HOW GOVERNMENTS AND INDUSTRY BODIES CAN PUSH GLOBAL TRAVEL RECOVERY

Robust protocols around vaccination programme roll outs, testing, health and safety measures, and minimal contact while travelling are crucial to rebuilding traveller confidence

- PRIYANKA LAKHANI

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the world of travel. From hand sanitisers in hotel lobbies, to cabin crew and passengers wearing masks; localised lockdowns, to contact tracing apps - the past two years have seen a number of health and safety enhancements implemented throughout the journey.

As we continue to face the virus in 2022, governments and brands within the travel ecosystem continue to regularly adapt policies to suit the ever-changing COVID landscape. In India, for example, travel bubbles with countries including the United States, Germany and France were set up.

Since then, India has formed further travel bubble agreements with 10 other nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the Maldives, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Nigeria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Japan to mitigate a host of restrictions including quarantine on arrival. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, India, like the rest of the world has been changing travel requirements to accommodate the fluid situation. To ensure a safe return to travel and global recovery, cooperation between global governments and travel industry bodies will remain key.