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Rue de l’Amazone 2 
B-1050 Bruxelles 
 
Tel +32 
 
xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx 
 
www.exhibition-alliance.eu 
 
 
POSITION PAPER 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
    Brussels, 20th Jan. 2021 
Exhibition Industry supports 
-  Greek initiative for EU digital vaccination 
certificate 
-  Global solution with IATA Travel pass  
 
EU and global travel regulations still major barrier 
Fragmented and quickly changing travel restrictions and quarantine/test requirements 
within the EU and global y remain a major barrier for international exhibitions and 
professional events to resume business. Quarantine days for business travellers have 
a major impact on single business and economic activity in general. Instead, 
increasing and speeding-up vaccinations combined with targeted, intel igent and cost-
effective testing and tracing solutions at the appropriate scale for travellers should 
prevent quarantine. It would foster both the protection of health and economic activity.  
Insecurity on both exhibition organisers’ and attendees’ side make planning 
impossible, lead to frustration and hesitation and finally cancel ation of events. It 
severely impacts the exhibition and business events sector and the whole travel and 
hospitality ecosystem but also all vertical industries that the professional exhibitions 
serve.  
Vaccinations and testing will open perspectives 
Vaccinations are a key to safe reopening of borders, enable travel within Europe and 
globally and to start the economic recovery. Combined with intelligent and broad 
testing schemes they are the key to re-establishing confidence among travel ers, 
freedom of movement and rebuilding connectivity. To that aim, globally recognised 
certificates are vital. The Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ proposal for an EU 
wide digital vaccination certificate is therefore very welcome by EEIA.
  
In addition, we call for global coordination of criteria for risk and measures to re-
establish transatlantic travel to be pushed by al  supranational organisation and EU 
Member States with the same approach and standards. The IATA Travel Pass 
which is already being tested by several airlines would be an ideal solution.
 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.  
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Exhibitions and business events are key to rebuilding economies – 
international business travel for the purpose of attending such events is 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. 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.  
In order to rebuild Europe’s economy, push the transition towards digital as wel  as 
sustainable technologies and practices and achieve the long term goal of a carbon 
neutral Europe, exhibitions and business events play a mission-critical role. The 
business events industry offers safe environments at all times for customers, 
contractors and employees and thus create trust and confidence among the clients to 
start business again. 
The EU Heads of States meet on Thursday, 21 January 2021 to 
discuss the Greek Prime Minister’s proposal. We urge the EU 
Member States and the EU Institutions to develop a common 
vaccination certification which should be compatible with and 
integrate into the IATA Travel Pass scheme. 

 
 
 
 
European Exhibition Industry Al iance 
(EEIA) 
European Major Exhibitions Centre 
Associations (EMECA) 
 
 
 
 
 
UFI, the Global Association of the 
 
Exhibition Industry 
 
Background Information 
About EEIA 
The European Exhibition Industry Alliance represents nearly 400 European exhibition 
organisers and venue operators in Brussels to the European institutions and stakeholders. 
These trade fairs and exhibition players are organised in UFI, the Global Association of the 
Exhibition Industry and the European Major Exhibition Centres Association EMECA. For more 
information please visit: 
www.exhibition-alliance.eu   www.ufi.org   www.emeca.eu  
 
 
 
 
We look forward to receiving any queries and your positive reply. 
 
Please contact: 
@exhibition-alliance.eu 
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