Post-Covid-19 Quarantine Measures for Arriving Travelers Not Necessary, Says WTTC

“Quarantines should not be necessary if appropriate and effective containment measures are in place at departure and arrival points for flights, ferries, cruises, road and rail transport” – WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on Thursday urged EU member states to “carefully” reflect before deciding whether travel arrivals, once borders are open, need to self-isolate.

According to the WTTC, “quarantine on arrival measures” would be a major deterrent to travel and put countries that enforce them at a competitive disadvantage.

“We call on governments to find alternative solutions rather than maintaining or introducing arrival quarantine measures, as part of post-pandemic travel restrictions. Once a traveller is tested and confirmed as safe to travel, further restrictions such as quarantines should not be necessary,” WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara said.

Guevara said the WTTC supported the stance of the European Commission that quarantines should not be necessary if appropriate and effective containment measures are in place at departure and arrival points for flights, ferries, cruises, road and rail transport.

According to IATA, 69 percent of travelers polled in a recent survey claimed that they would not consider traveling at all if it involved a 14-day containment period.

WTTC welcomes European Commission guidelines

Moreover, Guevara applauded the European Commission’s announced guidelines to safely restart Travel & Tourism in Europe in 2020 and beyond.

The European Commission’s package of guidelines and recommendations has been designed to ensure a coordinated approach for tourism and transport at a European level, to ease restrictive measures and restore mobility.

“The move by the European Commission is hoped to herald a phased restart of travel across Europe this summer, while ensuring the safety and health of travellers and those who work in the Travel & Tourism sector,” the WTTC said.

The initiative follows a similar drive by WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. The WTTC recently launched its ‘Safe Travel’ protocols, which include a wide range of new worldwide proposed measures – for hotels, outdoor retail establishments, airlines, airports and cruise ships amongst others – to restart the sector. The measures are designed to rebuild confidence among consumers, so they can travel safely once restrictions are lifted.