How far is curbs-free travel?

One of the few things that people dreamt of during the pandemic was to travel across the geographical boundaries fearlessly and to feel the pleasure of visiting their near and dear ones. They heard about so many countries which enticed them to know their cultures as well. They wanted to renew their love for tourism.

One restriction after another dashed their dreams, of course, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases putting the travel industry in shambles worldwide.

Ease in some restrictions, however, is giving hope to the travel freaks. They are heaving a sigh of relief. Nearly two years after the international curbs on travel were imposed, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged the governments to accelerate relaxation in travel restrictions as Covid-19 is assuming the status of ‘endemic’ from ‘pandemic’.

The IATA mandate on easing travel restrictions means removing all travel barriers, including quarantine and testing for those who are fully vaccinated with World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccines.

Additionally, it has suggested that quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travellers with a negative pre-departure antigen test result should be enabled to save the traveller’s time and money.

Accelerating the easing of travel restrictions is sought in recognition that travellers pose no greater risk for Covid-19 spread than already exists in the general population.

Also, with the experience of the Omicron variant, there is mounting scientific evidence, and opinion opposing the targeting of travellers with restrictions and country bans to control the spread of Covid-19. IATA observes that the measures have not worked.

“Today, Omicron is present in all parts of the world. That’s why travel, with very few exceptions, does not increase the risk to general populations. The billions spent on testing travellers would be far more effective if allocated to vaccine distribution or strengthening healthcare systems’’, said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, during an online press conference.

A recently published study by Oxera and Edge Health demonstrated the “extremely limited” impact of travel restrictions on controlling the spread of Omicron has found that if the countries which took extra measures with respect to Omicron had been in place just before the identification of the variant, the peak of the Omicron wave would have been delayed by just five days with three per cent fewer cases.

Additionally, the absence of any testing measures for travellers would have seen the Omicron wave peak seven days earlier with an overall 8 per cent increase in cases.

Omicron is highly prevalent in various countries. If all travel testing requirements were removed, there would be no impact on Omicron case numbers or hospitalisations, according to the IATA.

“It is clear that travel restrictions in any part of the world have had little impact on the spread of Covid-19, including the Omicron variant. The UK, France and Switzerland have recognised this and are the first to remove travel restriction measures. More governments need to follow their lead. Accelerating the removal of travel restrictions will be a major step towards living with the virus’’, said Walsh.

The WHO Emergency Committee has recommended either lifting or easing international traffic bans as they do not provide added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress experienced by States. Furthermore, the failure of travel restrictions introduced after the detection and reporting of the Omicron variant to limit the international spread of Omicron demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such measures over time.

“Easing travel restrictions to or from any country is a great step forward in fighting the battle against the variant together. People are now used to the reasons and precautions of the Corona variants and are highly responsible nowadays. Opening up more avenues for the tourism industry would be a welcome move on any count’’, says tourism expert Renee Johnson.