G20 nations tourism ministers have met to discuss how to boost the world’s toughest tourism sector, which lost $ 4.7 trillion and 62 million jobs by 2020.
The world’s top 20 economies left their weight behind efforts to introduce so-called vaccine passports to boost travel and tourism, and stressed that the recovery is crucial to global economic recovery, according to a draft statement seen by Bloomberg.
Tourism ministers from the 20-nation group, who met Tuesday, said the outlook for a sector devastated by pandemic closures remains “highly uncertain,” according to the project, which is subject to change.
The tourism and travel industry was one of the most economically affected by restrictions on activity to contain the coronavirus. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, it saw its contribution to world production plummet 49% to $ 4.7 trillion by 2020, leading to the loss of 62 million jobs. International visitor spending fell by an unprecedented 69%.
“We emphasize that the resumption of travel and tourism is crucial for global economic recovery due to the direct and indirect economic impact that this sector has on others,” the document said. The pandemic is an opportunity to “shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector,” he also said.
Thomas Bareiss, Germany’s deputy economy minister who attended the virtual meeting, said a new start to tourism after the pandemic should be guided by the principle of “rebuilding better”.
“We agreed that we want a more resilient, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism sector in order to be better equipped for the future,” Bareiss said in an emailed statement.
Ministers will have to support efforts to achieve safe mobility, coordinating with initiatives such as the European Union’s digital green certificate. This document will show that the carrier has been completely vaccinated, has immunity to recovery, or has been negative recently.
EU member states would reopen borders to travelers from countries with relatively low infection rates, as well as those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a proposal presented on Monday. It could be adopted as early as the end of May.
