Half of the world’s top 50 travel markets are now quarantine, and testing free according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 88 percent of international demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometers) revealed that 25 markets representing 38 percent of 2019 international demand are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine measures or testing requirements — up from 18 markets in mid-February.
The survey found that 38 markets representing 65 percent of 2019 international demand are open to vaccinated travelers with no quarantine requirements—up from 28 markets (50 percent of 2019 international demand in mid-February.
Repeated surveys of passengers by IATA during the pandemic have shown that testing and especially quarantine are major barriers to travel.
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However, regional variations in the degree of openness among the markets are stark.
IATA said that travel in Asia remains heavily compromised by COVID restrictions. While North American and European international traffic rebounded to -42 percent of their 2019 peaks last year, traffic in the Asia Pacific region remained at -88 percent.
However, there has been some progress, with India and Malaysia among the countries recently announcing the relaxation of restrictions.
IATA said that the easing of measures reflects the growing consensus that travel restrictions such as border closures and quarantine do little to control the spread of COVID-19.
It added that a recent report by OXERA and Edge Health, looking at the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe, concluded that travel restrictions may only delay the peak of a wave by a few days.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said “the world is largely open for travel and as population immunity grows, more governments are managing COVID-19 through surveillance, as they do for other endemic viruses.
“That is great news for a growing number of destinations that will receive a much-needed economic boost from the upcoming Easter and Northern Summer travel seasons.
“Asia is the outlier. Hopefully, recent relaxations including Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines are paving the way towards restoring the freedom to travel that is more broadly enjoyed in other parts of the world.”
