The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) applauded the World Health Organisation (WHO) for calling for travel restrictions to be lifted or relaxed.

The WHO has stated that travel restrictions are ineffective in limiting the international spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, citing the diverse global responses to its development.

The tenth meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee in Geneva earlier this month expressed worry that blanket limitations can inflict economic and social harm, echoing a warning from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

They may also prevent transparent and timely reporting of developing Variants of Concern, according to the WHO.

The committee also stated that measures taken against overseas travellers, such as testing, isolation and quarantine, and vaccinations, should be based on “risk assessments” to stop placing a financial burden on travelers.

“When it comes to stopping the spread of new virus variants, blanket travel restrictions are simply counterproductive,” said UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili.

“In fact, by cutting the lifeline of tourism, these restrictions do more harm than good, especially in destinations reliant on international tourists for jobs, economic wellbeing and sustainable change.”

Zurab continued, “The United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects Report for 2022 – to which UNWTO provided the official travel related data – has noted that in both developed and developing, recovery from the impacts of the pandemic is “uneven and fragile”.

– India’s new age travel digital media

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