World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as the two parties work together to restart global tourism. Emphasizing UNWTO’s important role as a bridge between the UN and the private sector, the new agreement’s main aim is increasing customer confidence and reliance in travel and making sustainability the central point of recovery and future growth in the tourism industry.
UNWTO has led the way in dealing with the key factor needed for the successful restart of tourism from the very beginning of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current agreement with the global trade association for the airline sector is based on this factor and enhances the existing cooperation between both organizations in order to keep focused on making sure travelers feel safe and confident again while using air services.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Air travel is an essential component of global tourism. This partnership between UNWTO and IATA will see us work closely together to increase confidence in flying and tourism in general. UNWTO will use our expertise in innovation and our status as a connector of public and private sector leaders to help get aviation moving again.”
Besides targeting on establishing and maintaining confidence in international travel, the new agreement will also aim at UNWTO and IATA cooperating together to encourage innovation and promote greater public-private collaboration. As tourism restarts, this Memorandum of Understanding will help guarantee that the recovery is sustainable and global.
IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac says: “The safe opening of international borders to tourism is essential. Tourists want to feel safe, and they want to be confident that their travel plans won’t be affected by last-minute changes to rules and regulations. For this to happen, even greater collaboration between the public and private sectors is needed. This enhanced partnership with the World Tourism Organization will help guide aviation’s recovery over the critical months ahead.”
IATA has been an Affiliate Member of UNWTO since 1978, providing a strong voice for the international air transport sector. IATA is also an active member of the Board of the UNWTO’s Affiliate Members and contributed to the UNWTO Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism, released in May to help guide governments and the private sector in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This collaboration was reflected in the final publication. A specified set of recommendations for the air transport sector were included, with a focus on the introduction of improved hygiene protocols to ensure the safety of both passengers and airline workers. The Global Guidelines also emphasize the need for strong partnership and coordination at every level of the airline sector.
As well as tight cooperation with the private sector, UNWTO also recently signed an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which ensures the two UN agencies working together to restore the tourism sector worldwide.
At the same time, starting October 1, 2020, Uzbekistan has opened its borders to incoming and outgoing transportation of all types: airways, railways and roadways. Uzbekistan Airways has announced new rules and regulations that need to be followed while taking a flight by the airlines to guarantee the safety of both travelers and the airline workers.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we need to take necessary measures by applying some changes on board during a flight, as announced by the press office of the airline company UzAir.
