The push by travel groups to end pre-departure inbound testing continues, with more than 260 travel industry and business organizations on Thursday signing a letter to the White House calling for an urgent repeal of the requirement.<\/p>\n
The letter, from a host of major airlines, hotel groups, travel industry associations and convention and visitors bureaus to Covid-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, calls for the testing requirement to be dropped for vaccinated international air travelers.<\/p>\n
“Stronger immunity provided by vaccinations, boosters and prior infections, as well as effective treatments to prevent the worst outcomes of Covid-19, have enabled Americans to safely return to work, schools and normal activities — all without the need for indoor masks, frequent testing and physical distancing,” the letter says. “These factors strongly support the elimination of the pre-departure testing requirement for vaccinated international air travelers.”<\/p>\n
The letter is the latest in an industrywide campaign to drop the testing requirement. Among its signees are American, Delta and United Airlines; Carnival Corp.; Disney and Universal; Expedia Group; Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott hotels; and MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment.<\/p>\n
The letter notes that international travel spending was still down “a staggering 78% compared to 2019.” It also points to the many foreign governments with similar infection, vaccination and hospitalization rates that have eliminated pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Further, since the federal government does not require negative tests for entry at our land-border ports of entry with Canada and Mexico, it no longer makes sense to keep a pre-departure Covid-19 testing requirement in place for vaccinated inbound international air travelers to the U.S.,” the letter said.<\/p>\n