“Traveling in the new normal” is part of the WTTC’s plan, which includes critical steps and coordinated actions, including new standards and protocols, offering a safe and responsible path to recovery for the global travel and tourism sector, as consumers begin to plan their trips again.
During the last few weeks, the WTTC, which represents the global private travel and tourism sector, has brought together the efforts of the private sector, studying best practices from different regions of the world to work on the way forward.
Public-private collaboration between businesses and governments is vital for the development of new health protocols, which will need to be included to offer the greatest safety to travelers.
The WTTC notes that the sector will experience a gradual return to travel in the coming months, as a “new normal” emerges before a vaccine is widely available. Travel is likely to begin domestically with “stay-at-home” holidays; then move to nearby countries; and finally, travel across continents.
The WTTC estimates that younger travelers, including those in the 18-35 age group, who appear to be less vulnerable to COVID-19, may be the first to start traveling.
Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of the WTTC, stated that “it is vital, for the survival of the travel and tourism sector, to work together to chart the path to recovery through coordinated actions, offering the peace of mind that people need to start traveling again.”.
“We have learned from past experiences that, through a coordinated approach and by taking into account private sector protocols, the recovery time is significantly reduced, making collaboration between the public and private sectors crucial. We must avoid new and unnecessary procedures that create bottlenecks and thus encourage recovery. A swift and effective restart of travel will only happen if governments around the world work together,” he stated.
The new protocols and standards are being defined in discussions between WTTC members together with associations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ACI), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), United States Travel Association (USTA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Travel Commission (ETC), and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Organizations such as IATA, ACI, and ICAO are contributing their expertise and working closely to define the most suitable safety protocols for travelers and employees, with the aim of facilitating the recovery of the aviation sector. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other experts have also contributed their experience from previous global health crises.
In accordance with hygiene standards and with the aim of ensuring the safety of guests, hotels are developing protocols based on the lessons learned when offering free rooms to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Among other measures, there are the establishment of new protocols for check-in through digital technology, the installation of hand sanitizer stations at frequent points, the possibility of making contactless payments instead of cash, and the use of stairs more often than elevators to comply with the distancing rule.
Cruise operators, in turn, will take specific measures to ensure that ships are free of COVID-19, including the use of gloves, as well as more frequent cleaning services in different areas.
Travelers at airports will be required to undergo testing before flying and upon arrival at their destination airport. Social distancing measures must be maintained at the airport and during boarding, and masks must be worn on board.
Aircraft will also undergo intensive cleaning procedures. These measures will be combined with contact tracing via a mobile app, allowing flights to depart from airports COVID-19 free.
The protocols, which have been developed based on the experience of China's initial recovery and successful new standards used by retailers, will be announced in the next two weeks and shared with governments worldwide, the result of a coordinated global approach aimed at ensuring the safety of travelers in the face of the new reality of COVID-19.
Today we are seeing positive signs that indicate the beginning of a recovery. Research by Cirium, a travel data and analytics expert, shows that more than 30% of domestic capacity has returned to the Chinese aviation market in the last two months. Domestic flights have also resumed in some countries, such as Vietnam, between Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon. This country has recorded relatively few deaths from coronavirus.
To accelerate the global recovery, the WTTC will continue to work closely with the G20, the European Union, international organizations and governments around the world to help translate these new protocols into public policies that each country can easily adopt.
The WTTC believes the travel and tourism sector is currently facing over 100 million job losses worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a cost of up to US$2.7 trillion in GDP. In 2019, the travel and tourism sector contributed 10.3% to global GDP, generated one in four new jobs globally, and, for nine consecutive years, boosted global economic growth.
