A dozen travel and tourism bodies have backed a six-point plan to avoid any backward steps for travel, with a focus on booster jabs and the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
Now that more than three-quarters of adults in the EU are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and with community transmission now prevalent in most member states, the coalition believes more stringent Covid border measures will not only have little public health benefit but would also risk harming local economies.
The plea has been backed by Airlines for Europe, Airports Council International, Clia Europe, Etoa, the European Travel Commission and the World Travel and Tourism Council.
"The global pandemic has left tourism across Europe facing a crisis like none other," said the partners in a joint statement issued on Monday (22 November) as several EU countries strengthened or re-imposed domestic Covid restrictions.
"As several countries begin to reinstate movement restrictions for citizens, the travel and tourism community warns that further damage could be done to a sector already struggling, with far reaching impacts on the region’s economies."
Reimposing "severe" travel restrictions could risk up to 900,000 jobs, according to research by the WTTC, and wipe €35 billion off the sector’s economic contribution, the groups said.
"European tourism cannot function with inconsistent and constantly changing national approaches," read the plea. "Coordination is the only solution to protect the sector from the effects of this prolonged uncertainty in Europe.
"The vaccination roll-out across the EU is among the best in the world. Travel and tourism businesses have also developed and implemented strong health and safety protocols that assure that travel can take place under safe circumstances. These investments should not be lost by reimposing restrictions on cross-border movement."
The pleas backed by the 12 travel and tourism bodies include EU member states transitioning towards a single risk-based approach rather than the current country-to-country regime, a common and fully aligned approach on the eligibility for – and timing of – booster doses and their ability to be linked to the EU Digital Covid Certificate, and further alignment on travel rules and restrictions.
This would extend to a common, accepted list of recognised vaccines, with all member states recognising the seven World Health Organization-approved vaccines for international travel, the duration of the validity of tests and vaccinations, and mixed vaccinations and/or booster shots.
