UNWTO and IATA collaborate on Destination Tracker
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have announced the Destination Tracker in preparation for the restart of international travel. The UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker is a free online tool for governments to provide information on COVID-19 requirements for travel and the measures in place at the destination. Destination Tracker is available through the website of both organizations.
The tool provides information on
- COVID-19 indicators: infection rates, positivity rates and vaccination rollout by destination/country
- Air travel regulations: 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's, curfew or regulations related to restaurants and attractions, provided by national tourism organizations
The development of the Tracker framework is 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.When fully populated, travel stakeholders, such as Destination Management Organizations and travel agencies, will have access to the latest destination information, enabling travelers to make informed decisions for travel.
“UNWTO is pleased to reinforce its partnership with IATA, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, to provide this important tool," said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. "Travelers 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. We trust this tool is also critical for governments to track existing travel restrictions and support the safe restart of our sector.”
“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 re-open borders people will be eager to travel," Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General. "They will need accurate information to guide them. With the support of national tourism organizations, the UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker will help travelers and travel companies obtain the latest information for travel planning."
The UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker builds on the existing partnership between the two parties. 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, promote greater public-private collaboration in the field of aviation and the tourism sector in general, and advance progress already made towards achieving greater sustainability and resilience.
