Category: Latest Travel News

Lisbon, Portugal, December 11, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Tourism Crisis Committee has met for the last time in 2020, to continue advancing coordination and cooperation among all parts of the sector. The virtual meeting of the Committee, established by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) at the start of the pandemic, was hosted by Portugal ahead of its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, beginning in January. It was accompanied by in-person meetings of the highest political level between the UNWTO leadership, Prime Minister António Costa and the Ministers Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

This seventh meeting was focused on ensuring efforts to restart tourism are coordinated and harmonized in terms of cross border travel both pre and post-vaccine. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili called for more explicit affirmation from governments and international organizations that safe travel is possible and so tourism can restart responsibly. The meeting began with a message of support from the very highest level of the European Institutions. Margaritis Schinas Vice President of the European Commission, applauded the coordinated approach to addressing the key challenges facing tourism’s restart while stressing the importance of the sector to Europe’s economies and the steps already taken to support businesses and jobs, including through unprecedented levels of financial assistance.

Looking beyond vaccines

Making contributions to the meeting were Harry Theoharis, Minister of Tourism for Greece and Chair of the Committee’s Technical Group, created in October to advance harmonization of protocols. Alongside this, Nedret Emiroglu, Director, Country Readiness Strengthening, Emergency Preparedness, at the World Health Organization (WHO) outlined the necessary steps for harmonized health and safety protocols for international tourism.

As vaccinations for the COVID-19 virus begin to be administered, the Committee also engaged in a special session on post-vaccine cross-border travel. Committee members stressed that, while recent breakthroughs serve to boost confidence, the tourism sector cannot wait for vaccinations to become a widespread reality.

Portugal signals strong support for UNWTO

Portugal hosted the meeting of the Global Tourism Crisis Committee just weeks before it is scheduled to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Secretary-General Pololikashvili received assurances of the highest level during a meeting with António Costa, Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic. The UNWTO leadership thanked the Prime Minister for his government’s strong and ongoing support for tourism and for recognizing the important role the sector can play in the country’s social and economic development. This was followed by a meeting between the Secretary-General and Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Portugal.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

The country’s strong support of UNWTO’s mission and its commitment to tourism as a driver of development and growth was reaffirmed by Rita Marques, Secretary of State for Tourism. Furthermore, the visit also encompassed the whole spectrum of key priorities – from driving coordination to achieving high-level political support for the sector. Innovation, recognized for its potential to advance recovery and build a more sustainable future for tourism, was also at the fore as the UNWTO delegation met with Portugal’s Secretary of State for the Digital Transformation, André de Aragão Azevedo to discuss start-ups, innovation and their vital place in the future of Portuguese tourism.

Macao, Macao SAR, December 10, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2020 (“GTEF” or “the Forum”) was unveiled at MGM Macau. Under the new normal of pandemic control and prevention, the Forum leveraged innovative technology to convene in a hybrid online and offline format with a replay in Europe and America time slot to break through geographical and time zone barriers, expanding coverage and enhancing participation among target audience for optimal results. The Forum gathered tourism leaders from the public and private sectors as well as experts and scholars form worldwide to explore “Solidarity and Innovation: Reshaping Tourism in the New Global Economy” in depth. GTEF’s opening ceremony was attended by around 160 guests at the main venue in Macao and over 70 guests at the parallel venue in Hubei respectively. The opening ceremony also engaged 300,000 online spectators from 51 countries and regions.

Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Forum Chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah, and Representative of Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U, delivered welcome remarks at the Opening Ceremony on-site. Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Gao Yunlong; Secretary-General of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili; Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Hu Heping; Vice Chairman of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Hao Yuan; Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Hubei Province, Zhang Wenbing; Minister of Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed al-Khateeb; as well as President and Chief Executive Officer of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Gloria Guevara Manzo, presented their opening keynotes online. In addition, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Lei Wai Nong, delivered a special keynote on “Macao’s Success Story: Public Private Partnerships for Tourism Economic Revival” at the opening ceremony.

Other dignitaries who marked their physical presence at the opening ceremony include: Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Fu Ziying; Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Wang Dong; President of the Macau Chinese Enterprises Association and Chairman of the Board of Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited, Fu Jianguo; Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Vice Chairman of GTEF, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Lau Wai Meng, as well as representatives of major sponsors, among other personages. Guests who attended the opening ceremony online include Chairperson of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Gao Yan; Co-Chairman of Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Long Yongtu; Secretary-General of International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), He Yafei; Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho; Vice Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, István Ujhelyi; Director General of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, Dorji Dhradhul; Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Chen Dong; Secretary-General of World Tourism Alliance (WTA), Liu Shijun; Executive Director of European Travel Commission (ETC) and Honorary Vice Chairman of GTEF, Eduardo Santander; Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Mario Hardy; Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism, Ji Xiaodong; Honorary Chairman of GTEF and Vice Chairman of Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC), Michael Frenzel; President of the Council of China Chamber of Tourism (TCC) and Vice Chairman of GTEF, Wang Ping; Former President and Chief Executive Officer of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Vice Chairman of GTEF, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, and Consul General of Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, Clemente Contestabile, among other personages.

Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Forum Chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah, stated in his welcome remarks, “Although the pandemic has temporarily distanced us physically, I do believe that the hearts of all in the global tourism sector have gathered here today in Macao; we all hold the same determination and desire to work collaboratively in efforts to provide solutions for the recovery of the global tourism economy. Held in Macao, the Global Tourism Economy Forum is an advanced international exchange and cooperation platform dedicated to fostering the sustainable development of the global tourism economy. Let’s start anew at this historical point to build an open, inclusive and balanced world for the welfare and success of all peoples, and join hands to create a brighter future shared by the global community!”

On behalf of Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U stated in her welcome remarks, “2020 is such an unusual year filled with unprecedented challenges. Confronted by the new prospect and challenges, we need now more than ever to unite in restoring confidence in travel. Under the theme of ‘Solidarity and Innovation: Reshaping Tourism in the New Global Economy’, this Forum brings together prominent leaders of the public and private sectors as well as experts and professionals from across the world to proffer their foresights, letting brilliant minds converge to offer a new impetus, unveil new thinking, chart a new course and create new opportunities for our march towards global tourism recovery. The Forum is also set to inject a new dynamic and vitality for Macao’s tourism and economic development.”

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated, “The UN World Tourism Organization is proud to have been a part of the Global Tourism Economy Forum from the start. This year we have a chance to demonstrate the incredible solidarity within tourism. It is also a chance to show how innovation is driving the restart of our sector.”

At the opening ceremony, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Lei Wai Nong, delivered a special keynote on “Macao’s Success Story: Public Private Partnerships for Tourism Economic Revival” and expressed that Macao has endured the enormously challenging period of pandemic control and prevention this year. In view of the situation, the Macao SAR Government has promptly rolled out a series of bolstering measures and formulated different schemes to spur tourism and economic revival. Throughout the process, the Government was showered with the ardent support of different sectors in the society and united all residents in Macao to weather the storm. Despite the enormous difficulties on the way, the local economy is gradually manifesting a steady and upward trend. We will continue to embrace the policy direction of “reinforcing foundation and rising to challenges”, to carry on the successful story of Macao.”

At the Forum themed as “Solidarity and Innovation: Reshaping Tourism in the New Global Economy” this year, around 50 Mainland, local and international government and industry leaders as well as international tourism organization and enterprise leaders proffered their foresight and visions on how to foster tourism economic recovery as well as sustainable tourism development. The Forum aspired for industry collaboration across the world as well as close public-private partnerships to rise above adversities with resilience and deliver positivity across the globe, restoring travelers’ confidence and a thriving business environment for the global tourism industry.

Diverse and inspiring sessions
Held within one day, the Forum presented an enriched program of innovative and inspiring highlights including special keynotes, special sessions, industry leadership interview series, special dialogue and report presentation, among other sessions. The sessions include PATA & GTEF Partnership Session: Best Practices under the “New Normal” through Consumer Sentiment Analysis. In the session of “Global Leadership Special Feature: Hospitality, Aviation, Technology, and the Way Forward for Tourism”, different guest speakers presented their insights into the topics as follows: “Forecasts for Tourism Trends in a Post-Pandemic World”, “Paving Way towards a More Resilient Sector through the Rebuilding of Consumer Confidence & Safety”, “Air Travel in the ‘New Normal’: Boosting International Coordination and Harmonization of Protocols”, “Leveraging Digital Technology to Enhance the Travel Experience”, “More Active, More Positive: Innovation and Opportunities for Tourism Industry Under the ‘New Normal’ and “Championing Global Cooperation and Entrepreneurship to Stimulate Market Vitality”. In the Asia Leadership Special Interview Series, the guests shared their unique points of view on “Sustainability, Heritage Preservation, and Rebuilding Tourism under the New Normal” and “Growth and Customer Experience Strategies to Meet the New Consumer Demand” as well as through China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Feature. Other sessions include Special Session: Solidarity to Reshape the Tourism Economy, Greater Bay Area Leadership Special Interview Series, among others. Via video conferencing, UNWTO and GTERC presented their seventh joint report, UNWTO/GTERC Asia Tourism Trends – 2020 Edition. The video “China Story: This is Hubei” showcased the exuberant culture, natural beauty and modern development of Hubei Province.

Enhance cooperation with agreements
During the Forum, GTERC signed cooperative agreements with World Tourism Alliance and International Mountain Tourism Alliance respectively to strengthen GTEF’s cooperation with international organizations.

Featured Chinese Province showcases destination glamour
GTEF’s Featured Chinese Province this year — Gansu showcased its tourism resources, tour routes and diverse cultural experiences to offer, through presentations and a keynote delivered by Director of Dunhuang Research Academy, Zhao Shengliang.

Business matching online
To be held on 10 and 11 December, the Forum’s business matching session features its first one-stop online business matching platform under collaboration with Tencent Cloud, enabling Macao enterprises to “go global” through the power of the internet.

The 9^th GTEF led discussions on key topics about tourism innovation and the power of transformation in response to the evolving global situation. The Forum also explored the shifts in tourism under the new normal of regular pandemic control and prevention worldwide, development of new products and services beyond constraints imposed by the macro-environment and operation, with the aim to strengthen vitality and resilience of the tourism economy.

About Global Tourism Economy Forum
The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism (TCC) under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). GTEF’s supporting units include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), European Travel Commission (ETC), and the Macau Chinese Enterprise Association (MCEA).

Since its inception in 2012, GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, GTEF had received more than 12,700 participants from 90 countries and regions, including delegations from 152 provinces and cities of Mainland China; and 600 internationally renowned speakers who are leaders in public, private, and academic fields. GTEF has continuously received consistent and wide amount of coverage from international press and media, valued up to USD $62 million.

Denpasar, Bali, December 10, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has concluded a first in-person visit to Bali since the start of the pandemic. The delegation met with key figures from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to advance collaboration as the country gets ready to reopen its borders to international visitors and restart tourism.

In partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, UNWTO hosted a special Capacity Building Workshop on Restarting International Tourism in Bali. The workshop counted on the participation of more than 30 leaders from across the tourism sector, with a further 150 experts and leaders joining virtually. Discussions focused on the government’s strategy to restart tourism, including the formulation of policies, procedures, health infrastructure and immigration protocols adapted to reflect the new reality.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mahendra Siregar welcomed participants and thanked UNWTO for its leadership throughout the crisis. The Vice Minister also underlined the importance of collaboration as both the public and private sectors work together to restart tourism for the benefit of not only visitors to Bali but for all stakeholders, including tourism workers and service providers.

Enhanced protocols for tourism’s restart

Outlining the steps being taken to adapt and make tourism safe, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy Giri Adnyani announced that the Ministry has issued Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environment Sustainability (CHSE) protocols and certification programmes. These are based on protocols established by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Transportation as well as by UNWTO and ICAO (the International Civil Aviation Organization).

Also addressing the workshop, the Vice Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha noted that tourism arrivals to Bali fell by 12% in the third quarter when compared to 2019 levels. However, since re-opening to domestic tourists at the end of July, numbers have started to rise again. The workshop concluded with the Government of Indonesia setting out plans for a phased approach to welcome international tourists in Bali. This will be closely monitored with the aim of rolling it out to the rest of Indonesia. UNWTO welcomed the plans and endorsed Indonesia’s Clean, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability initiative which emphasizes the importance of maintaining health and safety standards in accordance with internationally accepted protocols.

Alongside the workshop, the UNWTO delegation conducted visits to the airport and several tourist destinations. Here they saw first-hand the implementation of new health and safety protocols developed by the government of Indonesia to prepare the reopening of Bali to international tourists.

London, United Kingdom, December 9, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, today unveils a major new report that recommends global guidelines for a Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey related to traveller identity and security in the ‘new normal’.

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

Developed in partnership with Oliver Wyman Consulting Group, and Pangiam as one of the advisors, the report emphasises the need for swift action for a harmonised approach in the implementation of digital traveller identity and biometrics, and the enablement of strong policies through the undertaking of several activities to support the recovery of the ailing Travel & Tourism sector.

WTTC’s Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey (SSTJ), a core initiative, aims to enable a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end traveller journey, encompassing both air and non-air travel, through an approach for systematic biometric verified identification at each stage of the journey, replacing manual verifications.

SSTJ will be critical in combating COVID-19 and beyond for crises preparedness, and will further speed the recovery and bring relief and peace of mind to the 330 million people around the world who depend on a thriving Travel & Tourism sector.

The importance of SSTJ was also recognised by the G20 at the recent Ministerial meeting, with all countries giving it their full support and commitment.

WTTC had previously recognised the need for more contactless and integrated technology as an emerging trend in the new face of travel. COVID-19 has become a catalyst for touchless technologies, which travellers will now expect in order to minimise their physical contact with people and surfaces.

According to a recent survey by Amadeus, technology and innovation will be key in building traveller confidence and industry recovery. This is illustrated as over four in five (84%) travellers say technology would increase their confidence to travel in the next 12 months.

Furthermore, in a recent WTTC consumer survey, eight out of 10 Americans boarding domestic or international flights said they would be willing to submit biometric data to enhance their travel experience.

Building on consultations with more than 350 stakeholders since 2018, WTTC has developed a clear vision for a seamless and secure end to-end journey and has defined a roadmap to drive this initiative forward. Such an initiative requires the public and private sectors to join forces to drive the changes WTTC envisions, build momentum, and encourage adherence to global standards that sustain a supportive policy framework.

The report emphasises the need for international coordination to remove travel barriers and build traveller confidence, both of which are critical to the sector’s survival.

To achieve recovery, it is essential to provide certainty for travellers regarding travel restrictions and policies to facilitate domestic and international travel.

WTTC Members, other private sector leaders and international organisations identified the following private sector actions:

• Adopting global data standards, leveraging existing standards, to ensure interoperability across all sectors, including governments
• Cross sector collaboration (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail, cruise, working together)
• Implement standardised global health and safety protocols across all industries and geographies to facilitate a consistent and safe travel experience
• Develop and adopt innovative digital technologies that enable seamless travel, better manage visitor flows, and improve the traveller experience while making the traveller journey safer.

Public-private collaboration is essential to the success of SSTJ. WTTC developed critical steps governments must take to strengthening international collaboration through facilitation and leadership. Governments, through the creation of task forces, should continue investing in biometrics to ensure they are prepared for future crisis. Becoming more resilient will allow the sector and countries respond better to future risks or shocks.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “WTTC’s new report comes at a time when Travel & Tourism is struggling to stay afloat. We believe that the Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey will not only be paramount in aiding a swift recovery to the sector, but also in shaping the new normal of Travel & Tourism for years to come. This important initiative enables mobility and increases safety and security, while always putting the passenger at the very centre.

“WTTC congratulates ICAO for endorsing the specifications of the Digital Travel Credential (DTC) Type 1, bringing digital identity-based travel one step closer to reality.

“There is no doubt that international coordination is necessary, which is why our guidelines aim to bring clarity to a recovery process that has been disjointed and confused. We hope that this, along with our many other guidelines for Safe Travels, will help usher in further consumer confidence.”

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

Sean Donohue, CEO Dallas Fort Worth International Airport said: “DFW Airport is committed to ensuring it is ‘Clean. Safe. Ready.” for everyone coming to our facilities. Providing that seamless, enhanced experience means innovative efforts to expand the use of biometric technology, smart restrooms that provide contactless service and heightened sanitization, and going the extra mile to become the first airport in the world to earn Star accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC).

“Our efforts align with the WTTC’s coordinated efforts and commitment to a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end journey for everyone.”

Dr. Dee K. Waddell, IBM Global Managing Director Travel & Transportation said: “IBM is proud to be a proactive contributor to the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey global initiative. Digital travel credentials such as identity, biometrics, and health certifications are a critical part of transforming and emerging even stronger from the devastating impacts from the pandemic.  Travel & Tourism is a resilient sector and ensuring a rapid return to growth will be enabled by next-generation technologies.”

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman MSC Cruises said: “MSC Cruises greatly welcomes this Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey initiative from WTTC.  Leveraging technology to improve the movement of guests through the various stages of travel will make our industry more efficient, more secure, and more adaptable.  Use of this type of technology will enhance the guest experience at MSC Cruises and enhance our operations.  Where both things can be done simultaneously, that is a winning combination.

“We appreciate that WTTC has undertaken this project for the collective benefit of the travel community.”

Kim Day, CEO Denver International Airport said: “Clearly this pandemic has influenced the way we travel today and in the future. Limiting contact through technology and other changes to allow for a more efficient travel experience are more critical than ever. This report offers several recommendations for a safer, seamless journey. Biometric technology and digital identity solutions are a key part of the travel industry’s recovery and future.”

Kevin McAleenan, Chief Executive Officer of Pangiam said: “The travel and tourism industry is currently facing an unprecedented challenge in restoring traveller confidence and maintaining its commitment to safety amidst a pandemic. WTTC’s report brings together the best practices from across the globe that demonstrate the value of robust investments in seamless travel and the benefits from security to facilitation to passenger experience.”

Scot Hornick, Oliver Wyman Partner Transportation and Travel said: “WTTC’s Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey represents a unique opportunity for the travel industry to use biometric and digital identity technology to not only assist in the industry’s recovery from COVID-19, but break the silos which have historically existed across travel sectors.

“Allowing a traveller to use their biometrics and digital identity across all travel providers, regardless of sector, will reduce many common friction points. For travel providers, the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey will enable increases in efficiency and allow for a greater personalized customer experience. Most importantly, the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey creates a safer and healthier journey for all travellers and employees of the Travel and Tourism Industry.”

Luis Maroto, President & CEO Amadeus IT Group said: “Amadeus supports WTTC’s efforts to create a globally aligned approach in the implementation of biometrics in travel. We see the Global Guidelines for the Seamless Traveler Journey as an important milestone in paving the road to recovery and rethinking our industry. Multilateral collaboration is required to build a framework for contactless travel that considers the entire traveler journey from door to door making it safe and secure though advanced touchless technology.

“This SSTJ initiative helps to develop clear testing and tracing practices while leveraging contactless technologies enabling a touchless environment and faster processing, which are key in restarting travel safely.”

Barbara Dalibard, CEO SITA, said: “SITA strongly supports the move towards biometric-enabled identity solutions that allows travelers to move securely and easily across every step in their journey while maintaining control of their identity in a fully ethical manner. This is an approach we have long advocated. The benefits of speed, safety and improved security are significant. With the additional benefit of limiting touch and maintaining distance, these digital identity solutions take on new relevance in the COVID era.

“As the air transport and hospitality industry, we now can make tremendous strides in implementing these solutions that have long been accepted by other industries such as the finance sector.”

Jamie Rhee, Commissioner Chicago Department of Aviation said: “The Chicago Department of Aviation is committed to the highest standard of safety for the traveling public and our employees. The proposed Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey (SSTJ) system will assist us and our airline partners in our collective effort to provide a more efficient and secure travel experience with a touchless environment through technological advancement.

“Implementing these solutions will not only help the aviation industry alleviate the strain on fundamental infrastructure as demand recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic but will also promote health-conscious practices for both travelers and employees alike.

“As we join industry leaders at a critical moment where innovative digital solutions are being developed and applied to serve travelers across the globe, we are confident that these improvements will allow travelers to feel an unprecedented level of safety and security as they navigate our airports.”

Amena Ali, CEO Airside Mobile said: “The pandemic has upended lives and livelihoods, and nowhere is that more apparent than the significant hit taken by the travel and tourism industry. Technology can and must revive travel safely and quickly. Airside strongly supports the use of biometrics and digital identities to enhance security, facilitate travel, and drive a contactless experience. Our platform and team stand ready to partner with the travel industry to deliver an open, interoperable and seamless experience that covers the traveler’s journey from booking to completion.”

Gordon Wilson, President and CEO WorldReach Software said: “The roadmap provides directional guidance for those navigating the challenges of COVID, while delivering on the goals of a safe and seamless traveller experience. We encourage pilots for those just starting while travel volumes are lower and a move to broader implementations for those already at pilot stages to best position for a full recovery.”

Caryn Seidman Becker, Chairman and CEO CLEAR said: “CLEAR supports WTTC’s tireless efforts to drive innovation and interoperability across the travel industry through the Seamless Traveler Journey Initiative.  These latest ‘Best Practices’ recommendations highlight the importance of securely establishing a traveler’s identity to enable a safer, more secure, and frictionless travel experience, which closely aligns with CLEAR’s vision.  We look forward to continued work with the WTTC to help the travel and tourism industry recover and sustainably grow.”

Miguel Leitmann, CEO Vision-Box said: “The need for touchless identity management and seamless passenger flow management is the new reality. As air travel dynamics have evolved under the covid-19 pandemic, the importance of a safe contactless passenger experience is paramount to the industry’s revival. We are very proud to have such iconic institutions on board to implement seamless automated and contactless passenger travel experiences across the world. We are confident that our partnerships will be a huge success as everyone is looking to maximize the potential that seamless technology has to offer. It will also allow Vision-Box to deliver the very best strategies that will be uniquely conceived, designed and built for the next generation of transformative identity management platforms.”

Michael O’Connell Founder and CEO – Critical Insights Consultancy said: “We at Critical Insights, applaud the WTTC for their leadership and guidance during these most challenging times of the pandemic as we seek to reopen the travel and tourism industry in a safe and secure way that delivers trust and confidence. We are pleased to have contributed to the development of their Global Guidelines for the Seamless Traveller Journey that has great importance as the sector considers new policies, processes and technologies to bring about the new norm.

“The customer expects protection, great service, efficiency and fun as they return to international travel, and the seamless journey – delivered as described by the STJ principles, can secure a positive future for all. We remain committed to advance both the digital and post-pandemic transformation of the STJ in partnership with the WTTC.”

Michael Thamm, CEO Costa Group & Carnival Asia said: “As the tourism ecosystem, including the cruise industry,  works to tackle the challenges posed by the global crisis and plans to reshape its future, it is clear that technological advancements and greater digitalization in the whole travel journey play a key role for a full recovery. In this sense, we welcome the work of the WTTC in producing thought leadership on this topic as well as promoting initiatives that can mark a further evolution in world travel and tourism.”

José Carlos Azcárraga, CEO Grupo Posadas said: “Today, more than ever, it’s crucial for all businesses within the travel and tourism industry to collaborate with organizations such as the WTTC to implement global initiatives that align safety standards across all sectors, rebuild consumer confidence, and reactivate tourism.”

Hugo Desenzani, CEO Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas said: “Tourism delivers prosperity and health to travelers and hosts. The COVID-19 crisis has halted that virtuous circle – putting hundreds of millions of families at risk. To recover, we must inspire confidence on the travel experience, as well as the destination. WTTC´s Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey initiative does exactly that. Using technology and improved processes, the SSTJ initiative will make traveling better, simpler, and safer for everyone.”

Tony Smith, IBMATA Chairman said: “We are delighted to be associated with WTTC and this excellent report. We at IBMATA believe that the COVID Pandemic provides an even greater impetus for Border Agencies and the travel sector to work together in harmony in order to deliver a safe and secure seamless traveller journey; and to stimulate much needed economic growth in the international travel sector. We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with WTTC on this important initiative.”

As one of the fastest-growing sectors in 2019, accounting for one in four new jobs created worldwide over the last five years, the slowdown of Travel & Tourism will have devastating ripple effects beyond the sector itself, and WTTC’s latest figures suggest that up to 174 million jobs could be lost in Travel & tourism by the end of 2020.

In effect, the benefits of Travel & Tourism spread far beyond its direct impacts in terms of GDP and employment, with indirect benefits throughout the supply chain and interlinkages to other sectors, such as agriculture, retail, arts, and construction, among others.

Unlike many other sectors, Travel & Tourism is highly inclusive, employing and offering opportunities to people from all walks of life, including minorities, youth, and women.

To see the report in full, please click here.

Madrid, Spain, December 9, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a ‘game changer’ for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. A new set of  Inclusive Recovery Guides from the World Tourism Organization, produced in partnership with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the ONCE Foundation of Spain and Travability from Australia, makes clear the importance of placing inclusivity at the centre of recovery plans and provides key recommendations for achieving this.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

Launched on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide – Socio-Cultural Impacts of COVID-19: Issue I Persons with Disabilities, draws on the expertise of UNWTO’s Ethics Culture and Social Responsibility Department and its partners. While much progress has been made, the publication makes clear that persons with disabilities and seniors encounter barriers preventing them from fully enjoying tourism experiences, even more so during the pandemic. Now, as UNWTO leads the restart of tourism globally, this guide outlines steps that governments, destinations and companies should take to build back better, becoming more inclusive and competitive.

This can be a real game changer for destinations and businesses, helping them recover from the crisis and grow back in a more inclusive and resilient way

Accessibility as a priority

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism environments and services are often designed without considering the different access requirements that visitors and locals may have. The tourism sector must prioritize accessibility. This can be a real game changer for destinations and businesses, helping them recover from the crisis and grow back in a more inclusive and resilient way.”

Highlighting the potential benefits for more accessible destinations, the publication notes that, by 2050, one in six people worldwide will be aged 65 or over, rising to one in four in Europe and North America. Furthermore, data shows that the average spend of tourists with disabilities in Spain, for example is in excess of 800 euros, compared with just over 600 euros for tourists without disabilities.

Recommendations for inclusive recovery

The recommendations advocating for accessibility during the recovery of tourism insist on six main action areas:

• Assistance in a crisis: Including accessibility during every stage of repatriation, which requires the backing of destinations and disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs)
• Adaptation of protocols: Follow UNWTO guidance on adapting general health and safety protocols, considering that customers may have different abilities and requirements
• Inclusivity in post-pandemic tourism: Including the effective use of data to guide decisions on accessible tourism planning and adjusting accessibility policies and strategies to reflect post-COVID realities
• Accessibility in business planning: Treating accessibility as a competitive advantage, improving customer service, and the application of harmonized international standards to enhance quality of life for all
• Staff training and inclusion: Extending professional training to better cater for tourists with different abilities, and ensuring equal opportunities in the tourism workforce
• Innovation and digital transformation: Embracing innovation to make travel and tourism safer, smarter and easier for all

The guidelines reflect UNWTO’s ongoing commitment to inclusive tourism, enshrined within The UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics, calling on signatories to facilitate tourism for persons with disabilities. This publication is also the first one in a planned series of thematic briefs from UNWTO’s Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department, in its intent to provide guidance to our sector.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

UNWTO and partners are asking administrations, destinations and companies, which have successfully incorporated accessibility in their mitigation measures, to share their stories through the questionnaire “Accessible Tourism Champions”, also launched today.

Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles, December 8, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The recent announcement that tourism personality Alain St. Ange had retired from politics was reported on in the four corners of the world.

In the Americas Bea Broda, producer/Writer/Host/Speaker from BC Pictures, multimedia/TV network published a “Note from editor” that said: ‘In my travels as a TV producer of travel shows, I have found Alain St.Ange to be incredibly beneficial to the global tourism industry with his outlook both towards tourism and also to what makes a country run peacefully and advantageous for all. While he is retiring from pursuing politics, it is admirable that he undertook the establishment of a party with excellent objectives, and I know we will see him emerge again as a positive force in tourism’.

So many similar sentiments have popped up every where with the hope that this tourism personality’s experience and know-how continues to play an active part in global tourism as that industry fights to prepare for a relaunch post COVID-19.

St.Ange has shown he thinks outside the box and is innovative. It is said that Africa needs his dynamic approach today but the whole world is also today desperate to see how the new normal can accommodate tourism as the industry can relaunch many an economy in the Community of Nation.

The world needs its tourism professionals to be called on as the relaunch of tourism is planned. Alain St.Ange is one such known tourism personality.

Bangkok, Thailand, December 8, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the launch of PATA Marketplace, a digital showroom exclusive for PATA members and an online community for all travel industry stakeholders.

The announcement was made earlier today by PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy during the Association’s first hybrid event, under the theme “Asia Pacific Tourism Recovery Trends & Outlook” and organised in partnership with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

“PATA is committed to growing our members business by embracing digital technology to enable strong partnerships, particularly as we look towards recovery post COVID-19. The additional benefit for our members allows them to network and engage with each other and other travel stakeholders all year round, instead of just at our events,” said Dr. Hardy. “Over the past few years, the Association has had to adapt, be agile and be creative in order to serve the best interests of our members and the industry as a whole, and the PATA Marketplace is just a natural extension of this mission.”

As a digital showroom, PATA members are invited to showcase their company profile and products at the Marketplace by creating a complimentary exhibitor profile. It only takes a few minutes to set up a profile and exhibitors can update their own profiles anytime; publish news, products and services, and videos; and connect with visitors via one-to-one chat, audio or video calls in a single click.

The PATA Marketplace allows exhibitors to keep its “followers” updated on news, announcements, and blog posts; get notified of customers’ requests that match their profile; easily share exhibitor profiles with relevant stakeholders by email or social media; showcase their products year round as a PATA member, and increase their brand exposure.

As a online community for all travel industry stakeholders, all travel buyers and industry professionals are invited to join as a visitor to find new travel suppliers and products; participate in chat groups and discussion; discover and connect with new travel suppliers and products which can be filtered by destination and hashtag; submit proposals, and “follow” exhibitors to keep abreast of their latest news and updates.

PATA Marketplace is powered by PATA Tech Partner, FeedsFloor, a digital platform that helps small & medium-sized companies connect with new customers, distributors and suppliers in an easy, affordable and digital way. FeedsFloor, established in 2017 and based in Copenhagen, Denmark, serves over 100,000 members from 140 countries across 27 industries.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its more than 750 member organisations, including 84 government, state and city tourism bodies, 14 international airlines and airports, 81 hospitality organisations and 77 educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 26 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATA mPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London. PATA’s Annual Theme for the 2020 calendar year is ‘Partnerships for Tomorrow’.

Singapore, Singapore, December 7, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The latest Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking (CHSB) Index has just been released. With over 14,000 participants from 55 countries, this seventh iteration of CHSB saw an increase of 25% in participation.

Average carbon footprint of a hotel stay down 10% since 2015.

CHSB, which is undertaken by Greenview, is the hotel industry’s largest annual benchmarking of energy, water and carbon. Open to hotels and hotel companies of all sizes, CHSB serves as a peer-based reference for assessing the hotel industry worldwide. Hotels were benchmarked regarding energy, water and carbon performance against competitive sets in the same geography, segment and climate zone.

The data show that carbon emissions per square metre of hotels around the world has decreased by 10 percent since 2015. The CHSB Index contains data for over 14,000 hotels in 55 countries from 20 international chains.

The greatest reduction was across hotels in the UK, in which carbon footprint reduced on average 23.4 percent between 2015 and 2018. Hotels in India, Canada and the U.S. experienced a decrease of 14.4 percent, 13.6 percent and 12.1 percent respectively. Hotels in China showed slightly less improvement at a 7.4 percent average reduction in carbon footprint.

Of the countries contained within the index, in 2018, hotels in Switzerland had the lowest carbon intensity (20.4 kg CO₂emissions per square metre), whereas those in South Africa had the highest (209.78 kg CO₂ emissions per square metre). At city level, Montreal’s hotels are the best performing (24.63 kg CO₂ emissions / sq m) while in Abu Dhabi the average hotel emits 251.55 kg CO₂ emissions per square metre, the highest in the index.

We would like to thank the following companies which contributed data to the 2020 CHSB Index: AINA Hospitality, CPG Hospitality, DiamondRock Hospitality Company, Hilton Worldwide, Horwath HTL Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotels Group, Marriott International, MGM Resorts International, Park Hotel Group, Park Hotels & Resorts, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Red Planet Hotels, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Xenia Hotels & Resorts.

London, United Kingdom, December 5, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / International business travel could restart if agreement is secured to safeguard journeys of up to 72-hours free from quarantines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The joint recommendation for the short stay exemption comes from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (EASA/ECDC) and is welcomed by WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

EASA and ECDC have joined forces to call for an exemption on quarantine for people travelling for less than 72 hours, a move which WTTC believes could signal the return of international business travel and provide a significant economic boost.

The proposal is also under active study by the UK government, according to the Report of the Global Travel Taskforce, of which WTTC is a key contributor, which was prepared for the Department for Transport.

WTTC agrees with EASA/ECDC who have called for travellers not to be automatically considered as high-risk for possibly spreading the infection.

However, the recommendations fall short as they do not address the replacement of quarantines for a testing regime at departure, with quarantines causing untold damage to the already struggling global Travel & Tourism sector.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The revival of international business travel is crucial to kickstarting the global economic recovery, as last year, inbound international business travel across Europe accounted for US$111.3 billion (€99.8 billion), whilst globally it accounted for more than US$272 billion.

“The EASA/ECDC proposed guidelines to exempt passengers from quarantines for travel of 72 hours or less would be a significant step in the direction towards the wholesale revival of business travel.

“Airlines, hotels and a vast infrastructure of businesses within the global Travel & Tourism sector, all heavily rely upon business travel. The loss of international business travel leaves airlines especially exposed, particularly on highly competitive short-haul and transatlantic routes, which depend upon them for the bulk of their profits.

“While we welcome all initiatives which could lead to the revival of international travel, we hope to persuade EASA and ECDC to focus on testing at departure, rather than at the point of entry, so as to reduce the possibility of transmission on board aircraft and reduce unnecessary barriers to travel.

“These measures will help ensure the long-term resuscitation of the global Travel & Tourism sector, which, according to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), and made a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generated one in four of all new jobs.”

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Announcements here.

The guidelines from EASA/ECDC considered the reduced likelihood for infection for those travelling for short periods (i.e. those expecting to return within 72 hours or less) and where contacts with the local population are limited and avoiding any social interactions.

It suggests such travellers should not be subjected to quarantines and/or COVID-19 testing unless they show any symptoms of the virus. However, it continued to recommend all of those who travel must still ensure they adhere to local social distancing rules, to protect themselves and others around them, at all times.

Bangkok, Thailand, December 4, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / COVID-19 has and will continue to accelerate the development of technologies and solutions that will transform our daily lives, and travel and tourism organisations will need to use new platforms, solutions and digital tools to gain agility and efficiency in order to survive.

With this in mind, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise PATA Beyond: Travel Recovery Solutions from February 8-11, 2021, allowing travel and technology solution providers the opportunity to exhibit their innovative products and services and gain access into the Asia Pacific region, one of the most dynamic travel marketplaces in the world. The 100% virtual experience will allow buyers and exhibitors from across the globe to connect and access the full event program.

“Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the travel and tourism industry was on the cusp of a technological revolution, however the pandemic has greatly accelerated the shift to industry 4.0 with the rise of virtual events and meetings, contactless payments, contact tracing software, etc. Furthermore, the pandemic has greatly shifted travellers’ behaviours, travel-planning habits and expectations while creating a new set of protocols and guidelines for the industry to implement,” said PATA CEO Dr Mario Hardy. “In the post COVID-19 era, the businesses that will dominate the landscape will be those that are agile and efficient. embrace technology, have a distributed workforce, and offer a mix of physical and digital assets in their service offerings.”

The four-day event will showcase organisations whose products, platforms or services (both tech and non-tech solutions) can play a role in the next evolution of the travel and tourism landscape. In addition to the user-friendly exhibitor space, the event will include panel discussions, live pitch sessions and other opportunities for participants to build relationships with key decision-makers of tourism organisations from both the public and private sectors, drawing from the vast network of PATA members, chapters and online community around the world.

Organisations providing travel recovery solutions in Data, Insights & Analytics; Payment Technology; Health/Hygiene; Consulting/Advisory; Security Management; Technology Infrastructure; Smartphone/Mobile; Sustainability/Social Responsibility; Virtual Experiences, and Artificial Intelligence/AR/VR, are invited to exhibit at the event.

As a not-for-profit membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, form and within the region, PATA continues to stand by its members and industry colleagues during these difficult times and is offering cost-effective exhibition fees at significantly below market rates. PATA members can take advantage of the complimentary exhibitor package, while the fee for PATA Chapter Members is US$250 and Non-Members is US$500. Visitor registration is complimentary for all.

“Whether you work in digital, operations or marketing within the travel sector, PATA Beyond provides you with the perfect opportunity to meet with leading solution providers of key technologies and innovative approaches to embrace the next evolution of the travel and tourism industry,” added Dr. Hardy.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its more than 750 member organisations, including 84 government, state and city tourism bodies, 14 international airlines and airports, 81 hospitality organisations and 77 educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 26 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATA mPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London. PATA’s Annual Theme for the 2020 calendar year is ‘Partnerships for Tomorrow’.