WTTC highlights need for international recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines

July 16, 2021

With tourists being blocked at borders, the World Travel and Tourism Council has warned that the restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines.

WTTC which represents the global private Travel and Tourism sector, has issued its warning following concerns tourists face being turned away at the borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognised and approved COVID-19 vaccines.

The warning comes just days after a number of British holidaymakers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, were rejected entry into Malta despite the drug being chemically identical to the UK-made vaccine.

Over the past few weeks reports of holidaymakers facing obstacles to entry have been on the rise, with some even being prevented from boarding their flights to destinations.

WTTC believes that once again, the lack of international coordination to agree on a list of approved vaccines, is creating yet another major stumbling block for the restart of international travel.

This comes despite most vaccines have secured the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs), such as the UK’s the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Food and Drug Administration in the US, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Reports of travellers being turned away because they have the ‘wrong’ vaccine batches or ‘unrecognised’ vaccines has fuelled concern from consumers, deterring them from booking and thereby damaging the already struggling Travel and Tourism sector.

The plea for reciprocal recognition for all vaccines and vaccine batches forms part of WTTC’s four new guidelines which are aimed at safely resuming international mobility and save the millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on this sector, while kick-starting the global economic recovery.

Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President WTTC noted “reciprocal recognition of all vaccine types and batches is essential if we are to avoid any further unnecessary and damaging delay to restarting international travel.

“The failure of countries to agree on a common list of all approved and recognised vaccines is of huge concern to WTTC, as we know every day travel is curbed, more cash-strapped Travel & Tourism businesses face even greater strain, pushing ever more to the brink of bankruptcy.

“We can avoid this by having a fully recognised list of all the approved vaccines - and vaccine batches - which should be the key to unlocking international travel, not the door to preventing it.

“It will also give holidaymakers and travellers the confidence they need to book trips, flights and cruises, confident in the knowledge that their fully-vaccinated status will be internationally recognised.”

WTTC says the restoration of safe international travel can be achieved by following its four guidelines.

Through a combination of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, digital health travel passes and the use of health and safety protocols, such as wearing face masks, safe international mobility can resume while at the same time saving millions of jobs and livelihoods which depend on the sector and kick-starting the global economic recovery.

WTTC’s fundamental guidelines to restore international mobility while safeguarding public health include:

1. Appropriately reduced protocols for vaccinated travellers, including no need for testing or quarantine for those fully vaccinated. Global recognition for international travel of all vaccines authorised for use and deemed safe and effective by the WHO or by the WHO recognised SRAs.

2. A data driven, risk-based and internationally harmonised approach to re-establishing freedom of movement, that is consistent across countries, easy to communicate and clearly understood by travellers.

3. Global adoption of ‘digital health passes’ which enable travellers to easily obtain and verify their vaccination status, negative COVID test result or natural immunity from a previous infection. These must work with existing border control and travel operator systems accepted by all countries. Digital verification of a traveller’s COVID status prior to travel will avoid lengthy and unsafe queues in transport hubs and terminals.

4. Continued implementation of high-quality health and safety standards throughout all areas of the Travel and Tourism sector, including continued adoption of the WTTC’s Safe Travel Protocols and Safe Travel Stamp, with the continued wearing of face masks in crowded and enclosed areas as well as on all forms of public transport.

WTTC advocates the full implementation of these proportionate and responsible guidelines for travel during over the next few months, as many travel restrictions begin being eased as major travel markets begin to reopen.

This is against the backdrop of a successful vaccination roll out, with a subsequent decrease in deaths, cases, and hospitalisations in many countries. However, variants will continue to be cause of concern as the world struggles to emerge from the effects of the pandemic.

6th July 2021 - New WTTC Economic Trends Report reveals Asia Pacific region hardest hit by COVID-19 pandemic

8th June 2021 - WTTC campaign launched as global call for governments to restart international travel

17th May 2021 - Thailand joins more than 275 destinations in adopting WTTC Safe Travels stamp

13th May 2021 - WTTC announces Julia Simpson as new Chief Executive

25th April 2021 - WTTC’S summit to be world’s first face-to-face post-pandemic global tourism event

6th February 2021 - WTTC says governments should abandon notion of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on ‘high-risk travellers’

20th January 2021 - WTTC predicts over 100 million global tourism jobs could be recovered during 2021

17th December 2020 - WTTC releases major new guidelines for Inclusion and Diversity to aid tourism sector

14th October 2020 - WTTC recognises Australia’s COVID Clean Practicing Business Program

21st September 2020 - ATEC aligns with WTTC Safe Travel protocols

19th September 2020 - The Philippines revealed as 100th destination to receive WTTC Safe Travels stamp

16th August 2020 - WTTC calls for leadership from Australian Government to save tourism

9th June 2020 - Global tourist destinations sign up to the WTTC global safety and hygiene stamp

1st May 2020 - WTTC outlines ‘the new normal’ when travelling resumes

23rd April 2020 - WTTC calls on G20 leaders to coordinate recovery for the tourism industry

17th April 2020 - WTTC commends global tourism industry for helping during COVID-19

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