UNWTO and IATA launches destination tracker

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have launched a Destination Tracker in preparation for the restart of international travel. It aims to boost confidence and accelerate recovery of the tourism sector when borders reopen, but is reliant on  governments offering timely and understandable information.

The UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker is a new free online tool for governments to provide information on COVID-19 requirements for travel and the measures in place at the destination.

It will provide information on:

• COVID-19 Indicators including infection rates, positivity rates, and vaccination roll out by destination/country.
• Air travel regulations including test and quarantine requirements, from IATA.
• Destination measures, including general health and safety requirements such as use of masks, transit through a country, curfew, or regulations related to restaurants and attractions, provided by national tourism organisations.

The tracker aims to fulfil a key need for clarity for travellers as restrictions and in-country measures are continuously being revised.  It will also be useful for governments to track existing travel restrictions and support the safe restart of travel.

Governments can use the tracker to post COVID-19 travel information so that potential travellers will know what to expect at their destination. When fully populated with updated destination information, travel stakeholders including destination management organisations and travel agencies, will be able to obtain the latest destination information, enabling travellers to make informed decisions when borders reopen and travel resumes.

The development of the Tracker framework is now complete and up-to-date information on COVID-19 indicators and air travel regulations is available and systematically updated. Destination information is being progressively uploaded, expanded and updated with official sources as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

There are several websites offering similar information but all struggle to keep up to date.

The Destination Tracker will only work if governments and tourism organisations offer timely and understandable information at launch and keep it updated promptly with advance warning of changes.