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'We need a common European roadmap for return to travel'
The trade body representing agents and operators across Europe has called for a "common European roadmap" for a return to travel, based on testing and health certification.
ECTAA, the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association, said travellers and stakeholders urgently needed "a perspective [on] when, and under which conditions, travel can resume.
It said the industry "stood ready" to work with lawmakers to devise and implement a plan for a return of travel this summer.
"While the situation is not much different from a year ago, where nearly all travel and tourism has been suspended, today we hold the cards to turn the situation around," said the association, with reference to the vaccination programmes under way across Europe, greater access to quicker and more accurate tests, and better health and safety protocols.
ECTAA president Pawel Niewiadomski said: "All we need to do is put the dots together and determine a common European roadmap for return to travel. Travellers and industry need a perspective when and under which conditions travel can resume."
The association, which represents 70,000 agents and operators in Europe, is seeking a common, risk-based approach to travel restrictions, built around testing and health certificates. It also stressed communication would be vital to restoring confidence.
ECTAA said analysis by Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, responsible for disease control and prevention, had determined the "classic organised holiday trip" made only a "small contribution" to the incidence of Covid infections in Germany.
"We have gathered a lot of knowledge from the systematic and strategic testing," said ECTAA.
Niewiadomski added: "This is proof organised travelling is safe. But we need the right framework conditions to start-up travel based on testing and the use of health certificates to facilitate travel."
UK transport secretary Grant Shapps told the House of Commons on Thursday (11 March) a resumption of international travel would require a combination of vaccination and testing.
James Chapple
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