24th UNWTO General Assembly (30 November–3 December). Countries from all global regions expressed their solidarity with Southern African states, calling for the immediate lifting of travel bans imposed on specific countries and for freedom of international travel to be upheld. FILE PHOTO: A sandwich is seen in a closed cafe as the Austrian government imposed a fo...
Read MoreWTTC identifies digital solutions to significantly restore international mobility
A simplified and interoperable digital solution is vital to fully achieve the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sectorKey WTTC recommendations will remove current patchwork of policies and processes Following comprehensive analysis and research, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a new groundbreaking report which provides clear recommendations to governments and identifies four key digital solutions to restore international mobility. The inaugural report provides guidance and calls on governments to adopt a more internationally coordinated response to COVID-19 for the Travel & Tourism sector and implement digital solutions that will facilitate the resumption of safe and stress-free international travel. Following World Health Organization (WHO) ...
Read MoreTravel and tourism industry around the world is seeing Omicron as a bolt from the blue. When after two years of turbulence, things finally looked getting better the emergence of new COVID strain and subsequent travel restrictions by governments one after the another has spelled nothing short of disaster. More so because, it has come right before the year-end vacations. FILE PHOTO: People wearing protective masks walk on a street, following new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Shanghai, China, November 24, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song That is the reason that industry is requesting governments to be cautious but not get into panic mode. It is against this knee jerk reaction from countries of closing borders again. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also...
Read MoreNew report from WTTC and Trip.com Group reveals latest consumer trends and the shift in traveller behaviours # Bookings for ‘the great outdoors’ dominated in 2021# International spending expected to rise 94% in 2022# Eight out of 10 travellers will choose sustainable travel The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Trip.com Group have launched ‘Trending in Travel’, a new report that shows the latest trends traveller behaviour and future booking patterns in the wake of COVID-19. WTTC, representing the global Travel & Tourism sector, joined forces with leading global travel service provider, Trip.com Group, and its major consumer brands Trip.com, Ctrip and Skyscanner, to analyse consumer trends shaping the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector. WTTC’s late...
Read MoreWTTC report says, if key measures are followed the sector could restore more than 47 million jobs by 2022 New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals the recovery of the Asia Pacific Travel & Tourism sector has soared ahead of many regions in the world with a year on year growth of more than 36%. Before the pandemic struck, Asia Pacific’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented more than US$ 3 trillion (9.9% of the region’s economy). After the pandemic brought international travel to an almost complete standstill, in 2020, Asia Pacific saw a hit of almost 54%, halving the contribution of the Travel & Tourism sector to the region’s economy. However, according to the research, and based on the current rate of recovery...
Read MoreWTTC launches ground-breaking Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism
Major new initiative will set the path for businesses in their quest to net zero As world leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26 to discuss concrete actions to solve the climate crises, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched an ambitious and groundbreaking Net Zero Roadmap, to guide the global Travel & Tourism sector in its battle against the climate crisis. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, developed the roadmap in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Accenture. The roadmap provides concrete guidelines and recommendations to help guide Travel & Tourism businesses on their journey towards net zero. By providing milestones for meaningf...
Read MoreNew report from WTTC reveals, corporate travel in the Middle East and Asia Pacific set to lead the way with fastest recovery Worldwide business travel spending looks set to rise by more than a quarter this year and reach two thirds of pre-pandemic levels by 2022, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The forecast comes in a major new WTTC report in collaboration with McKinsey & Company called ‘Adapting to Endemic Covid-19: The Outlook for Business Travel’. It draws on research, analysis and in-depth interviews with Travel & Tourism business leaders to enable organisations to prepare for corporate travel in the post-pandemic world. Business travel was disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and has been slower to resume. Given that business tra...
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