Travel industry to White House: It’s time to end international travel restrictions
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Travel was one of the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic. One report found that international arrivals to the U.S. fell 62%.
But as COVID-19 vaccines roll out worldwide and travel begins to make a comeback, the industry has a request for the Biden administration: It’s time to end international travel restrictions.
More than two dozen travel trade groups and unions, including Airlines for America, the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the Association of Flight Attendants signed a letter sent to the White House.
The letter requests that the federal government work with members of the travel industry to develop a “risk-based, data-driven roadmap” to cancel inbound international travel restrictions by May 1, 2021. It cited Biden’s promise to have enough COVID-19 vaccines to vaccinate all Americans by the end of May. At this time, 13% of Americans have already been fully vaccinated, according to a Johns Hopkins University study.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
“We strongly urge the COVID-19 response team and relevant [federal] agencies to partner with airlines, airports, unions, hotels, theme parks and other key stakeholders to develop a data-driven, risk-based roadmap for reopening international travel,” says the letter sent on March 22 to Jeffrey Zients, the White House’s COVID-19 Response Team coordinator.
“The roadmap to safely reopen international travel should be finalized before May 1, 2021, so that a plan is in place to reopen by the summer of 2021 if vaccine distribution and epidemiological trends continue in a positive direction,” it said.
The travel industry is calling for the end of mandatory quarantines after traveling in favor of keeping an international testing mandate.
Currently, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates say travelers must self-quarantine for seven days after traveling, even if they test negative. The industry also asked the Biden administration to exempt vaccinated travelers from international testing requirements but suggests that vaccines should not be required to travel.
The travel industry earlier this year successfully lobbied the Biden administration against requiring travelers to present negative COVID-19 tests for domestic flights.
The letter also asked that CDC guidance be updated to state that “vaccinated individuals can travel safely.” As of its update on March 9, 2021, the CDC still recommends that travelers “delay domestic and international travel,” stating that “travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19.”
The CDC has laid out several guidelines specifically directed toward people who have been fully vaccinated. To start, the CDC uses the term “fully vaccinated” to refer to someone who has waited two weeks after receiving their second dose of a two-dose vaccine series, or someone who has waited two weeks after receiving a one-dose vaccine.
Featured photo by Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.