Closing borders, prohibiting travel in general and more extreme government policies will not stop the spread of the coronavirus, said the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Gloria Guevara, President and Executive Director of the WTTC and former Minister of Tourism of Mexico, with first-hand experience in containing a major viral incident after dealing with the H1N1 flu virus in Mexico, has asked governments and authorities to Everyone who does not overreact with disproportionate measures in an attempt to control Covid-19.
Guevara said that “Governments and those with authority should not try to drown travel and commerce at this time. Closing borders, imposing general travel bans and applying extreme policies are not the answer to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
He argued that “Past experience shows that taking such extreme measures has been ineffective at best. We urge governments to explore fact-based measures that do not affect the vast majority of people and businesses for which travel is essential. ”
The WTTC analysis shows that 33 countries, only 16% of the total worldwide, have reported Covid-19 cases. The vast majority of patients affected by the virus have also fully recovered. Covid-19 has a lower mortality rate than previous viral outbreaks, such as SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012.
Millions of people continue to travel around the world daily, whether taking flights, cruises, train trips or driving. Each month, according to 2018 figures, an estimated average of 2.3 million people take a cruise with very few incidents.
Guevara Manzo added: “A death is too much for any virus, but now is not the time to panic. We understand that there is a great concern for Covid-19. However, it is important to remember that mortality rates remain very low and the chances of contracting the virus, for the vast majority of people, are very remote if they travel responsibly and have simple hygiene measures. ”
It should be noted that the WTTC 2020 World Summit will be held from April 21 to 23 in Cancun, Mexico, with a range of CEOS and senior leaders who speak from the travel and tourism industry.