In line with the UNWTO’s repeated warning about the use of general restrictions, the 10th meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee on the International Health Regulations (Geneva, 19 January) expressed concern that such measures could cause economic and social harm. The WHO added that they could also “hamper transparent and rapid reporting of new concerns.”
The Committee also stated that measures for international travelers, such as testing, isolation and quarantine, and vaccination, should be based on “a risk assessment and avoid imposing a financial burden on international travelers in accordance with Article 40 of the IHR”.
Secretary – General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili says, “General travel restrictions are simply harmful in preventing the spread of new viral variants. In fact, cutting the living conditions of tourism from these restrictions has more harm than good, especially to destinations that are dependent on international tourists for jobs, economic prosperity and sustainable change.
The UN World Economic Outlook 2022 – for which UNWTO provided official travel data – has found that recovery from the effects of the pandemic is “uneven and fragile” in both developed and developing countries. It also highlights “the significant shift towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
“It is essential to relaunch tourism and start recovery and get back on track towards achieving sustainable development goals while meeting climate requirements,” Pololikashvili adds. “UNWTO welcomes the new WHO guideline, which emphasizes the ineffectiveness of general travel restrictions, and we also reaffirm their recommendation not to use vaccination status as the sole condition for receiving tourists, especially when vaccination rates are so uneven.”
Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Source: The Nordic Page