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POSITION PAPER
Brussels, 20th Jan. 2021
Exhibition Industry supports
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Greek initiative for EU digital vaccination
certificate
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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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