A contribution from OMT and IATA to promote travel

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announce the development of a Destination Tracker to help restart international travel. Both organizations highlight that they are joining forces to boost confidence and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector when the borders are reopened. It is a new free online tool for governments to provide information on COVID-19 requirements for travel and current measures at the destination. The Destination Tracker will meet a key need by providing clarity on health measures affecting tourism. The situation of travelers is complex since UNWTO data show that one in three destinations is closed to tourists. Furthermore, national restrictions and measures are continually reviewed and changed.

The tool, available on the portals of both organizations, will provide information on:

• COVID-19 indicators include infection, positivity, and vaccination deployment rates by destination/country.
• Air travel regulations in each destination, including testing and quarantine requirements, provided by IATA’s Timatic solution (see: World map of restrictions, country by country).
• Destination measures, including general health and safety requirements, such as the use of masks, transit through a country, curfew hours or regulations related to restaurants and attractions, provided by national tourism organizations.

Governments can use the Destination Tracker to post COVID-19 travel information so potential travelers know what to expect at their destination. “When fully equipped with up-to-date destination information, travel stakeholders, including Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and travel agencies, will be able to get the latest destination information, allowing travelers to make decisions. informed when the borders are reopened and travel resumes, “say UNWTO and IATA.

Tracker framework development completed. Updated information on COVID-19 indicators and air travel regulations is available and is systematically updated. Destination information is progressively being uploaded, expanded, and updated with official sources as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “UNWTO is pleased to strengthen its partnership with UNWTO Affiliate Member IATA to provide this important tool. Travelers and companies will be able to verify the current requirements for air travel, as well as the measures that will be implemented in the visited destination. We are confident that this tool is also critical for governments to track existing travel restrictions and support the safe restart of our industry. ”

“It has been more than a year since freedom to travel was lost due to COVID-19 measures seeing borders closed. When governments have the confidence to reopen borders, people will be eager to travel. And they will need accurate information to guide them. With the support of national tourism organizations, the UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker will help travelers and travel companies obtain the latest information for travel planning, ”said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.

The OMT-IATA Destination Tracker is based on the existing partnership between the two parties. In October 2020, UNWTO and IATA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to restore confidence in international air travel. The agreement will also see the two agencies partner to foster innovation to drive the restart of tourism, promote greater public-private collaboration in the field of aviation and the tourism sector in general, and advance the progress already made towards the achievement. of greater sustainability and resilience.

Click HERE to go to the tracker.