As the government weighs up using digital vaccine passports to record if people have been jabbed against Covid-19, members of the travel industry are encouraging the government to use the EU’s digital application or another country’s existing app to make travel in and out of the country easier.
Countries in the EU and 13 other countries have adopted a single digital system that records vaccination status. It produces a QR code scanned at borders to show a traveller’s vaccination status without sharing their private information or ID number. This digital passport is supported by the International Air Transport Agency that represents several global airlines.
The travel industry, that once contributed up to 3% of our GDP, is urging the government to use this existing app to record vaccination data. Vaccinated South Africans are issued with paper cards and authorities have been encouraged to move to the digital system.
While SA has kept its borders open for most of the pandemic those entering the country are required to present a negative PCR test that looks for the virus that causes Covid-19 done 72 hours before entering.
Association of Southern African Travel Agents CEO Otto De Vries said that the travel industry hopes a requirement for a PCR test would be phased out in future and fully vaccinated travellers allowed into SA.
A standardised digital passport would make it simpler for people to travel to SA, helping to boost the ailing travel industry.
“The good part about that is the European digital app means anyone who wants to travel to Europe will then automatically be recognised. We’re thinking increasingly that the EU model is going to become the global standard. We’re encouraging the SA government to consider using that.”
You can’t have every country having their own system, he said, as it would make travel complex.
“There’s no real motivation to spend time and money developing your own app,” he said. “Imagine if every country has their own app, we’d be going in circles.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa said two weeks ago the government would provide an update on its plans for vaccine passports this week.
Nicholas Crisp, deputy director in the department of health, said the government will comment on the issue after Tuesday’s National Command Coronavirus Council where this issue might be raised.
Speaking from Europe, Lars Thykier, chair of the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance and director of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations, said SA should not waste time developing their own system and app from scratch since so many countries have already done so.
“They have gone through trial and error and have ironed out the mistakes. For Europe it would be wonderful if SA adapts the same system. However, this is not necessary. Other countries, such as Singapore and Israel, have also developed valid systems.”
The government, despite offers from the private sector, built its electronic vaccine data system in-house.
Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East and Africa MD Andrew Stark said: “Vaccine passports send a strong message in driving traveller confidence, essential for the recovery of our sector and economy.”
He said if 67% of the SA adult population are vaccinated by the end of December both outbound and inbound travel would increase.
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