The European Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEIA) has welcomed the decisions, 21 January, taken by the EU’s European Council related to rapid antigen tests and vaccinations.
“Even though the current situation justifies the current restrictions to contain the infections, Europe should prepare as quickly as possible to support and empower free movement of people, especially for business purposes, in a safe and controlled way”, said EEIA secretary general Barbara Weizsäcker (pictured), reacting to the EU news.
“Strengthening the use of rapid antigen tests and the mutual recognition of Covid-19 test results along with accelerating vaccinations will contribute to containing the pandemic and resuming safe and seamless travel in a responsible manner,” Weizsäcker’s statement continued.
She added that EEIA was calling for the speedy development of a joint digital form of proof for vaccinations, as agreed by the European Council. It should be standardised and compatible with or built on a global platform, Weizsäcker said, noting that its application could be opened up to be of use to the entire travel and hospitality chain and include specifically trade fairs and business events. She underlined that exhibitions and business events were key to rebuilding economies and that international business travel for the purpose of attending such events was vital.
“Agreeing and implementing an EU-wide or ideally global digital travel pass solution for enabling international business travel will give a clear perspective to the exhibition and business events industry and the whole travel and hospitality ecosystem,” Ms. Weizsäcker said. “Empowering exhibitions and business events means empowering every industry, every sector, as it gives them back their market places and platforms for innovations, knowledge transfers and scientific exchange. On top, it boosts economic activity and trade in general and generates considerable benefits for the travel and tourism sector.”
The EEIA was founded in 2012 and aims to represent the common interests of the European exhibition industry to European Union institutions and other relevant stakeholders in Brussels. More information: www.exhibition-alliance.eu
