Deutsche Bank Suggests Travel with ‘Health Certificate’ Could Help Tourism

In efforts to keep the travel and tourism sector above water after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, Deutsche Bank suggests a number of actions to ensure a balance between health risks, economic damage control and travel. One proposed action sees vacationers presenting special medical or immunity certificates to the destinations they visit.

According to the Deutsche Bank study, tourism makes a significant contribution GDP in many Mediterranean countries – in Italy and Spain above 13 percent in 2018 and in Greece at a 20.6 percent share.

Covid-19 has led to extensive travel restrictions and lockdowns making travel near to impossible and impacting all forms of business linked to tourism. Mostly impacted are traditional tourist destinations particularly in the Mediterranean, which stand to suffer major economic losses particularly as the progression of the pandemic is highly unclear.

Measures destinations could take

Bank analysts expect the main holiday season in the northern hemisphere to begin in about three months. At the current moment, tourism sector stakeholders and local administrations at tourist destinations can begin to take measures which may help holidaymakers travel at acceptable risks even during coronavirus times.

One measure suggested by Deutsche Bank is for vacationers to present special medical or immunity certificates to confirm that they do not pose a renewed risk at the destinations. This option is currently being examined by a number of countries, with Austria, Thailand, and France already requiring these documents upon arrival.

Other proposed measures by Deutsche Bank, include canceling mass events; stocking up on disinfectants and trying to ensure an adequate distance between guests; restricting access to certain tourist attractions; and capping the number of visitors by capacity regulation.

Analysts go on to note that these steps may increase holidaymakers’ willingness to visit areas which are currently hit hard by the virus.