According to IATA, data shows that more than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted restrictions for vaccinated travellers and the association whose primary goal is to drive business of the aviation industry says this should be the best practice for countries and authorities to follow.
Furthermore, IATA believes cases where vaccination is not possible, access to quarantine-free travel should be provided through COVID-19 testing strategies based on widely available, free-of-charge tests.
Germany is one of the 20 that has relaxed its border restrictions, and similar conclusions are being reached on the other side of the Atlantic. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has noted that 'with a 90% effective vaccine, pre-travel testing, post-travel testing, and 7-day self-quarantine provide minimal additional benefit.'
“A safe opening of borders to international travel is the goal. And scientific evidence and data such as that presented by RKI, ECDC and USC CDC should be the basis for the decision-making needed to achieve that. There is increasing scientific evidence that vaccination is not only protecting people but also dramatically reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is bringing us closer to a world where vaccination and testing enable the freedom to travel without quarantine. Germany and at least 20 other countries have already taken an important step forward in re-opening their borders to vaccinated travellers. These are the best practice examples for others to quickly follow,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
An Important Incentive for Vaccination
According to the US CDC, alleviations from COVID-19 restrictions are a powerful motivator for vaccination, particularly in communities where vaccine hesitancy is prevalent. This is an additional and important benefit of restriction-free travel for those vaccinated. IATA polling indicates that 81% of international travelers are willing to get vaccinated in order to be able to travel. Moreover, 74% of people in the same poll agreed that those vaccinated should be able to travel by air without restrictions.
Digital Solutions for Vaccination/Test Certificates
The decisions of increasing numbers of countries to accept vaccinated travelers without quarantine measures adds pressure for a digital solution to manage vaccine certificates and COVID-19 test results. Paper-based processes could lead to extremely long processing times at check-in and border control. They also open the door to fraud. Digital vaccine/test certificates, coupled with passenger apps such as the IATA Travel Pass, will be needed to manage travel health credentials efficiently and securely in the restart.
Recent IATA polling shows strong support for a digital solution.
89% supported globally standardized COVID-19 test or vaccination certifications
84% want an app to manage their travel health credentials
The survey was conducted between 15 and 23 February 2021, out of people who had taken a flight in the prior 11 months. A total of 4,700 online interviews were carried out, with the sample size was 500 in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, India and Australia. In Chile, Japan, UAE and Singapore the sample size was 300.
“A gap is opening up between countries responding to scientific evidence, and those exhibiting a lack of preparation or excessive caution in reopening borders. Countries that seize the opportunity offered by the increasing numbers of vaccinated travellers can protect their populations and reap an economic reward,” said Walsh.
The countries
Countries making special considerations for vaccinated travellers include Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Maldives, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal (Madeira), Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Note that the situation with respect to entry and quarantine requirements is continuously evolving and subject to change at very short notice.
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