Digital Travel Declaration Tool to Be Made Available to Governments
A digital travel declaration tool, allowing passengers to share required travel and health documentation with governments ahead of travel, is to be made available free of charge globally.
The solution developed by aviation IT provider SITA is aimed at addressing the global challenge of submitting and verifying health documentation.
This remains a “major impediment” to the recovery of the global travel industry, the company claimed.
The company said, "Inefficiencies and a lack of common standards around managing health documentation remain the single biggest obstacle to rebuilding the travel and tourism industry and supporting economic growth”.
Recent IATA research highlighted that of 50 countries surveyed, 38 countries had some form of Covid-19 restriction on who could enter.
SITA’s electronic travel authorisation solution delivers a health-oriented travel declaration that informs governments on passenger health status in advance of travel and optionally issues authority to travel.
Digital travel declaration has been operational and used by governments around the world for a year, making it easy for travellers to complete health declarations.
A response is shared as proof of approval to travel, so the passenger can demonstrate to airlines and airports that they have all the correct documentation.
David Lavorel, chief executive of SITA at airports and borders, said: “In many cases, today’s onerous health requirements are discouraging travellers from flying or leading to long lines at airports.
“As an industry-owned organisation working at the crossroads of airlines, airports, and governments, we are able to connect the dots and streamline processes around health documentation.
“Making digital travel declaration freely available to governments will be an investment in the recovery of our industry, and we hope will go some way towards addressing the challenges we all face today.”
Source: Travelweekly