Are Vaccination Passports the Future of Travel?

Seemingly overnight, travel globally was shut down as countries closed their borders. Hotels were left deserted and planes parked at airports. No one knew when people would be able to travel again. Slowly, as vaccinations begin to roll out globally, travel is returning. Now we know more about the virus, it is easier for countries to implement measures that allow tourists to travel again.

Travel Challenges Post Pandemic

One of the major challenges for travelers is keeping up to date with the seemingly never ending updates to entry requirements, quarantines and testing requirements. The COVID19 pandemic has been unpredictable, with a number of new mutations. For countries, ensuring that test results are not fraudulent, that visitors do not spread COVID to citizens, and that new strains don’t enter.

Each country has its own regulations for entry.  Equally they have their own way of performing tests, providing documentation, and issuing vaccines, of which there are a number of types. Trying to keep on top of all of this as border control is an extremely difficult job. Additionally for travelers, it is additional stress, work and money which can discourage them from traveling at all.

So what is the solution?

Vaccination Passports

There has been much discussion over the last year about introducing a vaccine passport. Which in theory could unify all of the different requirements with one simple document. However, this is not looking so simple after all. The United States for example could potentially have a different document for each of its States. Some countries are issuing vaccination status as a physical documents, others offer QR codes, or applications with vaccine and testing information.

Privacy and Discrimination Concerns

Another issue that is creating argument is that those who cannot, or those who haven’t yet been given the opportunity yet to be vaccinated, could be at a disadvantage. If a full course of vaccination becomes an entry requirement, many could be restricted through no fault of their own. Also data protection issues are a concern, with security breaches a constant threat no matter how advanced the country.

IATA Travel Pass

Airlines however, desperately need to begin flying normally, every second on the ground can cost an airline millions. For this reason a number of airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, and Emirates, have teamed together to trial a Travel Pass Application. The application is due to be released at the end of March, and will allow passengers to upload their passport, COVID test and vaccine status. Passengers will also be able to find entry requirements, approved local test centers and labs. The application is free for passengers and could be the answer to the vaccination passport debate. Enabling people to travel the world freely again. More information can be found here.

What do you think about travel passports? Will you download the IATA travel pass? Let us know in our Facebook Group!