On Friday (10 June), the Biden administration announced the removal of the need for travellers to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken up to 24 hours before departure. 

US Travel Association president and chief executive Roger Dow commended the US government for the removal of the mandate, claiming the decision will "accelerate" the recovery of the US travel industry.

"Today marks another huge step forward for the recovery of inbound air travel and the return of international travel to the United States," he added.

"International inbound travel is vitally important to businesses and workers across the country who have struggled to regain losses from this valuable sector. More than half of international travelers in a recent survey pointed to the pre-departure testing requirement as a major deterrent for inbound travel to the US."

According to Dow, travel was one of the country’s largest industry exports prior to the pandemic. "The lifting of this requirement will enable the industry to lead the way toward a broader US economic and jobs recovery," he continued.

"A new analysis found that repealing the pre-departure testing requirement could bring an additional 5.4 million visitors to the US and an additional $9 billion in travel spending through the remainder of 2022."

Meanwhile, Pat Dawson, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), said the easing of entry requirements into the US was "greatly welcomed" throughout the travel industry.

"There is a big demand for US travel, especially for families travelling to visit family and friends that they have not seen since before the pandemic to destinations or to such destinations as Orlando or the west coast," he added.
 
"With Dublin airport and the Passport Office resolving issues from the pandemic coupled with the United States easing of entry requirements, all barriers for travelling to the US are more or less now gone. This is a very positive step."

Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association (BTA), called for all other countries to remove any remaining restrictions.
 
"As we go into another difficult weekend for business and leisure travellers it is welcome to see the US move to end all Covid-19 restrictions," he said.
 
"This needs to be a clarion call for all countries to remove the remaining restrictions and encourage international travel once more. All travel facilitators around the world need to help build customer confidence and deliver the travelling experience necessary for our sector’s recovery."

Elsewhere, Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive, welcomed the decision to lift the "damaging" testing requirement for travelers. "It will provide much-needed relief to the embattled sector," she claimed.

"The long-term recovery of US travel and tourism now looks positive, with our projections showing that a fully recovered sector will create more than six million new jobs over the next 10 years. But short term, the measure caused untold damage to an already devastated sector as international visitor spending has been so low over the past two years."

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson welcomed the move, claiming it will boost consumer confidence "even further" and support the rebound in transatlantic travel this summer. 

"Frictionless transatlantic travel in both directions means reconnecting with loved ones and business colleagues is made even easier, supported by an onboard policy which allows our customers and people to make a personal choice on face masks."