WTTC welcomes UK’s move to ease travel restrictions

Friday, July 30, 2021

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) have welcomed the UK’s decision to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers.  Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President and Acting CEO, WTTC said in a statement the travel & tourism sector and the UK economy will get a huge boost following news that fully-vaccinated US and EU visitors will at last be able to travel quarantine-free to England.

She stated that the cruise industry will also breathe a sigh of relief that the crucial relaunch of international cruise departures from England has been given the green light, giving hope to a sector which has struggled to stay afloat. She further said that the move throws a vital lifeline to airlines and businesses throughout the sector, by helping to restore much-need transatlantic travel and essential links to the EU.

However it was also mentioned that unless it’s reciprocal and the US responds with a similar move, the world would not see the full benefit.  As per research, before the pandemic US visitors to the UK contributed more than more than £4 billion to the economy in 2019, underlining the importance of transatlantic travel.

Messina shared that internationally coordinated action is urgently needed to reopen borders to safe international travel for all visitors who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. She said that harmonisation would restore international mobility, ensure reduced protocols for vaccinated travellers, emphasise the importance of global vaccine recognition, and enable global use of ‘digital health passes’.

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