OECD Ministers launch new initiative for safe international travel

On 31 May 2021, OECD Ministers endorsed a new initiative to promote safe international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic at the OECD’s annual Ministerial meeting in Paris.

The initiative involves a safe travel blueprint and a temporary international cross-sectoral forum for knowledge sharing. The forum will allow governments and stakeholders to share information in real time on plans and approaches facilitating travel. The blueprint promotes greater certainty, safety and security in travel as reopening takes place. It builds on existing initiatives and aims to increase interoperability amongst travel regimes. It will be used by countries on a voluntary basis.

The initiative has involved extensive consultations and have benefited from inputs from OECD bodies, including the Tourism Committee, as well as from international organisations (ECAC, ICAO, IMO, WHO, UNWTO, WTO) and other stakeholders (ACI, CLIA, ETOA, IBMATA, IATA, ICC, WEF, WTTC).

For more information, please see the full press release below and document (with blueprint).