Shift focus from ‘high-risk’ nations to ‘high-risk travellers’, urges tourism physique

The WTTC estimates that around 174 million jobs in the travel and tourism industries have been affected due to the effects of the pandemic.

• According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, consensus is needed for an affordable, comprehensive, and fast departure and arrival testing program for all travelers.
• This would ensure that only those affected are forced to isolate themselves while travelers who tested negative for Covid-19 can continue to travel safely.
• Country-based risks are neither effective nor productive, says the Council.

Governments should abandon the concept of “high risk countries” with regard to Covid-19 and instead focus on treating “high risk travelers” at borders, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

“Entire populations are not infected and should not all be classified as” high risk. “Risk assessment of individual travelers through extensive testing and the use of technology prevents the virus from being exported,” said the WTTC, which represents the global private travel and tourism sector . said in a statement on Tuesday.

She calls on governments around the world to redefine their entire approach to risk assessment in order to revive international business and leisure travel.

The WTTC believes that there is a need for a common international consensus on the metrics used to assess risk, as well as a focus on an inexpensive, comprehensive and fast departure and arrival test system for all travelers. This could pave the way for a “meaningful” return trip.

“It would also ensure that only those affected are forced to isolate themselves, while travelers who test negative can continue to enjoy safe travel by following hygiene protocols and wearing masks,” suggests WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara .

Risk based on country “not effective”

“Country-based risk is neither effective nor productive. Redefining risk to individual travelers will be key to opening the door to the return of safer international travel. We must learn from previous experiences and crises like 9/11 “said she says.

“We cannot continue to refer to entire countries as ‘high risk’, assuming everyone is infected. The reality is much more complex. It not only stigmatizes an entire nation, but also stops travel and mobility when many people leave and test negative Arrivals could travel safely without exporting the virus. “

The WTTC firmly believes that implementing a comprehensive testing regime and using technology are the only practical ways to safely restore international travel. In his view, a comprehensive testing program will cost less than the economic costs of blanket quarantines and lockdowns.

The WTTC estimates that around 174 million jobs in the travel and tourism industries have been affected due to the effects of the pandemic. The 2019 WTTC Economic Impact Report shows that before the pandemic, the global travel and tourism industry contributed $ 8.9 trillion (10.3% of global gross domestic product) and created 330 million jobs worldwide.

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of SA’s Tourism Business Council (TBCSA), which represents the private sector, recently told Fin24 that the current overseas narrative about “a South African variant” of the coronavirus should be addressed.

“There are many variants. There are people with this variant in the US who have never traveled to SA. So it is one [Covid-19] Variant and not a South African variant, “said Tshivhengwa.” The tourism industry has proven that we can do things safely. ”