The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has gathered once again its Global Tourism Crisis Committee in a bid to come up with new ways to help the tourism sector in harmonising travel protocols and securing finances for businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ninth meeting of the Crisis Committee was held virtually and put forward solutions to the greatest difficulties preventing the international travel revival, StudyinPoland.Info reports.

In a press release, UNWTO explained that committee members, international organisations, and finance and private sector discussed the Recommendations of the Crisis Committee, which were mainly focused on the following four main areas:

• The recovery of safe cross-border travel
• The promotion of safe travel
• Providing liquidity support to tourism businesses and protecting jobs
• Restoring trust in the travel sector

UWTO further pointed out that the ninth virtual meeting was jointly organised by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The facilitation of safe and seamless travel is the only way to restore confidence among travellers and tourism businesses, which will ultimately be the drivers of the sector’s recovery,” the Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said, opening the proceedings of the meeting.

Furthermore, the Committee supported the EU Digital Green Pass proposal by saying that it is an example to be followed by other regions.

Commenting on the meeting, EU Vice President Margaritis Schinas said that summer 2021 could be the beginning of a post-pandemic period, which is safer and more eco-friendly, as well as more prosperous. He insisted that the tourism sector can help in recovering the European and the global economy.

Additionally, the Committee, UNWTO, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of a new Destination tracker, which will be available on both organisations’ websites to provide up-to-date information regarding requirements and restrictions of airlines.

The UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee Recommendations emphasised the importance of establishing policies for international health and aviation regulations. They call for the creation of Public Health Corridors, the implementation of digital health solutions, and establishing a common “traffic-light” system.

“This year, we have more tools in our arsenal, including vaccinations, to address all concerns of travellers and people employed in the tourism sector,” Greece’s Minister of Tourism and Chair of the UNWTO Crisis Committee’s Technical Group Harry Theoharis said.

Moreover, UNWTO has also addressed the sudden halt of tourism cash flow and the immediate need to support businesses and protect jobs from being lost and has been working closely with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Previously, UNWTO required better coordination between countries on travel protocols to assure a safe start of tourism and avoid another year of losses in the sector.