Restoring confidence in travel
Photo: UNWTO / IATA 
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have announced a destination tracker in preparation for the restart of international travel. It is the result of both organisations joining efforts to boost confidence and accelerate recovery of the tourism sector when borders reopen. The UNWTO-IATA destination tracker is a new free online tool for governments to provide information on COVID-19 requirements for travel and the measures in place at the destination.
The tool provides information on COVID-19 indicators including infection rates, positivity rates, and vaccination rollout by destination/country, air travel regulations, including test and quarantine requirements, provided by IATA's Timatic solution, and destination measures, including general health and safety requirements such as use of masks, transit through a country, curfew, or regulations related to restaurants and attractions, provided by national tourism organisations.
"The destination tracker aims to fulfil a key need by providing clarity on COVID-19 measures affecting tourism", the organisations state. The situation for travellers is complex with UNWTO data showing that one in three destinations remains closed to tourists. Moreover, restrictions and in-country measures are continuously being revised.
Governments can use the destination tracker to post COVID-19 travel information so that potential travellers will know what to expect at their destination. When fully populated with updated destination information, travel stakeholders including destination management organizations (DMOs) and travel agencies will be able to obtain the latest destination information, enabling travellers to make informed decisions when borders reopen and travel resumes. The development of the tracker framework is now complete. Up-to-date information on COVID-19 indicators and air travel regulations is available and systematically updated. Destination information is being progressively uploaded, expanded and updated with official sources as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
www.unwto.org/unwto-and-iata-collaborate-on-destination-tracker-to-restore-confidence-in-travel
The tool provides information on COVID-19 indicators including infection rates, positivity rates, and vaccination rollout by destination/country, air travel regulations, including test and quarantine requirements, provided by IATA's Timatic solution, and destination measures, including general health and safety requirements such as use of masks, transit through a country, curfew, or regulations related to restaurants and attractions, provided by national tourism organisations.
„The destination tracker aims to fulfil a key need by providing clarity on COVID-19 measures affecting tourism.“
Governments can use the destination tracker to post COVID-19 travel information so that potential travellers will know what to expect at their destination. When fully populated with updated destination information, travel stakeholders including destination management organizations (DMOs) and travel agencies will be able to obtain the latest destination information, enabling travellers to make informed decisions when borders reopen and travel resumes. The development of the tracker framework is now complete. Up-to-date information on COVID-19 indicators and air travel regulations is available and systematically updated. Destination information is being progressively uploaded, expanded and updated with official sources as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
www.unwto.org/unwto-and-iata-collaborate-on-destination-tracker-to-restore-confidence-in-travel