Health passports, travel and green passes; the future is digital

Robin Ingle details some of the key actions that the global travel and tourism industry are taking with regards to the myriad of digital health/travel passes in development and currently available on the market. What are some of the key issues that need to be addressed, and how will these platforms help pave the way for a seamless future travel experience?

Unfortunately for all of us, the coronavirus pandemic is not over. It will take some time for the world to get its act together. The everpresent fear of variants, the continual issues with vaccine distribution, and populace politics has created a divide. An insular world of border restrictions, lockdowns and a travel and tourism industry that has been hanging on by its fingertips. TPAs, travel insurance providers and assistance companies have lost huge amounts of business and have pivoted to other products or services or downsized to stay alive. Covid has accelerated a digital transformation, not only in healthcare, but also in insurance to meet the demands of a global stay-at-home population. Now, technology has appeared as the solution to get our mobility back.

Digital solutions are the clear answer

Since March 2020, the travel and tourism industry, corporations, and governments working through organisations like the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) (of which I am an executive committee member), World Economic Forum, International Air Transport Association, SITA, and the International Chamber of Commerce have focused on how we can enable travellers to travel safely again. In our new complex pandemic-focused world, every major event you wish to access, every mass transport system you want to use and every country you wish to visit may require proof that you have had a negative Covid-19 test from an authorised, approved provider and/ or a vaccine properly administered by an authorised healthcare system. They may even require proof that the vaccine you received is approved by the organisation, or government, that authorises access. Today, there are over 70 different health or travel passes being developed, or that have been launched by countries, organisations, and companies to organise, collect, and to hold Covid test and vaccine data, allowing consumers to travel, cross borders and access venues. Countries have introduced pass systems for both domestic and international use. Examples of these include: China’s ‘health code’ system, Israel’s ‘Green Pass’, the ‘BeAware’ app in Bahrain, Denmark’s ‘corona passport’, Malaysia’s Immunitee Health Passport and DHP in Singapore. The travel industry is faced with a clear choice: adopt, or build technology applications that will allow the traveller to present the required information to the right authorities at the right time so that travel will be able to restart.

Creating an interconnected system

The traveller journey will have many stages to manage, each with its own potential application to access; for example, at the airport, via an airline, at the hotel, for events, and to cross borders. Each area may require the same health information but in a different format through a different type of pass. Technology companies and the travel and tourism industry are now in a race to simplify the process and eliminate complications that could increase fear in travellers and delay a resurgence in travel demand. Interoperability, creating protocols, and having standards that all organisations will use to develop their solutions – allowing each application to communicate with others – is the direction that we are heading.

New requirements to inspire innovative travel insurance solutions

The requirements and travel pass applications being developed globally will inspire the travel insurance industry to adopt or develop new underwriting processes. Changes will also need to take place with eligibility and the design of non-medical products like trip cancellation and interruption. The future of travel is digital, but it is also a future filled with innovation and opportunities for all of us. By combining technology with travel insurance protection and emergency medical assistance services, we are providing the traveller with the confidence they need to take the risk to leave their homes and get on a plane and explore the world again.

The following is an excerpt from a quote from the WTTC’s white paper Coordination, harmonization and interoperability of international digital health travel passes:

The re-opening of international borders and freedom to travel again will be critically dependent on the ability to confirm Covid-19 test results and/or vaccination certificates. In turn, digital health travel passes which store digital health credentials tied to the individual are inevitable and will quickly become a key enabler of international travel, as well possibly of other aspects of life.

Digital health travel passes and apps are being developed by numerous organisations and companies around the world (including but not limited to AOKpass; CommonPass; IATA Travel Pass; CLEAR Health Pass; SITA Health Protect; IBM Digital Health Pass; Daon VeriFLY; SimplyGo; etc.). It is highly unlikely that one solution will be implemented globally or indeed could work universally across the Travel & Tourism sector and around the world. There are complex challenges that need to be addressed, including the medical aspects, allowable tests or vaccinations, government requirements for entry/ exit, data privacy, as well as technology, operational and commercial considerations. There is thus a high risk of fragmentation, diverging solutions and confusion for travellers, travel organisations and governments. As Travel & Tourism is a global business that depends on global harmonisation and standards, it is critical that an international framework is put in place to ensure co-ordination, harmonisation, and interoperability of solutions across borders, around the world and between each other.

Key issues to address:

The focus must be on the user (traveller), ensuring the availability of a choice of solutions that can best meet individual circumstances and requirements within a trust framework. Such choices should also be available to implementers such as governments, airlines, travel organisations, loyalty programmes, insurers, etc. This will improve uptake and compliance while avoiding monopolies.
Controls and processes will need to apply to both domestic and regional travel, as well as international border crossings.
New secure systems for sharing health information should be aligned and seamlessly integrated with existing, established and well governed systems and processes for sharing passenger travel information (API, PNR, Visas, ETAs, etc.).
There should be minimal disruption to existing processes for carriers or passengers to aid with adoption, compliance, minimisation of costs, and ensuring a safe and seamless traveller journey.
Data security is a major concern and a key issue in the development of these applications.
Global Trust Network must be developed with a single standard for inputs of test results and a single registry of trusted, accredited health data sources (testing clinics/laboratories) that is independent and impartial, yet available openly to all key solution providers.