The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that it is working with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on a new tool that aims to boost confidence in travel and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector when borders are open again.
The Destination Tracker is an online tool for governments to provide information on COVID-19 travel requirements and measures that have been put in place at each destination. It will provide information on COVID-19 indicators including infection and positivity rates and vaccination roll outs by countries, as well as air travel regulations such as test and quarantine requirements and general health and safety requirements such as use of masks and curfews regulations related to restaurants and attractions.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented on the launch of the tool: “UNWTO is pleased to reinforce its partnership with IATA, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, to provide this important tool. Travellers and companies will be able to check requirements in place for air travel, as well as what measures will be in place at the visited destination. We trust this tool is also critical for governments to track existing travel restrictions and support the safe restart of our sector.”
IATA says that currently, the situation for travellers is complex, with one in three destinations remaining closed to tourists globally and countries continuously revising their COVID-19 measures. The Destination Tracker will allow governments to post travel information and, when fully populated with updated destination information, travel stakeholders such as travel agencies can obtain the latest destination information.
It has been more than a year since the freedom to travel was lost as COVID-19 measures saw borders close. When governments have the confidence to re-open borders, people will be eager to travel. And they will need accurate information to guide them. With the support of national tourism organisations, the UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker will help travellers and travel companies obtain the latest information for travel planning.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General
More information on the Destination Tracker is available on the IATA website.
