Vaccine passport system the saviour?

Strict vaccination measures may be the only way to ensure a safe path back to travel, both domestically and internationally.

An AccomNews report says the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the landscape for many industries, with none more affected than the tourism and hospitality sector. And now long-term changes are in store.

“Major airlines and tourism bodies are rolling out vaccine incentive programs, and some Australian states are beginning to propose mandatory vaccination policies. The tourism industry is being forced to adapt to a new age that asks travellers: ‘Are you vaccinated’?

“Throughout the pandemic, tourism and hospitality businesses have suffered major financial losses as a result of lockdowns and border restrictions. Now, as economies commit to recovery, the sector is ready to open doors to travellers once more,” the report says.

But there is a level of confidence and Accor Pacific CEO Simon McGrath was reported saying that “we all know that tourism will rebound.”

Accor is the leading Augmented Hospitality hotel group with more than 5100 hotels across 110 countries.

Vaccine passports

For evidence of the efficacy of vaccine passport systems, Australia is looking overseas to nations where such policies have already come into effect.

In the European Union, vaccinated travellers are now permitted to travel without quarantine between 14 countries, bringing business back to hard-hit accommodation and tourism providers.

By providing quarantine exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers, venues have been able to secure bookings without fear of last-minute cancellations. With proof of their vaccination status, guests have embraced a return to a new normal in a post-COVID world.

But the stark reality of what is being experienced is outlined by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: The crash in international tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021, according to their June report.

The estimated loss has been caused by the pandemic’s direct impact on tourism and its ripple effect on other sectors closely linked to it.

The report, jointly presented with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), says international tourism and its closely linked sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020 due to direct and indirect impacts of a steep drop in international tourist arrivals.

A similar loss may occur this year (2021), the report warns, noting that the tourism sector’s recovery will largely depend on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines globally.

“The world needs a global vaccination effort that will protect workers, mitigate adverse social effects and make strategic decisions regarding tourism, taking potential structural changes into account,” UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Isabelle Durant said.

Tourism a lifeline

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is a lifeline for millions, and advancing vaccination to protect communities and support tourism’s safe restart is critical to the recovery of jobs and generation of much-needed resources, especially in developing countries, many of which are highly dependent on international tourism.”

AccomNews says with an end to restrictions essential to helping struggling businesses get back on their feet, industry leaders are calling for vaccine policies to start now, leaving time for travellers to start booking hotels and experiences before the summer’s peak travel periods begin.

While some industry personnel remain wary, most major bodies are outlining vaccine passports as the only way out of the disruptions faced by the tourism industry over the past 18 months.

In fact, Tourism Australia‘s latest campaign addresses just this. The “It’s our best shot for travel” campaign encourages travellers to get vaccinated as a first step towards a tourism-friendly future.

“Lots of complex issues in that space,” said Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, referring to the importance of ensuring validity of vaccination certificates under any vaccine passport program.

“But there should be recognition, I think, over time, that people who are fully vaccinated genuinely represent a lesser risk of transmission.”