Taskforce assesses vax certificates Ian Taylor


Digital vaccination certificates are among the ‘work streams’ the Global Travel Taskforce is pursuing to restart the industry. However, NHS proof of


vaccination is paper only and industry leaders appear split on the value of vaccine certificates. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer


hailed vaccination certificates as “part of the solution”, telling Travel Weekly: “Te government has moved a long way in accepting that evidence of vaccination is going to be important.” But easyJet chief executive Johan


Lundgren described certificates as “discriminatory by nature”, saying: “You have a vaccination or you don’t.” He argued: “If a certificate is


needed to get travel going and can be done within the General Data Protection Regulation, of course we would be supportive.” Yet he said: “Te World Health


Organization came out with concerns about this because it’s not clear that if you’ve been vaccinated you can’t still spread the virus. “People say, ‘We have proof


of yellow fever.’ But we’re talking about millions and millions of people, making this much more complicated, much more costly, a possible intrusion into privacy and GDPR issues. Why add something that is medically questionable, has privacy issues, is discriminatory and adds complexity?” Asked if he expects to see international standards for


Cruise sector cheers start date for UK sailings


Phil Davies


Cruise specialists welcomed news that domestic itineraries are in line to resume alongside domestic tourism and indoor hospitality from as early as May 17. Te Department for Transport


(DfT) confirmed plans aſter maritime minister Robert Courts updated the All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group on Monday evening. Clia “strongly welcomed” the


announcement and said it would continue to collaborate with the government’s Global Travel Taskforce on health protocols to ensure the


4 11 MARCH 2021


sector is up and running “in time for the summer season”. UK and Ireland director Andy


Harmer said “many of these protocols have already been tested successfully” in Europe, adding that domestic cruising was the first stage of a “long-planned” restart of the sector. Lines including P&O Cruises,


Princess Cruises and Hurtigruten recently unveiled domestic sailings. P&O president Paul Ludlow


said: “We are delighted. While it will take some weeks for us to restart our operations, we are very much looking forward to welcoming guests on board.” Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises’


Vaccination is not the only thing that will allow travel, but it is part of the way of easing restrictions


certificates, Lundgren said: “Maybe, but if there is one thing we’ve seen in this pandemic, it’s that there has been very litle coordination.” Tanzer acknowledged: “There


needs to be medical work to show vaccination stops or at least reduces transmission. Tat is critical.” But he said: “If it’s not mandatory


and people say, ‘I’d like to be able to tell people I’ve been vaccinated and travel more freely’, it’s their right.


Destinations are thinking in that direction. Tey will facilitate tourists coming in through a combination of vaccine evidence and testing. I don’t think vaccination is the only thing that will allow travel, but it is part of the way of easing restrictions.” A YouGov survey of almost 6,000 UK adults in late February found 54% in favour of ‘health passports’. However, Iata pointed out: “Countries need to provide digital vaccination certificates. Te majority are providing paper certificates. We need a plan to retrospectively apply them.” An industry source working


alongside the taskforce confirmed: “Te challenge is with digital vaccination certificates and meeting personal data-security requirements.”


Liverpool features on domestic cruise itineraries this year


vice-president for the UK and Europe, said the announcement was “very welcome news”, adding: “We look forward to the restart of our UK cruises aboard Sky Princess and Regal Princess from late summer.” Anthony Daniels, Hurtigruten’s


general manager for the UK and EMEA region, said: “It’s another positive step for the cruise industry and travel agents. We look forward to welcoming guests on board.” Cruise agents also welcomed the


news. Simone Clark, senior vice- president global supply at Iglu.com, said the news was “extremely positive” and “gives consumers huge confidence”.


Phil Nutall, chief executive of


the Travel Village Group, said the “marvellous news” will “help us move ahead with a degree of certainty”. James Cole, managing director of


Panache Cruises, called it “the news we’ve all been waiting for”, adding: “We are now eagerly awaiting the green light on international cruising.” A DfT spokesperson confirmed:


“Te restart of domestic cruises in England will be aligned with the wider resumption of the domestic tourism and indoor hospitality sectors. Te earliest possible date for


this step is May 17.” i News You Can Use, page 13 travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock


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