People are keen to travel using digital health passports
So says a multinational study. However, it also highlights that travellers expect firms to be responsible with their health data
The study, commissioned by Amadeus and delivered by Censuswide, surveyed 9,055 travellers in France, Spain, Germany, India, UAE, Russia, Singapore, UK and US, and among its key finders were that people were keen to travel (41 per cent of travellers are keen to book international travel within six weeks of restrictions lifting), that they overwhelmingly (91 per cent) would be comfortable using digital health passports for future trips, but that companies would need to take extra care when dealing with personal health data.
“This encouraging research provides an incentive to accelerate plans for digital health passports that will help to address traveller concerns,” Amadeus said.
Storing health data – the troubles and tribulations
However, travellers remain sceptical about how companies plan to handle their personal health data. So, while 74 per cent of travellers surveyed would be willing to store their travel health data electronically if it enabled them to pass through the airport faster with fewer face-to-face interactions, while 72 per cent would be willing to store their travel health data electronically if it enabled them to travel to more destinations, and while 68 per cent would be more likely to share their health data if the airlines they most frequently travel with offered a way to store their travel health data, travellers still remain concerned about their personal information.
Indeed, Amadeus’ study highlights that travellers’ three main concerns are: security risks with personal information being hacked (38 per cent); privacy concerns around what health information needs to be shared (35 per cent); and a lack of transparency and control over where the data is shared (30 per cent).
But, fear not, there are some simple ways to help alleviate travellers’ health data concerns: 42 per cent of travellers said that a holistic travel app that could be used across the whole journey would greatly improve their overall travel experience and reassure them their information is all in one place; and 62 per cent of travellers would be more likely to use an app to store their health data if a travel company partnered with a trusted healthcare company. We’re already seeing travel insurers endorsing health pass initiatives that have been launched by the likes of the World Health Organization, and travel insurers have long been striking up network partnerships with healthcare firms, so this sounds like no great feat for the industry.
Ensuring the right safeguards are in place for travel
“This study highlights once more the key role that technology will play in rebuilding travel. We’ve seen a shift since our last survey, as travellers now place more focus on mobile and touchless technology, crucial areas that will clearly strengthen traveller confidence,” said Christophe Bousquet, CTO, Amadeus. “It’s also very relevant to see that travellers are open to digital health passports and sharing their data as they move through the journey, once the right safeguards are in place. At Amadeus, we’re committed to rebuilding a better industry, together with our customers and partners.”
Overall, a considerable number of travellers (41 per cent) believe that a travel app will help reduce their stress around travel – so, that’s great news for the travel industry. Knowing that people are keen to accommodate the new travel requirements will make it much easier for travel and tourism businesses to get things up and running again.