GBTA Supports the European Tourism Manifesto Alliance Position for a Common, Consistent Approach across Member States to the Extension of the EU Digital COVID Certificate so that Business Travel Continues to Thrive

BRUSSELS  – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest business travel association – supports the European Tourism Manifesto Alliance position on the use of the European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) to facilitate free movement in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and until the level of transmission does not result in severe impact to public health. 

In addition to the use of the EUDCC, The European Tourism Manifesto Alliance and GBTA support the premises that: 

• Travel restrictions have proven to be ineffective in stopping the spread of the virus, at most postponing by a few days a new wave of infection, which is also supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 
• The verification of EUDCC shall not be used as a reason to impose additional restrictions to the freedom of movement such as the temporary reintroduction of controls at internal borders.  
• To enlarge the scope of the vaccines that may be used as the basis for the issuance of an EUDCC, all vaccines that have completed the WHO emergency use listing procedure should be included in the EUDCC. In addition, people who received a vaccine currently not on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or WHO list should still have a fully accepted EUDCC if they have received a booster vaccination with a vaccine authorized by WHO or EMA. 

• Should Member States resume the use of the EUDCC for travel, or allowing access to bars, restaurants, hotels, museums, concert halls, trade fair centres and other venues, it is essential that national rules mirror border and travel requirements. 

“GBTA continues to call for a consistent plan across Europe, to avoid a fragmented approach across the 27 member countries. As business travel returns, it is vital that a common approach is used across members, based on data driven decisions so that the industry can fully recover to pre-pandemic revenues of $392 billion in Europe and $1.43 trillion globally,” commented Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President, Europe, GBTA.