‘Adapt to a new normal’
Tiffany Misrahi, Vice President of Policy, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), believes the future of travel will depend on rebuilding the confidence of travellers, understanding the enduring changes towards digital solutions and adapting to the ‘new n
QHow doyouthinktravelwill changepostthispandemic? While many governments have acted to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19 through policies focusing on facilitating cash and liquidity, enabling fiscal support and protecting workers, the sector will unlikely be left unchanged. In effect, even if these measures are successful, the sector will have to adapt to a ‘new normal’ with an increased focus on health and hygiene security, sustainability and even digitalisation.
To thrive in this new era, governments, businesses, destinations and travellers alike will need to adjust to the shifted expectations and requirements. Furthermore, the travel and tourism sector must integrate the learnings from COVID-19 to enhance its preparedness, management processes and recovery strategies to ensure its resilience to future crises. The future of travel will depend on rebuilding the confidence of travellers, understanding the enduring changes towards digital solutions, and by adapting to the ‘new normal’ with agility.
QThereisadisagreement between agents andairlines aboutrefunds.Yourtake? WTTC has urged governments to implement exceptional flexibility around consumer refunds to alleviate the unbearable pressure on the tourism sector. What are your recommendations to the tourism and civil aviation ministries in Asia, especially in India, in terms of supporting and helping in reviving the tourism and hospitality industries?
WTTC has proposed three vital measures to support tourism in the turbulent months ahead. First, we believe that financial help must be granted to protect the incomes of the millions of workers. Second, governments must extend vital, unlimited interest-free loans to global travel companies as well as the millions of small and mediumsized businesses as a stimulus to prevent them from collapse.
Third, all government dues and financial demands on the tourism sector need to be waived with immediate effect for at least the next 12 months. WTTC believes that governments, including tourism and civil aviation ministries, should commit to four key principles to achieve a faster recovery. This would involve including the private sector in the coordinated response, ensuring all measures put the overall traveller experience at the heart of their actions. This would include a seamless traveller journey with enhanced health security standards enabled through technology, developing joint public-private and
G20-wide health protocols as well as ongoing support packages for the tourism sector beyond lifting of the lockdown and into recovery.
QYouhave recentlyreleased anopenlettertogovernments taketoensuretourismrevival. Hasanycountrytakenupany of therecommendations?
WTTC has been engaging with about 100 governments to advocate on our members’ behalf for swift governmental action. The reality is that this is an unprecedented situation and governments are looking to share and learn from each other as well as engage with the private sector, and WTTC is there to help. We have received many positive responses from governments to date. WTTC plans to explore the future of travel and what that ‘new normal’ will look like, consider the standards and guidelines for that ‘new normal’, create a dashboard to provide signposts to recovery and facilitate the sharing of experiences, success stories and best practices between governments and advocating on behalf of the sector to ensure supportive policies are implemented.
QIsWTTCalsotalkingto traveltradeassociationsand guidingthemastowhat stepstheycantaketoguide theirmembers?
WTTC is working closely with global and regional industry associations and international organisations. We are sharing knowledge and insights, aligning on messaging, and working to advocate on behalf of the sector to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and hopefully, soon support its recovery. WTTC works closely with WTTC India that engages directly with both the public and private sectors. WTTC also estimates that a staggering one million jobs are being lost every day due to the pandemic.
The sector must integrate the learnings from COVID-19 to enhance preparedness, processes and recovery strategies WTTC plans to create a dashboard to provide signposts to recovery and facilitate the sharing of best practices