Category: Latest Travel News

London, United Kingdom, August 26, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / A staggering £22 billion looks set to be lost from the UK economy due to the collapse of international travel during 2020, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Travellers and tourists are staying away from the UK in droves because of continuing uncertainty around travel restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

As a result, this year international visitor spending could plunge by 78% compared to 2019 levels, equating to a loss of £60 million a day, or £420 million a week, to the UK economy.

The severe impact on UK Travel & Tourism is laid bare by WTTC as the economic fallout from coronavirus continues to burn its way through the sector. Nearly three million jobs in the UK supported by Travel & Tourism are at risk of being lost in a ‘worst case’ scenario mapped out by WTTC economic modelling.

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for almost four million UK jobs, or 11% of the country’s total workforce. It also generated nearly £200 billion GDP, or 9% to the UK economy.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The economic pain and suffering caused to millions of households across the UK, who are dependent upon Travel & Tourism for their livelihoods, is evident from the latest WTTC figures.

“The lack of international travel caused by the pandemic could wipe out more than £22 billion from the UK economy alone – a loss of £60 million pounds a day – from which it could take years to recover. It could also threaten London’s position as one of the world’s premier hubs for business and leisure travel which could see other destinations take over.

“We urgently need to replace stop-start quarantine measures with rapid, comprehensive and cost-effective test and trace programmes at departure points across the country. This investment will be significantly less than the impact of blunt quarantines which have devastating and far-reaching socio-economic consequences. 

“Targeted test and tracing will also rebuild consumer confidence to travel. It will enable the restoration of vital ‘air corridors’ between countries and regions with similar COVID-19 case rates.

“A quick turnaround test and trace system in place for all departing passengers means the government could consider reinstating travel between the UK and major international hubs. Restoring business class travel between the world’s top financial centres, such as London and New York, would act as an engine to help kick-start the economic global recovery.

“International coordination to re-establish transatlantic travel – for business and leisure trips – would provide a vital shot in the arm for the Travel & Tourism sector. It would benefit airlines and hotels, travel agents and tour operators and revitalise the millions of jobs in the supply chain which are dependent upon international travel across the Atlantic.”

WTTC analysis of international travel spending in the UK during 2019 reveals it reached almost £28.2 billion, accounting for 17% of the total tourism spend in the UK. Domestic travel spending was last year responsible for the other 83%.

A further breakdown reveals how crucial spending from international travellers during 2019 was to the UK economy. Every month it accounted for £2.35 billion or £540 million a week – and £77.3 million a day.

Between 2016 and 2018, the largest inbound source markets to the UK were travellers from the U.S and France, each accounting for 10% of all international arrivals, with Germany coming in third with 9%, and Ireland and Spain in joint fourth place with 7% each.

Data for 2018, which is the most up-to-date available, shows how dependent London in particular is on international visitor spending. It accounted for a massive 85% of all tourism spending in the city, with domestic tourists making up the remaining 15%.

The US was the most important source market for the city with 15% of arriving visitors, with France in second place with 9% of arrivals, Germany in third place with 8% of arrivals, and Spain in fourth position with 7%.

As one of the world’s most popular cities for international visits, the loss of this international visitor spending – which accounted for a staggering six pounds out of every seven spent in London – could have a profound long-term impact on the UK’s capital for years to come.

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

Cairo, Egypt, August 26, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / A high-level delegation from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has concluded an official visit to Egypt to offer firm support for the government’s work to restart tourism and direct its benefits towards supporting livelihoods and preserving cultural heritage.

As the United Nations released its landmark Policy Brief on COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlining his Five Priorities for rebuilding the sector, UNWTO visited Egypt to help guide the implementation of these key recommendations. Led by the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the delegation met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Khaled Al-Anani to learn of the steps taken to support tourism, including through the merging of the ministries of antiquities and tourism and the provision of grants and incentives to the sector. Mr Pololikashvili also met with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly to learn more of work being undertaken to boost consumer confidence and guarantee the safety of both tourism workers and tourists.

Tourism adapting to new reality

The United Nations has made clear the importance of tourism for everything from employment to equality, making it an integral part of sustainable development

The high-level talks, which also featured an update on large-scale tourism projects currently underway, including the new Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, were complemented by visits to several of Egypt’s most popular tourist sites. This allowed the UNWTO delegation to see first-hand the enhanced safety and hygiene protocols put in place in response as the sector adjusts a new reality within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The safe restart of tourism is not only possible, it is essential. The United Nations has made clear the importance of tourism for everything from employment to equality, making it an integral part of sustainable development. Egypt, as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, has supported the sector with firm actions, including effective fiscal and economic policies. It is now ready to welcome tourists back to its many sites of interest, all the while putting people and their wellbeing first.”

Private sector and institutional partnerships

Alongside meeting with the Egyptian government, the UNWTO Secretary-General also met with the Egyptian Tourism Federation and the Federation of Tourist Chambers. Both outlined the measures being taken to adapt safety protocols in tourist accommodation and other key services to the new reality. Visits to the world-famous Pyramids, the National Museum for Egyptian Civilization and to one of the country’s top marine tourism destinations likewise provided a broad overview of the joined-up approach to the safe and responsible restart of tourism.

The visit to Egypt came as UNWTO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) work together to provide help guide and accelerate the recovery of tourism in the country. Egypt is one of a first group of 13 countries that will benefit from expert technical support as the two organizations build on their existing partnership to support tourism as it recovers from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint initiative will see the tourism sectors of all 38 economies where the Bank invests benefit from expert technical support, allowing them to introduce new safety and hygiene protocols and so boost confidence and revive demand.

New York City, New York, United States, August 25, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Policy Brief provides an overview of the socio-economic impacts from the pandemic on tourism, including on the millions of livelihoods it sustains. It highlights the role tourism plays in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, including its relationship with environmental goals and culture. The Brief calls on the urgency of mitigating the impacts on livelihoods, especially for women, youth and informal workers.

Click here to view the Secretary-General’s Video Remarks on Launch of Policy Brief on Tourism and Covid-19

The crisis is an opportunity to rethink how tourism interacts with our societies, other economic sectors and our natural resources and ecosystems; to measure and manage it better; to ensure a fair distribution of its benefits and to advance the transition towards a carbon neutral and resilient tourism economy.

The brief provides recommendations in five priority areas to cushion the massive impacts on lives and economies and to rebuild a tourism with people at the center. It features examples of governments support to the sector, calls for a reopening that gives priority to the health and safety of the workers, travelers and host communities and provides a roadmap to transform tourism.

Tourism and COVID-19 – unprecedented economic impacts

• Tourism is one of the world’s major economic sectors. It is the third-largest export category (after fuels and chemicals) and in 2019 accounted for 7% of global trade.
• For some countries, it can represent over 20% of their GDP and, overall, it is the third largest export sector of the global economy.
• Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, impacting economies, livelihoods, public services and opportunities on all continents. All parts of its vast value-chain have been affected.
• Export revenues from tourism could fall by $910 billion to $1.2 trillion in 2020. This will have a wider impact and could reduce global GDP by 1.5% to 2.8%.
• Tourism supports one in 10 jobs and provides livelihoods for many millions more in both developing and developed economies.
• In some Small Island Developing States (SIDS), tourism has accounted for as much as 80% of exports, while it also represents important shares of national economies in both developed and developing countries.

Massive Impact on Livelihoods

• As many as 100 million direct tourism jobs are at risk, in addition to sectors associated with tourism such as labour-intensive accommodation and food services industries that provide employment for 144 million workers worldwide. Small businesses (which shoulder 80% of global tourism) are particularly vulnerable.
• Women, who make up 54% of the tourism workforce, youth and workers in the informal economy are among the most at-risk categories.
• No nation will be unaffected. Destinations most reliant on tourism for jobs and economic growth are likely to be hit hardest: SIDS, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and African countries. In Africa, the sector represented 10% of all exports in 2019.

Preserving the Planet — Mitigating Impacts on Nature and Culture

• The sudden fall in tourism cuts off funding for biodiversity conservation. Some 7% of world tourism relates to wildlife, a segment growing by 3% annually.
• This places jobs at risk and has already led to a rise in poaching, looting and in consumption of bushmeat, partly due to the decreased presence of tourists and staff.
• The impact on biodiversity and ecosystems is particularly critical in SIDS and LDCs. In many African destinations, wildlife accounts for up to 80% of visits, and in many SIDS, tourism revenues enable marine conservation efforts.
• Several examples of community involvement in nature tourism show how communities, including indigenous peoples, have been able to protect their cultural and natural heritage while creating wealth and improve their wellbeing. The impact of COVID-19 on tourism places further pressure on heritage conservation as well as on the cultural and social fabric of communities, particularly for indigenous people and ethnic groups.

• For instance, many intangible cultural heritage practices such as traditional festivals and gatherings have been halted or postponed, and with the closure of markets for handicrafts, products and other goods, indigenous women’s revenues have been particularly impacted.

• 90% of countries have closed World Heritage Sites, with immense socio-economic consequences for communities reliant on tourism. Further, 90% of museums closed and 13% may never reopen.

Five Priorities for Tourism’s Restart

• The COVID-19 crisis is a watershed moment to align the effort of sustaining livelihoods dependent on tourism to the SDGs and ensuring a more resilient, inclusive, carbon neutral, and resource efficient future.

• A roadmap to transform tourism needs to address five priority areas:

1. Mitigate socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, particularly women’s employment and economic security.
2. Boost competitiveness and build resilience, including through economic diversification, with promotion of domestic and regional tourism where possible, and facilitation of conducive business environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
3. Advance innovation and digital transformation of tourism, including promotion of innovation and investment in digital skills, particularly for workers temporarily without jobs and for job seekers.
4. Foster sustainability and green growth to shift towards a resilient, competitive, resource efficient and carbon-neutral tourism sector. Green investments for recovery could target protected areas, renewable energy, smart buildings and the circular economy, among other opportunities.

5. Coordination and partnerships to restart and transform sector towards achieving SDGs, ensuring tourism’s restart and recovery puts people first and work together to ease and lift travel restrictions in a responsible and coordinated manner.

Moving Ahead Together

• As countries gradually lift travel restrictions and tourism slowly restarts in many parts of the world, health must continue to be a priority and coordinated heath protocols that protect workers, communities and travellers, while supporting companies and workers, must be firmly in place.
• Only through collective action and international cooperation will we be able to transform tourism, advance its contribution to the 2030 Agenda and its shift towards an inclusive and carbon neutral sector that harnesses innovation and digitalization, embraces local values and communities and creates decent job opportunities for all, leaving no one behind. We are stronger together.

Click here to view the Secretary-General’s Video Remarks on Launch of Policy Brief on Tourism and Covid-19

Bangkok, Thailand, August 25, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will be announcing the PATA Gold Awards 2020 live during Virtual PTM 2020. Supported and sponsored since 1995 by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), this year’s awards will recognise the achievements of 21 Gold Awards and three Grand Title Winners during the Online PATA Gold Awards Presentation on Thursday, September 24.

The PATA Gold Awards 2020 attracted 121 entries from 62 organisations and individuals worldwide. The winners will be selected by an independent judging committee of 16 personalities from various destinations.

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO, said, “I am looking forward to present live the awards to the winners of this year’s edition. The spirit of innovation acknowledged by the PATA Gold Awards is more than ever in high demand, as we are called to unite and revive the industry, amid the unprecedented global disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a tourism city, Macao is proud to continue its long-standing support to PATA, helping to bring to the limelight some of the very best practices in our industry.”

“The winners of the PATA Gold Awards set industry standards for excellence and innovation, and provides the Association with the perfect opportunity to recognise and reward the very best the Asia Pacific travel industry has to offer. I encourage all industry stakeholders to join us in celebrating the achievements of all the winners. I am truly excited to see who will be this year’s winners and wish all submissions the best of luck,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “Furthermore, we are sincerely grateful to MGTO for once again sponsoring the PATA Gold Awards and for their continued commitment to a responsible and sustainable tourism industry.”

PATA will present 21 Gold Awards and three Grand Title Winners for best of show entries in the following broad categories: Marketing, Sustainability and Human Capital Development. This year, PATA has enhanced the PATA Gold Awards by introducing several new categories in order to reinforce its position as an innovative and prestigious award for the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. New categories include Climate Change Initiative, Tourism for All, and Youth Empowerment Initiative.

Virtual PTM is a business-to-business travel contracting and virtual networking event that both mirrors and enhances the features of the long-standing PTM, which boasts over four decades of experience in connecting qualified international buyers and sellers from all of Asia and the Pacific region though pre-matched business appointments.

Virtual PTM is being organised in conjunction with the Sichuan International Travel Expo with the support of the Leshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau and is powered by official virtual partner Dragon Trail Interactive.

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 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 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 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 22 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’.

Sunway City Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, August 24, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Sunway Hotels & Resorts’ naturally luxurious wellness resort in Ipoh, Malaysia, is inviting guests to unwind in a spectacular and serene setting with a series of truly unique experiences.

Nestled in a 22.7-acre valley blessed with lush tropical rainforest, geothermal hot springs, cascading waterfalls and limestone caves, this award-winning sanctuary is the perfect place for an enchanting and eco-sensitive escape. Showcasing its organic surroundings, The Banjaran is now allowing visitors to embark on a journey of culinary discovery in a vast cavern.

Enclosed in the cave’s illuminated chamber lies Jeff’s Cellar, a remarkable restaurant and wine bar. Within this otherworldly atmosphere, guests can sip the world’s finest wines and savour exquisite local and international cuisine at a private table, next to natural water features and with stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

Under the resort’s signature “Dine and Dream” concept, couples can enjoy an unforgettable epicurean adventure as they share a stunning seven-course meal. It is little wonder that this was named as one of the five “Most Magnificent Bars in the World” by CNN, and one of Tatler’s “Top 20 Restaurants in Malaysia 2020”. Alternatively, guests can dine on the Star Deck which overlooks the amazing hot springs lake, under a galaxy of twinkling stars that can be viewed through a telescope. Prices start from MYR675 nett per person.

The secluded caves at The Banjaran also provide an opportunity for guests to enhance their spiritual and physical wellbeing. Harnessing the Earth’s geological power, the Crystal Cave is an ethereal arena for energy healing treatments such as Reiki, while the Meditation Cave allows travellers to focus their mind and achieve a deep sense of inner peace.
The Geothermal Hot Springs Dipping Pools provide a relaxing soak that also aids in alleviating stressed muscles and tired joints.

Alternatively, visitors can choose from an extensive selection of body treatments at the Spa & Wellness Centre, soothe their senses in the Geothermal Hot Spring Dipping Pools, warm up in the Thermal Steam Cave, cool off in the Ice Bath and even cleanse their feet in the Garra Rufa Doctor Fish Pool. There is also a Jungle Walk that puts travellers in touch with the environment and a well-equipped fitness centre for energising workouts.

Feeling fully restored and reinvigorated, couples can conclude their evening in style at the resort’s Sky Bar, which promises breath-taking views over the hot springs from its upper deck – the perfect end to the perfect day while sipping a drink.

“At The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, we specialise in exquisite experiences that go beyond guests’ expectations and transport travellers into a world of wonders. Our pristine wilderness is the ideal place to come and press your ‘reset’ button. With original activities such as cave dining and meditation, guests can discover the joy of nature when they stay with us,” said Michael Schaer, General Manager, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat.

All 45 villas at The Banjaran are self-enclosed and surrounded by nature. The 81-square metre Lake Villas feature plunge pools and hot tubs, while the 155-square metre Water Villas are set on the banks of a canal and offer outdoor rain showers and hot tubs with geothermal spring waters. Guests seeking additional space can opt for the 260-square metre Garden Villas, which promise private outdoor rain showers and hot spring Jacuzzis. Rates start from MYR1,450 nett per night, inclusive of breakfast for 2 people.

To ensure the highest standards of health and hygiene, Sunway Hotels & Resorts has implemented the “Sunway Safe Stay” programme which incorporates five core pillars comprising almost 30 protocols of enhanced cleaning and wellbeing standards. This initiative, which adheres to the standard operating procedures outlined by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, has been in place since early January 2020 and is continuously practised throughout all Sunway properties, allowing guests to relax and enjoy safe, stress-free stays.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is easily accessible, with direct flights to Ipoh’s Sultan Azlan Shah Airport from Johor Bahru or Singapore, and rail services from Kuala Lumpur. For the ultimate personalised escape, chartered helicopter services can be arranged.

London, United Kingdom, August 22, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / A new in-depth data dashboard highlighting the recovery of travel demand across flights and hotels, as well as revealing the shifting intentions of travellers through online travel searches, has been launched by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The one-stop data shop or Interactive COVID-19 Travel Demand Recovery Dashboard was developed by WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, with support from McKinsey & Company.

This unique tool provides users with easy access to qualitative and quantitative travel data at the global and regional level as well as for 33 major countries around the world, by revealing travel demand since the beginning of the year and is updated on a fortnightly basis.

The Dashboard offers a useful way to navigate through a vast array of data as travel demand around the world changes, in response to the gradual reopening of country’s borders as travel restrictions are across the globe are eased.

Free to all WTTC Members and non-members, the Dashboard presents two distinct views based on Google trends and searches, and bookings via WTTC’s research partners in the project.

Global experts in business intelligence, tourism and travel trends, ForwardKeys, provide flights data, while premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights provider for global hospitality sectors, STR, shares hotel occupancy levels.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We have created a unique dashboard featuring qualitative and quantitative data to provide the insights which could be crucial to help the Travel & Tourism sector re-start and map out the path to its recovery. 

“Our dashboard will enable decision makers to track the impact of public policies by monitoring the positive and negative fluctuations of flight and hotel bookings and also online travel searches, as well as consumer confidence.

“Data is essential for businesses, government and other organisations to make informed choices and drive the policy which will revive a sector that has suffered disproportionally due to the pandemic.

“With one in four jobs new jobs being generated by the Travel & Tourism sector in the last five years, it’s more important than ever that easy access to data on a regional and global level help inform the right choices at the right time.”

Unveiled today, the new data dashboard offers insights through two main avenues.

The first is via Google Trends, where all the data sourced has been organised into easy-to-understand holiday or trip segments, Adventure, Culture, Urban, Family, Sun & Beach and Travel Services.

Each segmentation has been devised using a set of 20 keywords, covering popular activities, sites and destinations. The segments provide insights at both the regional level and for key Travel & Tourism countries, such as the UK, the US, France and Brazil.

The second comes via regional insights through bi-monthly updates on movements and bookings, with flight information from WTTC’s research partner ForwardKeys, hotel occupancy and average daily room rates from STR and the Google Mobility Index, which shows local recreational activity.

In addition, Global Rescue, the Travel & Tourism global leader and pioneer in medical, security, travel risk and crisis management, provides data showing how ‘open’ each country or key market is, in the context of travel restrictions imposed to combat coronavirus.

WTTC has and continues to play a leading role in driving the Travel & Tourism towards policies which will enable the sector to recovery more quickly from the ravages of the pandemic.

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

London, United Kingdom, August 21 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Croatia, Ecuador and Ghana are the latest in a long line of major destinations to use the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp, launched recently by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Removal of quarantine sees Ecuador get the renowned stamp Guam, the U.S. island territory in Micronesia also signs up.

The extensive endorsements have come from many major holiday destinations around the world, with other holiday hot spots such as Turkey, Portugal, Kenya, and Mauritius, joining among many others.

Ecuador received its WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, following a major government announcement which will see international travellers arriving with a negative test taken within the previous 10 days, exempt from its 14-day isolation. This move will help reopen its Travel & Tourism sector and provide a significant boost to the country’s economy.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, created the Safe Travels Stamp in May this year, to allow travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted the global standardised health and hygiene protocols.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) welcomed the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, which place the safety and hygiene of travellers as top priority.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Our Safe Travels Stamp continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to see even more popular countries and destinations from all corners of the world adopt our global health and hygiene protocols.

“The stamp also recognises the introduction of new measures by governments around the world which positively impact the Travel & Tourism sector, and to that end, we applaud the government of Ecuador for implementing new measures at Quito airport.

“The continued success of the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp demonstrates its importance not only to countries, destinations and businesses around the world, but crucially travellers, and the millions of people around the world who work in and depend on, a thriving Travel & Tourism sector. 

“The stamp is critical to re-establish consumer confidence in our sector and ensure travellers can rest assured that enhanced standards of hygiene are in place and they can once again experience ‘Safe Travels’.”

Ms. Nikolina Brnjac, Croatia Minister of Tourism and Sports, said: “Croatia is very proud to work with WTTC during these difficult times. As a popular European and Adriatic destination, we are doing our best to face all difficulties and to secure stability and safety for the local population and for all the travellers who have decided to visit us this year, despite the current circumstances.

“To make the new normal possible, we have gone to great lengths to prepare the necessary safety-protocols and measures. 

“We sincerely believe that aligning with the WTTC global protocols will be the next important step in securing and stabilising not only the current season but will also represent another important next step for the sustainable and smart future development of this very important economic sector.”

Rosi Prado de Holguín, Ecuador Minister of Tourism said: “The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp shows that Ecuador has made responsible and technical decisions to encourage travel, guaranteeing everyone’s health and well-being.

“I invite everyone to visit us and enjoy our Four Worlds, Andes, Amazon, Coast and the Galapagos Islands. Rest assured that in these and all other spots, we are looking after your well-being and minimising risks of transmission.”

Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, Ghana Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said: “We are delighted with this milestone of a Safe Travels Stamp for Ghana. Since 21 March 21, 2020 when our borders were closed, we have worked on creating a safe environment for our Tourism and Travel practitioners. The protocols we have put in place are borne out of a shared responsibility to create a hygienic and safe destination.

“With the gradual easing of restrictions, we believe these measures will boost confidence in our tourism and hospitality sector. We congratulate the WTTC for instituting these Safe Travels protocols which is a welcome addition to the tourism industry.”

Since the launch of the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, destination countries and cities, around the world have now adopted WTTC’s new protocols, including holiday heavyweights such as Tunisia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Dubai.

As part of its Safe Travels protocols, these worldwide measures provide consistency and guidance to travel providers and travellers about the new approach to health, hygiene, deep cleansing and physical distancing, in the ‘new normal’ of COVID-19 world.

The protocols were devised following the experience of WTTC members dealing with COVID19 and based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

Montreal, Canada, August 20, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released an airline self-assessment health checklist to support the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Take-off: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis. The Take-off guidance is the global standard framework of risk-based temporary measures for governments and the air transport value chain for safe operations during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Safety is always the number one priority for air transport. And the challenges of COVID-19 have added a new dimension to our efforts. Developed with input from industry, public health authorities and governments, ICAO’s Take-off guidance is the global standard for safe operations. IATA’s self-assessment checklist is a practical implementation guide to help airlines comply,” said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

“A harmonized approach to health is key not only to the recovery of civil aviation but also to ‘building back better,’ which is crucially important to ensuring the future resilience of the aviation network. IATA’s health checklist for airlines will be of importance in terms of providing momentum for the implementation of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations, of which harmonization and resilience are the guiding principles,’’ said ICAO’s Council President, Salvatore Sciacchitano.

The IATA Health Safety Checklist for Airline Operators provides the standards and recommended practices (IHSARPs), associated guidance material and other supporting information necessary for an operator to self-assess. Sections cover:

• Pre-arrival notification;
• Check in;
• Embarkation and Disembarkation;
• Aircraft Cleaning;
• Onboard Air Quality;
• In-flight Operations;
• Flight and Cabin Crew – General;
• Crew Layover;
• Airport Facilities.

The checklist is available here and can be used free of charge by interested airlines.

Madrid, Spain, August 20, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The cost of the restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is there for all to see.

Between January and May, the sudden and rapid fall in tourist arrivals cost an estimated $320 billion. That’s three times greater than the impact of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 on our sector – and this is just for the first five months of the year.

The re-opening of borders to tourism is a welcome relief to millions who depend on our sector. But this alone is not enough, especially in view of recent announcements and measures which seem further and further away from the international coordination that UNWTO has been calling for since the pandemic erupted.

In these uncertain times, people around the world need strong, clear and consistent messages. What they don’t need are policy moves which ignore the fact that only together are we stronger and able to overcome the challenges we face.

Those in positions of leadership and influence have recognized the importance of tourism for jobs, economies and rebuilding trust. This is only the first step. Now, they must do everything they can to get people travelling again, following and implementing all the protocols which are part of the new reality.

As UNWTO has said from the start of this crisis, governments have a duty to put the health of their citizens first. However, they also have a responsibility to protect businesses and livelihoods. For too long, and in too many places, the emphasis has overly focused on the former. And we are now paying the price.

It doesn’t have to be this way. As a sector, tourism has a long history of adapting and responding to challenges head-on.

In recent weeks, global tourism has led the way in finding and implementing solutions that will help us adapt to the new reality as we wait for a vaccine that could be many months away. Rapid but rigorous testing at ports and airports, and tracing and tracking apps have the potential to drive the safe restart of tourism, all of which builds on the learning curve of the behaviour of individuals and societies during these difficult past months.

These solutions need to be fully embraced, not just cautiously explored. To delay will be a catastrophe and risk undoing all the progress we have made to establish tourism as a true pillar of sustainable and inclusive development.

Moreover, it will be the most vulnerable members of our societies who will be hit the hardest as those most shielded from the economic and social consequences of tourism’s standstill urge continued caution.

Short-sighted unilateral actions will have devastating consequences in the long run. By and large, people have learned how to behave in a responsible way. Businesses and services have put protocols in place and adapted their operations. Now it’s time for those making the political decisions to close the gaps, so that we all can advance together.

UNWTO Secretary-General
Zurab Pololikashvili

Washington D.C., United States, August 19, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Today, Trade & Travel (T&T) announced that the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, has joined T&T as a “Leading Voice.” WTTC Members will have an opportunity to engage with technology companies participating in T&T’s inaugural accelerator, focused on enhancing passenger screening and safety in the trade and travel industries.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WTTC has been a leading advocate for innovation and partnership as the travel and tourism industries grapple with the public health challenges posed by restarting travel across the globe. WTTC continues to advocate for the acceleration of technologies such as biometrics that can improve the traveller experience and meet the demand for travel in a safer, healthier manner. In addition to participating in the T&T program, WTTC will be offering the companies a reduced rate for WTTC membership.

Helena Bononi, WTTC VP Membership & Commercial said, “We are delighted to be working with Trade & Travel on this initiative, one which we are sure will be of great interest to our Members. The enhanced use of technologies such as biometrics, throughout the traveller journey, will become even more important now as we begin to move towards recovery. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the global Travel & Tourism sector, and these technologies will play a vital role in restoring consumer confidence, whilst protecting public health and paving the way to the return to safe travels.”

Patrick Flanagan, CEO of Pangiam stated, “WTTC brings the breadth of the travel and tourism industries to bear for our accelerator companies. WTTC’s experience, leadership and input is a valuable addition to the T&T process and will help inform on policy and market trends.”

Meagan Metzger, CEO of Dcode, said, “Finding private sector tech companies that can address trade and travel needs and that also know how to work in those highly regulated markets is easier said than done, and WTTC will play an important role in helping our companies showcase their capabilities to industry leaders across the globe.”

In May, Dcode and Pangiam announced their commercial partnership to de-risk and accelerate emerging tech companies that can advance trade and travel. Trade & Travel combines Dcode’s proven go-to-market acceleration strategy with Pangiam’s decades of expertise in security and innovation in the U.S. government and trade and travel industries.

T&T’s inaugural program started on August 11th and focuses on passenger screening and safety, with the goals of expediting the safe and efficient resumption of travel and leveraging technology to better protect the global trade and travel ecosystems in the future.