An app that allows Filipino travellers to manage their travel documents virtually may soon be adapted by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) following a proposal from the Tourism Department.
While the threat of COVID-19 is still very much at the fore of our daily lives, restrictions for both essential and leisure travellers have been imposed to combat and lessen the impact of the disease. Because of this, many people had a hard time managing additional requirements such as health declaration forms, permits, and swab test results.
To address this, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said that it is ready to adapt and support an application that will allow travellers coming in and out of the country to arrange their requirements digitally.
Read also: COVID-19 News 2021: Are Health Passports Going To Be The New Norm In Travel?
In an interview, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that her agency will introduce the International Air Transport Association (IATA)-enabled platform in the coming meetings with the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
On its website, the IATA pass promises to do the following so international travellers could be relieved from stressful and hectic situations:
- Global registry of health requirements – to find accurate information on travel, testing and vaccine requirements for journeys
- Global registry of testing/vaccination centres – to identify testing centres and labs at departure location which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of the destination
- Lab app – to locate authorized labs and test centres to securely share test and vaccination certificates
- Digital passport module - to enable passengers to create a ‘digital passport’, receive test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. This app can also be used by travellers to manage travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout their journey, improving the travel experience.
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