G20 Leaders Support Vaccine Passports To Resume International Travel

Tourism ministers from the Group of 20 (G20), the world’s most powerful economies, met virtually today and agreed to back plans for vaccine passports to help the global tourism industry recover.

On the same day, the tourism minister of Canada announced that Canada is working with international partners to develop a standardized vaccine certification, which the majority of Canadians support, according to a recent survey.

G20 Leaders Support Plans For Vaccine Passports To Resume Travel

Global Tourism Industry Has Been One Of The Worst Hit Sectors

The global tourism industry is one of the worst-hit sectors due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the sector suffered a loss of almost US$4.5 trillion last year.

During the meeting, the G20 leaders stressed that a resumption of normal activity for the sector is crucial to global economic recovery.

“We emphasize that the resumption of travel and tourism is crucial for global economic recovery because of the direct and indirect economic impact this sector has on others,” the document said.

The pandemic is an opportunity to “shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector.”

WTTC International Travel Can Safely Restart Without Vaccines

G20 Leaders Support Vaccine Passports For Resumption Of Safe Travel

The tourism ministers are set to back efforts for safe mobility, coordinating with initiatives including the European Union’s Digital Green Certificate.

The European Union recently announced it would welcome American tourists this summer who’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Yesterday, the EU council officially submitted a formal proposal to the Member States suggesting that vaccinated travelers from third-party nations (like Canada) should be permitted to enter EU countries for non-essential reasons like tourism starting this summer.

The proposal mentions EU State Members should accept “third country certificates based on national law”

“Our mountains, our beaches, our cities are reopening,” Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said at the press conference. “I have no doubt that tourism in Italy will come back stronger than before.”

female tourist enjoys the view to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Canale Grande in Venice, Italy

Canada Working on Vaccine Certificate

On the same day, Canadian tourism minister Melanie Joly said that Canada is working with international partners to develop a standardized vaccine certification for travel, and will position itself as a safe destination once the country has reached COVID-19 herd immunity,

“Clearly as vaccination is being rolled out, we will position ourself as a safe destination,” Joly said in a telephone interview after attending the virtual G20 meeting.

Trudeau also said talks are ongoing with international partners for a vaccine certification.

“It would make sense for us to align with partners around the world on some sort of proof of vaccination or vaccine certification,” Trudeau told reporters.

The support for vaccine passports is backed by Canada’s Health Minister Patty Hajdu recent comments:

“Canadians are going to want to travel and just like there have been changes in other kinds of travel requirements over the years as a result of a number of events, Canadians need to be prepared to be able to travel internationally. And we'll make sure that they are.”

Covid-19 Certificate of Vaccination app on mobile phone at the airport

Majority of Canadians Support The Use of Vaccine Passports For Travel

According to a recent survey by Ipsos, nearly eight in ten Canadians agree that all travelers entering Canada should be required to have a vaccine passport, which in line with the global average response (78%).

A majority of Canadians (61%) expect that vaccine passports will be widely used in Canada by the end of the year, while nearly three in four (72%) agree that the passports would be effective in making travel and large events safe. This is in line with the global average of 73% and significantly more than in the United States, where only 61% agree.

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Randy

Saturday 8th of May 2021

Vaccine passport can be accepted as long each nation on earth would not discriminate those who have taken a vaccination that may have less efficacy, a presumption that some nations may want to have. Besides a vaccination is not guaranteed full immunity, you may still have to get another booster in 6 months or so down the road. Nobody knows at this point.

Eduardo

Thursday 6th of May 2021

This is not an issue of vaccines to travel. It's having your medical records on the your phone where 3rd parties can track you. Medical privacy doesn't matter anymore?

Elisabeth

Oh well, my body already took lots of travel vaccins. I also take malaria pills when necessary, even though I know they can make people really, really sick (with permanent damage). It's the risk I'm willing to take for the luxury of traveling...

@Eduardo, yes I know, here in the EU they also talk about QR codes that'll give you entry to restaurants, festivals, etc. But lots of people don't have a smartphone so a QR code on paper has to be accepted as well. If some countries in the world don't, then I just won't travel there (anymore). Nobody can force me to buy a smartphone.

Friday 7th of May 2021

@Elisabeth, I don't think you understand what a vaccine passport is. I wish it was just a paper card in your passport. I hope you are right. I really do. Even look at the photo in this article. It's a photo of a smart phone with a QR code that airports, restaurants, bars, movie theaters scan to make sure you are safe.

@Eduardo, I don't (and never will) have a smartphone. People who do have one can't really complain about 'privacy' - medical or not - because they don't have that anymore. In Europe they'll accept a paper vaccine proof for travel so I don't worry.

P.S. In the Netherlands there are some cafés where you can't even order without a smartphone... In my opinion 'forcing' someone to buy a certain phone just to have a look at the menu or order food/drinks is far worse then 'forcing' someone to take a negative test or a vaccin for traveling ;-).

@Elisabeth, I've taken vaccines to travel too. Like Yellow Fever vaccine which has a 50% survival rate if you contract and aren't vaccinated. My proof was a card I carried in my passport. Border agents in Latin America never looked at it.

It was not an app that I downloaded on my phone with my medical history. Was yours a digital vaccine card?

Liberty

Wednesday 5th of May 2021

Remember just one short year ago when this was a "conspiracy theory"?

@Karl, But I was right. This tyranny has finally come to pass.

Karl

@Liberty, remember about a year ago when you were equally ridiculous and trying to spew your garbage in the comments?

AYL

great news

for those who oppose vaccines and/or vaccine passports... WHAT else would you propose? just stay home and let the world get back on its feet

@Liberty, name one of the 'tons of places' that went back to 'normal'....?

Witness

@ameri, I completely agree with you. Now after observing many people around me who have been injected and seeing how incredibly sick they are and 2 people who have died this news absolutely terrifies me. I'll take my chances with the virus not the injection. Now all these people who have had reactions and have been told not to take another one, are they not allowed to travel? I know I can't take one, ttp runs in my family so my chance of dying from the vaccine is much riskier and now I can't travel? They have no long term data, this is the most ridiculous overreach of power with no logic or understanding of variables. I wish suffering upon everyone who believes this is the way to move forward.

Jess

@Karl, What you've said is decent as far as ad hominem attacks go but it's not actually an argument.

Anyway, feel free to address anything I've said but enough with the logical fallacies.

ameri

@AYL, "what else?" - nothing. Because there's no need. Because the mortality rate is less than 1%. Whereas a vacciane may either harm your wealth, or even kill you.

Some people need a vacciane, but only some of them.

@Jess, you guys are funny. Do you work at at some standup comedy club? Because you should. You’re funny. You could call yourself The Tinfoil Hats.