Travel companies and associations are calling on governments
to increase testing in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Fourteen CEOs of U.S. travel companies sent a letter to the
president and congressional leaders saying that more and better
testing “is an indispensable component of pursuing an economic recovery” and
asked for “a stepped-up federal role in making effective testing more widely
available.”
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“Analysis of the data leads to the conclusion that broader
testing in concert with other key factors such as a robust federal policy
framework of relief and stimulus, rigorous health and safety standards adopted
by travel-related businesses, and the universal embrace of good health
practices (such as the wearing of masks) by the public is an essential
component of reopening and recovery,” says the letter, which was signed by the
CEOs of Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and the U.S. Travel Association, among others.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has urged governments
to implement comprehensive testing facilities at airports around the world.
“This will provide reassurance to all travelers, maintain ‘air
corridors’ between countries, and remove damage and disruption caused by blunt
quarantines which massively impact the recovery of the travel and tourism
sector,” stated WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara.
WTTC suggests that the testing involve temperature checks
and swab tests for all arriving and departing passengers, with results back
within 24 hours. Those testing positive with or without symptoms should be put
into quarantine, WTTC said.