'Outdated' US Covid vax mandate 'delaying pandemic rebound'
James ChappleThe US Travel Association has urged the Biden administration to expedite the end of a requirement for international visitors to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination, something it says is delaying the US inbound sector’s rebound from the pandemic.
Tori Emerson Barnes, the association’s executive vice-president of public affairs and policy, has backed a bill commended to the US Congress seeking to end the "outdated" requirements, which she said were at-odds with the rest of the world.
"We have long supported the removal of this requirement and see no reason to wait until the May expiration of the public health emergency, particularly as potential visitors are planning spring and summer travel," said Emerson Barnes.
"Every day this policy remains in place encourages some travellers to avoid the US, costing us valuable visitor spending and delaying our efforts to reignite inbound travel."
Emerson Barnes added it was time to "normalise" travel to and from the US following the Covid pandemic. "The US is the only country that still has this requirement for international visitors when there is no longer any public health justification," she said.
"We thank the bill’s sponsors for their efforts to remove this outdated, Covid-era policy and normalise inbound travel operations."
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