Category: Latest Travel News

Valletta, Malta, December 23, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / SUN^x Malta will host the first ever climate friendly youth travel summit in April 2021. The ‘Strong Earth Youth Summit’ (SEYS) will include lectures, workshops and other educational activities aimed at highlighting the need for a clean and green post-Covid future for the tourism sector, in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and 2050 Paris Agreement.

The virtual event, held on 29 April, will be in partnership with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), British Columbia, Canada; Institute of Tourism Studies, Malta (ITS); and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). Events will be held in three centres: the Mekong, Malta and British Columbia.

SEYS will focus on creating awareness of Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) and on fostering ways to encourage changes for a resilient Travel & Tourism future. It aims to promote climate hope in the recovery of the tourism industry through awareness and education, youth empowerment, and engagement and action.

Announcing the youth summit, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of SUN^x Malta, said, “This is not just another of the many Travel & Tourism summits. SEYS is designed for tomorrow’s leaders by tomorrow’s leaders – the 45 students from 30 countries we have on our first ever Climate Friendly Travel Diploma Course with ITS Malta. We charged them with creating an event that would be meaningful and attractive for the Greta Thunberg crowd.

“SEYS will identify the core issues for the post–pandemic green and clean tourism sector. Our students are putting together a fast and fun program, with engaging speakers, who will captivate a global youth leadership audience.”

The Summit will include virtual tours, interactive workshops, seminars, challenges, presentations, networking, and question and answer sessions, as well as an information session on the Climate Friendly Travel Diploma and Climate Friendly Travel Registry. The program has been designed by the students on the first Climate Friendly Travel Diploma Course with ITS Malta.

SEYS will honour the vision and contribution of the late Maurice Strong, a close friend of Lipman, after whom the summit is named. Strong was the architect of the UN Sustainable Development and Climate Framework for half a century, and inspiration for SUN^x Malta and its Climate Friendly Travel System.

“SEYS will be the first of an annual testimony to the legacy of Maurice Strong, Champion for the planet, who warned about the Climate Crisis 50 years ago and spent the rest of his life building the UN framework to respond to it,” says Lipman.

SEYS will also launch the Strong Awards to encourage students to profile Breakthrough Innovations in Climate Friendly Travel, together with Les Roches Hospitality School.

For more information on SEYS or to register for it, visit www.thesunprogram.com

Bangkok, Thailand, December 26, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand, together with ICONSIAM and other agencies, associations and businesses along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River is turning the New Year countdown into
a new-normal celebration. The ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021 – Celebrate the Shining Spirit of Thailand, being staged on New Year’s Eve at ICONSIAM’s River Park, promises to become the most spectacular celebration of Thailand to ring in the New Year and mark the country’s countdown landmark. It also underlines the importance of the Chao Phraya River as Bangkok’s and the country’s key tourist attraction and the iconic global countdown destination.

The new-normal celebrations proceeds with dramatic display of 25,000 eco-friendly fireworks that are made in Japan from Thai sticky rice, which will light up the sky along a 1,400-metre length of the Chao Phraya River that runs through Bangkok. The spectacular firework is a message of hope for the country and the world to mark the arrival of the new year and signal to everyone our hope for a bright 2021.”

The celebrations will strictly comply with The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s guideline. The concert has been cancelled and the country can virtually and safely celebrates together via live broadcast on television and online live streaming.

Mr. Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, Managing Director of ICONSIAM Company Limited, said, “ICONSIAM strictly follows CCAS’s guideline by cancelling all the concerts but the new year spirit remains with the stunning eco-friendly firework display. Expect to see the magnificent display of over 20,000 eco-friendly fireworks that will be lit up along the most beautiful curve of the Chao Phraya River spanning an area of over 1,400 meters. The firework will be displayed comprises of 7 acts under the concept “The Wonders of Happiness upon the River” to represent hope, faith, prosperity and happiness as well as to show support of Thailand to people all over the world to overcome the crisis and start the new year with strength and courage.

Each act signifies auspicious meaning as follows; Act 1: Big Hope: represents light at the end of the tunnel, Act 2: Believe: signifies belief, faith and determination while Act 3: Brilliant Life: represent mental and physical strength. Act 4: Beautiful World: symbolizes optimism, Act 5: Blooming Wealth presented by Kasikornbank symbolizes glory and prosperity. Act 6: Be Together presented by True Corporation: represents unity and Act 7: Best Begin: are the statements of the inspiring beginning to start off a great New Year.

ICONSIAM strictly implements maximum health and safety measures and works in accordance with the Ministry of Health and CCSA’s measures. In compliance with the social distancing and new-normal practices, the celebration will be broadcasted live on MCOT HD 30, Thairath TV 32 HD and live-streamed via Facebook at–ICONSIAM, Thairath Online, Khaosod Facebook Pages and True ID. For more information, please contact ICONSIAM Call Center tel. 1338.

London, United Kingdom, December 23, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Economic Forum, today announce a reinforced partnership to promote the importance of the sustainable growth of the global Travel & Tourism sector.

The strategic partnership will see enhanced collaboration between WTTC and the Forum, with the overall aim of advancing the Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey programme, a major priority for WTTC, developing and advancing projects to increase Travel & Tourism competitiveness and sustainability, supporting one another’s work relating to the future of work, and collaboration with regards to crisis and resilience.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Press Releases here.

Collaboration between the two organisations will take the form of shared information and mutual collaboration, which leverage their respective areas of expertise, to produce forward-looking major reports, mutual support for events and conferences such as the WTTC Global Summit, which will take place in Cancun Mexico in March 2021, and the creation of information sharing channels.

The first major part of the collaboration will see WTTC joining the CommonTrust Network which will provide a crucial mechanism for States and industry to agree on a harmonised, standards-based trust framework for health status verification to restart travel and advance coordinated efforts to support the recovery of Travel & Tourism.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “We are excited to reinforce our partnership with the World Economic Forum in order to broaden and expand the outreach of both organisations. 

“We believe that through our leadership and collective expertise, we will be better able to raise awareness on the importance of Travel & Tourism and drive forward strong research and initiatives for its sustainable development.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the global Travel & Tourism sector, and now as we come to the end of 2020, we can finally see recovery on the horizon.”

Christoph Wolff, Head of Mobility at the World Economic Forum said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has only emphasised the need for like-minded organizations to work together, and we are delighted to strengthen our collaboration to support the secure and sustainable development of the aviation, travel and tourism industry. 

“The CommonTrust Network is an ambitious but necessary collaboration across and beyond the travel and tourism ecosystem, which will harmonise programmes related to digital COVID-19 test results and health record verification. Members of the network are building a much-needed global registry of trusted laboratory data sources, standard formats for lab results, and standard tools to make those results digitally accessible. This will go a long way to support the safe reopening of international borders and the resumption of economic activity based on travel and tourism.”

WTTC represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. WTTC is committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the Travel & Tourism sector.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Press Releases here.

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is independent, impartial, and not tied to any special interests. The Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does.

Geneva, Switzerland, December 22, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Kamil H. Al-Awadhi will be appointed IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East (AME), effective 1 March 2021.

Al-Awadhi succeeds Muhammad Albakri who will become IATA’s Senior Vice-President for Customer, Financial, and Digital Services (CFDS), also effective 1 March 2021. As previously announced, Albakri will replace Aleks Popovich in the CFDS role upon his retirement.

Most recently, Al-Awadhi was CEO of Kuwait Airways, a responsibility he held from November 2018 through August 2020. That capped a 31-year career at Kuwait Airways during which his positions included Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer. Al-Awadhi has also held several positions in the areas of safety, security, quality management and enterprise resource planning.

At IATA, Al-Awadhi will lead the Association’s activities across AME from its regional office in Amman, Jordan. He will report to the IATA Director General and CEO and join IATA’s Strategic Leadership Team.

“Muhammad has reinforced IATA’s strong presence in the AME region. As he moves to take on the challenges of leading our CFDS activities, Muhammad will leave in place a strong team for the capable leadership of Kamil. Kamil is an industry veteran who brings a tremendous depth of airline expertise and regional experience. These will be critical in leading IATA’s activities in the AME region at this very challenging time. As a former CEO, he knows what member airlines expect of IATA. And, I have no doubt that Kamil has the skills and determination to exceed those expectations as we aim to reconnect the world amid the coronavirus pandemic,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“I look forward to getting started at IATA. Like all regions, AME will need a strong air transport industry to kick-start the economic recovery from COVID-19. The priority to revive aviation is clear and IATA is at the center of this effort. There is no time to waste. We must help governments to re-open borders without quarantine and we need to ensure that the industry is ready to safely scale-up operations and implement the global standards that will keep passenger and crew safe during the pandemic and beyond,” said Al-Awadhi.

A national of Kuwait, Al-Awadhi holds an MBA in Aerospace Management from the Toulouse Business School and an Engineering degree in Aircraft Maintenance Management from Air Service Training (AST) in the UK.

Bangkok, Thailand, December 21, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / King Power Mahanakhon, Bangkok’s iconic landmark destination recently partnered up with the Thai Astronomical Society for a live broadcast on “The Great Conjunction 2020” from the 78th floor of Bangkok’s highest rooftop. The rare astronomical phenomenon attracted astronomy enthusiasts and local visitors who attended the event under strict social distancing measures.

“The Great Conjunction” is an astronomical event which occurs every 20 years. However, the last time Jupiter and Saturn came this close to each other (at 0.1 degrees apart) was 397 years ago in 1623. According to the Thai Astronomical Society, the suggested time to observe this in Bangkok on December 21st, 2020 was during 18.20hrs-19.30hrs (GMT +7). On this occasion, the Thai Astronomical Society conducted a live broadcast on their official channels from Bangkok’s highest rooftop at 314 meters above the city, at King Power Mahanakhon’s 78th floor, where two telescopes were also available to visitors of the attraction.

The partnership between King Power Mahanakhon and The Thai Astronomical Society was conducted with an aim to promote knowledge about the scientific phenomenon and to provide an alternative venue for viewing astrological events from the heart of Bangkok.

London, United Kingdom, December 21, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “WTTC is encouraged by the commitments put forward from the UN Climate Ambition Summit which included many new measures, policies and plans all aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring that the warming of the planet is limited to 1.5C.

“In New York in September 2019 and during its first ever Climate & Environment Action Forum, the WTTC announced its ambition for the Travel & Tourism sector to be climate neutral by 2050, and we are delighted to see that this type of commitment reflected in the pledges that have come out of the meeting.

“Though the Travel & Tourism sector has been hit incredibly hard by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with our research showing 174 million jobs at risk, WTTC has shown a continued commitment to sustainability initiatives throughout the year. Most recently, the WTTC Executive Committee appointed Darrell Wade as its Vice Chair of Sustainability and Chair of the Sustainability Committee, to ensure tangible actions and progress on issues such as carbon neutrality, science-based targets, waste reduction, and sustainable destination management, among others.

“As one of the world’s largest industrial sectors, the Travel & Tourism sector supports one in 10 jobs around the world and contributes 10.3% of global GDP. However, it is also responsible for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This underpins WTTC’s commitment to unify the sector to move faster to make Travel & Tourism part of the solution.”

Bangkok, Thailand, December 21, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Michelin Guide Thailand 2021 introduces two new awards and a new distinction; Young Chef Award, Service Award, and Michelin Green Star signify Michelin Guide’s true appreciation to Thailand’s entire restaurant ecosystem.

To honour the 120-year legacy of the ultimate in culinary accolades, we are pleased to announce the Michelin Guide Thailand 2021 selections at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River.

While recognising the challenging times restaurateurs and chefs nationwide are facing, Michelin Guide Thailand continues to grant these well-deserved honours, including three new distinctions that will be revealed at the morning press conference. We look forward to supporting, promoting, and publicising Thailand’s world-class culinary scene from established icons to hidden talents. The celebrations will continue into the night with an evening banquet for distinguished guests designed by gastronomic masters of the industry.

In the latest guide, Michelin promotes just one restaurant to the two-star level. Chef’s Table, a French fine dining restaurant, gets two stars after debuting in the guide with one star last year. All five of the other restaurants in the category maintained their two-star status from 2020.

Lebua hotel Bangkok, the ultimate luxury vertical destination, is now the only hotel in the world with 4 Michelin stars; two restaurants with each 2 stars. Lebua received as well the 1st Michelin Service Award.

There’s only slightly more movement in the one-star category, with just three restaurants added to the list. Two are in the guide for the very first time: Blue by Alain Ducasse (another French pick) and Cadence by Dan Bark, not French, but the naming convention alone would appear to make it Michelin bait (see the list below).

Omakase restaurant Sushi Masato, the third new entrant, gets one Michelin star, promoted from its spot in the Michelin Plate category, which features “eateries providing a good meal, capably prepared with fresh ingredients and good cooking.” The 19 other restaurants with one Michelin star retained their status from last year, but Phuket restaurant PRU also gets Michelin’s new Green Star for its efforts to minimize its carbon footprint, chemical use, and food waste. A new “young chef” award goes to Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn, the chef of one-star restaurant Saawaan, while a the guide’s new service award goes to Guillaume Barray, the general manager of new two-star restaurant Chef’s Table.

Michelin’s 2021 guide to Thailand also includes 106 Bib Gourmand selections, including 17 new and four promoted from the Michelin Plate category, and 165 Michelin Plates, with 32 of those appearing in the guide for the first time. See below for the full list of Thailand’s Michelin stars.

The 2021 selection at a glance:

6 restaurants with Two Michelin Stars (1 promoted)
– Chef’s Table (Promoted)
– Le Normandie
– Mezzaluna
– R-Haan
– Sorn
– Sühring

22 restaurants with One Michelin Star (2 new, 1 promoted)
– 80/20
– Blue by Alain Ducasse (New)
– Bo.Lan
– Cadence by Dan Bark (New)
– Canvas
– Chim by Siam Wisdom
– Elements
– Ginza Sushi Ichi
– J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain
– Jay Fai
– Khao (Ekkamai)
– Le Du
– Methavalai Sorndaeng
– Nahm
– Paste
– Saawaan
– Saneh Jaan
– Savelberg
– Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin
– Suan Thip
– Sushi Masato (Promoted)
– Pru

1 Green Star restaurant
– Pru

106 Bib Gourmand restaurants (17 new, 4 promoted)

165 Michelin Plate restaurants (32 new)

The Michelin Guide Thailand Editorial Team comprises of local and international writers specialising in journalism, travel and lifestyle writing bringing you content in both Thai and English.

Madrid, Spain, December 21, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / International arrivals fell by 72% over the first ten months of 2020, with restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence and a global struggle to contain the COVID-19 virus, all contributing to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.

According to the latest tourism data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019. This translates into a loss of US$ 935 billion in export revenues from international tourism, more than 10 times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

Since the start of this crisis, UNWTO has provided governments and businesses with trusted data showing the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global tourism

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Since the start of this crisis, UNWTO has provided governments and businesses with trusted data showing the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global tourism. Even as the news of a vaccine boosts traveller confidence, there is still a long road to recovery. We thus need to step up our efforts to safely open borders while supporting tourism jobs and businesses. It is ever clearer that tourism is one of the most affected sectors by this unprecedented crisis.”

Based on the current evidence, UNWTO expects international arrivals to decline by 70% to 75% for the whole of 2020. In this case, global tourism will have returned to levels of 30 years ago, with 1 billion fewer arrivals and a loss of some US$ 1.1 trillion in international tourism receipts. This massive drop in tourism due to the pandemic could result in an economic loss of US$ 2 trillion in world GDP.

Travel restrictions continue to weigh on the recovery

Asia and the Pacific, the first region to suffer the impact of the pandemic and the one with the highest level of travel restrictions to date, saw an 82% decrease in arrivals in the first ten months of 2020. The Middle East recorded a 73% decline, while Africa saw a 69% drop. International arrivals in both Europe and the Americas declined by 68%.

Europe recorded smaller decreases of 72% and 76% in September and October compared to other world regions, following the slight though short-lived recovery in the summer peak months of July and August. The resurgence of the virus across the region has led to the reintroduction of some forms of travel restrictions. However, Europe is the region in which more destinations (91% as of 1 November 2020) have eased such restrictions, mainly among Schengen Member States.

At the other end of the spectrum, Asia and the Pacific continued to record declines of nearly 100% in September and October, reflecting the ongoing closure of borders in China and other major destinations in the region. The Americas has seen a gradual improvement since June with comparatively lower decreases in international arrivals through October. This reflects the reopening of many destinations in the region, including small island developing states in the Caribbean.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili adds: “A coordinated approach to easing and lifting restrictions on travel whenever is it safe to do so l is essential. This will not only open destinations up to tourism again, but clear and consistent rules between countries will go a long way towards building back trust in international travel and boosting consumer confidence.”

Demand remains weak overall despite a slight improvement in some markets

Data on international tourism expenditure continues to reflect very weak demand for outbound travel.  However, some large markets such as the United States, Germany and France have shown some signs of recovery in the recent months. Furthermore, demand for domestic tourism continues to grow in some markets, including both China and Russia.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

Looking ahead, the announcement of a vaccine and the start of vaccination are expected to gradually increase consumer confidence. At the same time, a growing number of destinations are easing or lifting restrictions on travel. According to the latest research from UNWTO, the proportion of closed destinations has dropped from 82% in late April 2020 to 18% in early November (expressed in percentage of international arrivals).

The extended scenarios for 2021-2024 presented by the United Nations specialized agency for tourism point to a rebound by the second half of 2021. Nonetheless, a return to 2019 levels in terms of international arrivals could take between two-and-a-half and four years.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, December 19, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in partnership with Google hosted their second edition of the global Tourism Acceleration Program in the Middle East region, a program designed to boost innovation and digital transformation in the tourism sector in each of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt by providing key insights and market intelligence for effective tourism planning.

Held last Thursday, the online event was attended by UNWTO Member States’ tourism ministers, top travel associations, tourism boards and Destination Marketing Organizations from across the region. Participants gained first-hand access to UNWTO and Google’s insights of the tourism sector and developed new strategies for a more sustainable recovery.

UNWTO is proud to partner with Google to bring the power of innovation and digital transformation to tourism across the Middle East region

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “UNWTO is proud to partner with Google to bring the power of innovation and digital transformation to tourism across the Middle East region. The effective use of data can help destinations of all sizes grow their tourism sectors, while at the same time providing key insights into how tourism can be managed responsibly and inclusively, with sustainability as the driving force.”

Below are some of the regional travel data insights shared with participants during the session:

Top asked questions

Google Search data shows that the top questions asked about the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are related to COVID-19 travel restrictions such as “is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?”, “is Mecca open for tourism?”, or “is Egypt on the quarantine list?”. Similarly, and on a global level, 45% of the top 100 questions related to travel also focused on the impact of COVID-19, the yearn to travel, and required safety measures.

Trends on Google Search

Since the recent announcement of the vaccine two weeks ago, queries related to air and accommodation to the UAE have picked up rapidly for the first time since the pandemic has started, compared to a slower growth in Saudi Arabia due to travel restrictions. In terms of outbound flights, the recent research shows that 33% of UAE travelers plan on taking a vacation abroad in the next 3-6 months compared to 25% in Saudi Arabia and 20% in Egypt.

The pandemic has also shifted some travel interests towards the outdoors and nature destinations. For example, there has been an increase in online searches for eco & sustainable tourism in Saudi Arabia (90%), the UAE (35%) and Egypt (20%) as people are looking to explore natural reservations compared to a decrease in queries about cruises, luxury travel and theme parks.

Rising domestic destinations

In November, search trends on top rising destinations across the region show that people are leaning towards traveling more within their residing countries and cities including Al Gharbia (Abu Dhabi) and Umm Al Quwain in the UAE, Dhahran (Al Dammam) and Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, Mansheya El Bakry (Cairo), and Sidi Gaber (Alexandria) in Egypt. At the same time, there has been an increase in people looking for international flights to Saudi Arabia (52%) and Egypt (80%) in the last few weeks.

Commenting on the program, Lino Cattaruzzi, Google’s Managing Director in Middle East, said: “Digital skills are now more critical than ever and they will be vital in helping our region recover more quickly and more sustainably. Today’s acceleration program is an opportunity for tourism boards and businesses in Middle East  to prepare and find new ways to engage with would-be travelers. We remain optimistic about the future of the travel and tourism sector, and about the role that Google and technology can play to help it recover faster.”

The Acceleration Programme is part of the close partnership between UNWTO and Google. The first edition was held virtually and hosted by South Africa last September in an effort to accelerate the power of tourism, and drive sustainable growth for millions across the world. Following editions of the program will be announced on our website.

Geneva, Switzerland, December 18, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) unveiled key design elements of the IATA Travel Pass. IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app to help travelers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

“Testing is the immediate solution to safely re-open borders and re-connect people. And eventually this is likely to transition to vaccination requirements. In either case, a secure system to manage COVID-19 testing or vaccination information is critical. The IATA Travel Pass is a solution that both travelers and governments can trust. And it is being built with data security, convenience and verification as top priorities,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

IATA emphasized these priorities with three critical design elements:

1. Putting travelers in control of their personal information for top level data security and data privacy. The IATA Travel Pass stores encrypted data including verified test or vaccination results on the mobile device of the traveler. The traveler controls what information is shared from their phone with airlines and authorities. No central database or data repository is storing the information. By keeping travelers 100% in control of their information, the highest standards for data privacy are ensured. IATA Travel Pass is also built on the highest standards of data protection laws, including General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR).

   Technically, the app is being built in accordance with Self-Sovereign Identity* (SSI) principles. The IATA Travel Pass is scheduled for release early in the first quarter of 2021 for Android and for iPhone. For iPhone it will use the “Secure Enclave” features of Apple devices and a similar security encryption technology for Android. ​​

2. Global standards recognized by governments to ensure verified identity and test/vaccine information.

   a. Verified identity: A government issued ePassport is used to verify the identity of the user. It also serves to create a digital representation of the user’s passport to allow the information to be sent electronically in a secured way that is linked to their verified identity. The key to this are global standards developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which match biometric passport data and a selfie taken by the user. This creates a Type 1 digital travel credential (a verified digital identify**) in line with ICAO standards.

   b. Verified test results or vaccine information: Currently the main vaccination requirement for entry into some countries is for yellow fever. Under the International Health Regulations, this is managed by the “yellow card” or International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis. The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing digital standards that will make these vastly more secure and will dramatically reduce fraud. When ready, the IATA Travel Pass will be able to accommodate such new global standards.

   Until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available to the general public, the priority is on COVID-19 testing. Laboratories have well-established safety standards for managing and verifying test results to individuals. IATA is partnering with selected and established laboratories to securely link their test results with the verified identity of the IATA Travel Pass holder.

3. Convenience and biosafety will be enhanced with integration into contactless travel processes. The ICAO CART recommendations for biosafety include the use of contactless travel processes to reduce the risk of virus transmission when documents need to be exchanged in the travel process.

   The industry has been developing contactless travel processes as part of a One ID transformation program for several years. The IATA Travel Pass digital identity management module uses the well-developed principles of One ID (which are, in turn, based on ICAO standards). For the passenger this means that the IATA Travel Pass will also unlock the potential for convenient contactless travel processes from check-in to boarding.  As such, while the need for COVID-19 information verification may eventually disappear when we overcome the pandemic, IATA Travel Pass, however, will remain as a bold step forward in the implementation of contactless travel.

   IATA research amid the COVID-19 crisis (September 2020) shows that contactless processes will be popular with travelers:

• 70% of passengers had concerns about handing over their passport, phone or boarding pass to airline agents, security staff or government officials at the airport
• 85% of travelers said that touchless processing throughout the airport would make them feel safer, and
• Already 44% of travelers said that they are willing to share personal data to enable touchless process, up significantly from 30% in June.

Interoperable Solution 

IATA is developing the IATA Travel Pass in four independent modules that can interact with each other. These modules will cover registries for regulatory entry requirements and labs/test centers, verified certificate issuance, digital identity and the possibility for passengers to share their tests results along their journey via their mobile device. Open standards enable the modules to be used as one solution or to complement capabilities being developed by other solutions providers.

“We are building the IATA Travel Pass with one aim—to help reconnect our world safely. IATA has brought advancements in global standards like e-ticketing and mobile boarding passes to consumers in all parts of the world. This unique capability demonstrates that we can work with industry and governments to re-shape travel processes based on global standards. We are confident that we can deliver a complete solution with IATA Travel Pass. And we are building the IATA Travel Pass so that other solutions serving the same industry re-opening goal can also benefit from it. We want airlines to have a competitive marketplace with the widest range of options that meet their specific needs,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.

IATA’s Timatic offering is a foundational element of the IATA Travel Pass. For decades it has provided reliable entry requirement information to airlines and travellers. Integrating Timatic into the IATA Travel Pass entry requirements registry model brings with it an established process for the global collection, verification, updating and distribution of this information.