MADRID / GENEVA — UNWTO and IATA have teamed up to launch a brand new destination tracker that will allow governments to easily provide information about in-country requirements and travel measures.
Available free of charge on both UNWTO’s and IATA’s websites, the online tool is designed to boost traveller confidence and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector. The following information will be available for destinations:
- 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
- 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 organizations
Governments can use the Destination Tracker to post COVID-19 travel information so that travellers will know what to expect at their destination. When fully populated with information, travel stakeholders, including Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and travel agencies, will be able to obtain the latest destination information and help make informed destinations when borders reopen.
With the development of the Tracker framework 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.
“Travellers and companies will be able to check requirements in place for air travel, as well as what measures will be in place at the visited destination,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “We trust this tool is also critical for governments to track existing travel restrictions and support the safe restart of our sector.”
He added: “It has been more than a year since the freedom to travel was lost as COVID-19 measures saw borders close. When governments have the confidence to reopen borders, people will be eager to travel. And they will need accurate information to guide them.”
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 and promote public-private collaboration in aviation and tourism.
