UN bodies want travel bans lifted

Passenger jet aeroplane taking off at sunset. [Getty Images]

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called for the lifting of travel bans. 

The two bodies, in a statement, said the bans do not provide added value and continue to contribute to economic and social stress. The two United Nations (UN) agencies agreed to collaborate on a global trust architecture for the recovery of the travel sector.

Over recent days, a growing number of countries around the world have started easing their rules for international arrivals, including the easing of travel bans.

These decisions are in line with WHO’s latest recommendations for safe international mobility, which highlight the ineffectiveness of blanket restrictions. Such a trend is also consistent with UNWTO’s repeated warnings of the great social, economic and developmental harm of restrictions.

 According to the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on Covid-19, all measures applied to international travellers should be based on “risk assessments - including testing, isolation and vaccinations”. Furthermore, the financial burden of such measures should not be placed on travellers themselves.

“As countries ease travel restrictions, health must remain the key priority. By basing their decisions on evidence and a risk-based approach adapted to their specific context, countries can find the right balance between keeping people safe, protecting livelihoods and the economy, and keeping borders open,” said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The two UN agencies also stressed the need for clear and consistent rules relating to health and travel. There is a need for building a global trust architecture for societies and economies in the context of the pandemic, and there is a “real opportunity for tourism to contribute to that process, with UNWTO playing a critical role,” said Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

Destinations around the world report increased tourist arrival numbers on the back of easing or removing restrictions. This offers the potential to kickstart economic recovery and put social development progress back on track.