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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the relaxation of Covid-19 border measures for vaccinated passengers by Spain and France this week.
The body also praised the broader use of affordable antigen testing adopted in the European destinations.
This is tempered, however, by ongoing disappointment at the failure to implement harmonised measures across Europe and deep frustration at the lack of coordination among governments worldwide for a data-driven risk-managed approach to re-establishing the freedom to travel.
As of Monday, Spain opened its borders to most vaccinated travellers from around the world and allowed EU travellers to enter the country with a negative antigen test.
Furthermore, passengers coming from low-risk countries (including the UK) can enter without any restrictions.
From Wednesday, France opened to vaccinated travellers from all but those countries assessed as “high risk”.
Vaccinated travellers from “medium-risk” countries will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 antigen or PCR test, and unvaccinated people must still self-isolate for seven days.
“It’s encouraging to see more European countries taking steps to reopen borders.
“They recognise the opportunity created by vaccination and are making travel more affordable with the use of antigen testing. ADVERTISEMENT“But this approach is not universal across the continent.
“Many European states have yet to significantly relax borders at all.
“This fragmentation should be replaced with a unified approach that is consistent with the recommendations of the EU to which they belong.
“People, businesses and economies would all benefit from greater alignment across Europe in relaxing measures and restoring the freedom to travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA director general.
A consistent approach across Europe is required if the EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate is to be implemented effectively by July 1st.
And around the world, governments need to allow digital certificates to be integrated in passenger applications such as IATA Travel Pass, in order to relieve pressure on airports and at borders from more complex passenger processing as the number of travellers ramps up, a statement added.
These moves by Spain, France and other European states are a step in the right direction, but restoring global connectivity requires far more than regional or individual state initiatives.
“Connectivity needs countries at both ends of the journey to be open.
“Many of the world’s largest air travel markets, such Australia, China, the UK, Japan, and Canada remain essentially closed with no clear plans to guide a reopening.
“Data should help these and other countries to introduce targeted policies that keep populations safe while moving towards a normality in world with Covid-19 for some time to come.
“The G7 has an opportunity later this month to set a risk-managed framework for re-establishing the freedom to travel in a way that is both affordable and practical. It’s critical that they take up the challenge,” said Walsh.

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A new campaign has been launched by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) calling on governments around the world to restart international travel and enable the world to ‘Reunite’ once again.
After more than a year of lockdowns around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new campaign will showcase the importance international travel has on individuals and businesses.
It will also encourage travellers to share with the world, the positive impact travel makes to their lives and mental well-being.
Through its social media channels, Reunite will urge people from all corners of the globe to share their own stories of how tourism has made a difference and changed their lives.
WTTC believes whilst tourism makes a significant contribution to economies around the world, it also provides an essential way for individuals to connect, experience and discover cultures around the world.
The campaign launches with a feelgood and positive video showing how now is the time to get the world moving again, to reunite families, friends, colleagues and communities.ADVERTISEMENTAs vaccination rollouts advance in many countries around the world and as cases begin to drop, it is important for governments to recognise what tourism brings to the economy and the population as a whole.
It is equally as important to recognise that some regions and countries are still battling to put the pandemic under control, and that the majority of vaccinations have been in developed countries.
This means that the pandemic will continue to spread in those countries that do not have equal access to vaccines.
Virginia Messina, WTTC senior vice president, said: “Travel gives us memories which last a lifetime and the most amazing experiences to share, so we are excited to launch a campaign that gets to the heart of what travel means to people.
“Travel has a hugely positive benefit upon the world, far beyond the immediate pleasure it brings to those who are able to explore and discover people, places and amazing experiences for themselves.
“Right now, so many people have been separated from their loved ones for months if not over a year since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
“For the past year WTTC has been hugely invested in advocating for the social and mental benefits of tourism.
“Through this campaign we are hoping to help kickstart the recovery of our sector through a truly worthwhile experience: reuniting with those who matter most to us.”
Find out more below:

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On the Beach has called for £781 million held in refund credit notes to be returned to consumers.
A report exploring the impact of cancelled holidays caused by Covid-19 on holidaymakers reveals the cash is held by travel companies from across the industry.
As YouGov data on the volume and value of the notes currently in circulation comes to light, the paper shows that nearly half of the consumers surveyed who accepted credit were not offered a full cash refund when their holiday was cancelled – as is their legal right.
On the Beach, who commissioned the report, has set out five recommendations to help restore consumer trust in the industry, including a call for holiday companies to proactively contact their customers still holding credit notes from 2020 to offer them a full cash refund.
The beach holiday expert also encourages consumers currently holding a credit notes who do not want one, to contact their holiday provider now and ask for a full cash refund.
It is estimated that 8.1 million people had a package holiday cancelled due to Covid-19, with only half receiving a full cash refund and 851,000 (nearly 11 per cent) accepting a credit note rather than cash.ADVERTISEMENTThe research outlines that over a million people with a note or rebooking were not offered a cash refund at the point of cancellation, despite this being a legal requirement.
What’s more, 52 per cent of consumers surveyed were unaware of their legal right to cash.
Millennials were the most affected – fewer people in this age group were offered a cash refund or aware of their right to one than anyone else.
Anna Richardson, journalist, broadcaster and consumer expert who has written a foreword for the white paper, said: “It’s sad to think that a family who has saved for months or even years for their one summer holiday abroad has had to fight to get their money back, and in many cases have not been provided with full and transparent information of what they are entitled to when their holiday was cancelled.
“Looking forward to your holiday is a massive part of the whole experience, but while there is still so much uncertainty and disruption, people are understandably lacking the confidence to plan and book again because they’re unsure of their rights if it gets cancelled.
“The smoke and mirrors being used by some holiday companies is wrong.
“I urge people who had their holiday cancelled to use their right to a full cash refund and contact their travel provider today to ask for their cash.”

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Those working in the travel industry are gaining a new way to develop their careers, thanks to the launch of Progressive Travel Training (PTT).
Spearheaded by three experts in training and recruitment, Fi Morrison-Arnthal, Tony Macdonald and James Roberts, PTT is evolving the way agents and other industry professionals learn, and tourism businesses develop their staff.
Initially, PTT is offering agents a programme of 12 highly affordable and effective e-learning courses, authored by travel’s leading experts in their respective fields, and created to elevate the industry from within.
Three of the modules are available for free, including an important stress management course – a valuable asset to travel professionals, who have been working under such tough conditions during the pandemic.
Delivered in easy to consume, bite-sized chunks, accessible anywhere with a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection, and allowing professionals to visit and return to the learning at any time, the flexible training has been created specifically for the travel industry. ADVERTISEMENTPaid courses start from as little as £30, making them affordable to all.
By providing training that is either free or 90 per cent cheaper than traditional one-day courses, PTT’s founding vision is that travel professionals who might now be responsible for their own learning costs after being made redundant or going self-employed during the pandemic are still able to pursue their career development, and that employers who want to invest in their teams but have faced tough trading conditions over the last 12 months can still do so. 
The e-learning modules have been co-authored by senior travel industry experts and Progressive Travel Training co-founder, Fi Morrison-Arnthal.
Her extensive experience managing frontline agents, leadership in training and care for the sector make Morrison-Arnthal uniquely qualified to lead the design and delivery of online educational content that those working in travel really need to succeed and thrive in their careers.
She said: “It’s apparent that formal training and in-house trainers are a luxury many travel businesses and agents cannot currently afford and, while there is plenty of online training available covering destinations, product and GDS skills, travel industry employees are frustrated about the limited soft skills available.
“We have launched Progressive Travel Training to address that need, and to give back to the industry we love – sharing everything we know with a community that is ready to progress and come back post-Covid-19 thriving.”

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ABTA has called on the government to provide additional funding to travel agents following the shock decision to remove Portugal from the list of safe travel destinations.
The move effectively closes the outbound travel market from the UK for at least the next three weeks, leaving many agents nursing substantial losses.
ABTA chief executive, Mark Tanzer, said: “It is clear that the government’s domestic health strategy is continuing to prevent any meaningful resumption of international travel.
“You can’t build the recovery of a multi-billion-pound sector while mass market holiday destinations remain off the green list.
“The removal of Portugal comes on the back on what was already a very short and cautious green list.”ADVERTISEMENTHe added: “Travel agents and tour operators haven’t been able to generate income since the start of the pandemic and have been depending on the return of international travel to help bring in some much-needed relief.
“The government now needs to come forward with tailored financial support for the sector, which recognises that the travel industry’s recovery will be slower than that in other sectors of the economy, and takes account of the unique challenges businesses in the sector are facing.
“Travel companies are desperately worried that at a time when the market hasn’t opened up, they will shortly face increased furlough and business rates costs, with support being gradually withdrawn from the end of this month.
“It’s vital that the government doesn’t leave these businesses behind as it focuses on the domestic unlocking.”
With the next update to the green, amber and red travel lists expected toward the end of the month, ABTA argued for a large-scale reopening of borders.
Tanzer continued: “We need to see the government use the next review of the traffic-light system, on June 28th, to deliver meaningful progress towards restart.
“Ministers must use that review to finally take the steps needed to capitalise on the great progress of the vaccine rollout in the UK.
“For example, many countries have chosen to exempt fully vaccinated individuals from certain travel requirements.
“The government should also treat islands separately in the traffic light system and take steps to further reduce the cost of testing.”

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Hays Travel has acquired Explorer Travel, a homeworking franchise company.
For Hays, the new acquisition is an ideal fit with its homeworking model which has seen many individuals with good ideas progress to become successful independent businesses as part of the Hays Travel Independence Group.
Some 70 franchisees will join the Hays Travel Group from today.
Owner Steve Wood is leaving the travel industry to pursue other interests but wanted to see the business he created in good hands, so approached Hays Travel and discussions began a few weeks ago.
Hays Travel currently has over 350 colleagues working in its home working division.ADVERTISEMENTThe Explorer franchise model provides an excellent stepping stone between the traditional homeworking model and an Independence Group Member.
Dame Irene Hays, owner of Hays Travel, said: “John and I always thought Explorer was a great business and I was delighted when Steve approach me once he decided to leave travel to do other things.
“We have had a very good first meeting with the franchisees and we’re looking forward to helping them grow their businesses and to recruiting more people into our latest franchise model in due course.”

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OECD ministers have endorsed a new initiative to promote safe international travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The initiative involves a safe travel blueprint and a temporary international cross-sectoral forum for knowledge sharing.
The forum will allow governments and stakeholders to share information in real time on plans and approaches facilitating travel.
The blueprint promotes greater certainty, safety and security in travel as reopening takes place.
It builds on existing initiatives and aims to increase interoperability among travel regimes.ADVERTISEMENTInternational air passenger transport dropped around 75 per cent in 2020 and international tourism fell by around 80 per cent.
For the average OECD country, pre-pandemic, international tourism contributed 4.4 per cent of GDP, 6.9 per cent of employment, and 21.5 per cent of service exports, but with much higher shares for some countries, including Greece, Iceland, Mexico, Portugal and Spain.
The halt in international travel and tourism is having a dramatic knock-on impact on the entire, interlinked global economy.
“The OECD is in a unique position to help countries coordinate international action in the context of reopening global travel,” said OECD secretary general, Angel Gurría, at a ministerial meeting in Paris.
“This initiative will help reduce uncertainty and complexity and enable countries to prepare more effectively for a return to safe international travel and tourism.” 
Without an international framework for travel policies, a patchwork of national and regional rules, inconsistent with each other, will continue to be confusing and costly for travellers and transport and tourism companies, discouraging travel due to the uncertainty and complexity.
It could also increase the incidence of use of fraudulent certificates and so undermine the ability of authorities to mitigate public health risks.
The blueprint is a flexible and voluntary set of guidelines not a legal text.
It consists of a traffic-light system to classify risks; guidance on how vaccination should be certified for travel to those countries that decide to take vaccination status into account; protocols for testing travellers in different circumstances; and principles to be followed in generating electronic certificates for travel that ensure privacy protection and security and promote interoperability among systems.
More Information
The full blueprint can be seen here.

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