Business Travel Association (BTA) is today calling for the UK Government to lead the international community in implementing global standards on testing and health certification as part of the recovery in travel.
In a submission to the Global Travel Taskforce that highlights the importance of business travel to the UK economy, the BTA has made a range of recommendations on how business travel can safely begin again.
These include:
- Implementation of global standards for testing and health certification
- Removal of all quarantine requirements for business travellers
- Creation of business travel bi-lateral corridors
- Coverage of Red List countries under FCDO “all but essential travel” advice
- A 72-hour window before any introduction of a country to a red list
The submission was developed following extensive consultations with the BTA’s Executive Board which is comprised of senior executives from across the UK business travel sector*.
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, says: “The UK’s advanced vaccination programme, highly skilled travel industry and position as an international transport hub make it ideally placed to lead the recovery in international travel.
“We urge the Government to take a leadership position in developing robust and enduring standards, and practical and transparent measures, that will get global business travelling again.”
In its submission to the Global Travel Taskforce, the BTA highlighted the breadth of business travel activity that extend far beyond traditional business trips. It has called for the very limited exemptions introduced in December 2020 to be widened to include all business travel activity.
Suzanne Horner, Chairwoman of the Business Travel Association, says: “Business travel is a lifeblood of the UK economy and the Government must treat it as the necessity that it is, rather than a nice to have.
“The recommendations we have made in our submission reflect the business travel industry’s skills and experience, and we stand ready to work hand in hand with Government to quickly and effectively implement them.”