Travellers in favour of health passports if it brings travel back sooner
A majority of US travellers are willing to store data on travel health passport; while the UK is getting ready to roll out vaccination certifications in time for summer holidays
About 76 per cent of US travellers would be willing to store their travel health data electronically if doing so enabled them to travel sooner, according to a new survey by travel technology firm Amadeus. About 80 per cent would be willing if doing so enabled them to pass through the airport faster with fewer face-to-face interactions, and 75 per cent would if it enabled them to travel to more destinations.
About 51 per cent of US business travellers surveyed would be more comfortable using a digital health passport that was accepted by most countries and was regulated by international standards. About 48 per cent of US travellers said they would be comfortable with a digital passport if data only specific to Covid-19 was included and if they were travelling with a trusted travel agency.
Nearly three-quarters of US travellers said they would be more likely to store health data on an app from a travel agency partnered with a trusted healthcare company. About 58 percent of US travellers are confident in providing health data for travel purposes and 50 per cent for booking and checking in at a hotel, which was higher than the 40 per cent that reported being confident in providing health data for working or 37 per cent for visiting a restaurant or bar.
UK getting ready roll out vaccine certifications in May
Meanwhile, in the UK, the government is reportedly preparing to roll out vaccination certification in time for the summer holiday season. The Telegraph reports the industry has been briefed by the government on the regime, which could be ready for a 17 May restart.
It reports the certification scheme will provide British travellers an official government-approved document verifying their vaccination status for use at foreign borders. The EU is working on its own digital green pass proposal, which will seek to restore intra-EU travel using vaccination and test certification. It has confirmed the scheme will have provisions for third countries, such as the UK.
Greece is among a number of countries that have pledged to smooth entry for visitors that have been vaccinated against Covid-19, or tested negative prior to departure. Other countries that are reportedly ready to reopen to vaccinated Brits include Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Croatia.