Security & Travel Facilitation

Security & Travel Facilitation

Technological advances, enhanced mobility and more affordable travel have enabled an unprecedented rise in the number of travellers over the past few decades. Today, more than 1.5 billion people cross borders for business or leisure, with billions more travelling domestically every year.

At the same time, increasing political risks and geopolitical instability require more stringent security checks and processes, putting pressure on often outdated systems which are already strained.

WTTC’s work in this area demonstrates that improved visa facilitation and the deployment of innovative technologies, such as biometrics, can continue to drive economic growth and job creation, while addressing security concerns to ensure that travel is safe, secure and seamless.

Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey

WTTC’s latest annual research shows the Travel & Tourism sector experienced 3.5% growth in 2019, outpacing that of the global economy (2.5%) for the ninth consecutive year. The industry has long tried to improve security, reduce fraud, and improve the traveller experience. Seamless Traveller solutions enabled through biometrics, provide the mechanism to increase security while enhancing the traveller experience across the air and non-air touchpoints. Additionally, contactless biometric technology can assist in the prevention of pathogens’ transmission between passengers. WTTC is convening stakeholders from the public and private sectors to come up with innovative solutions that facilitate safe, secure and seamless travel.
WTTC defined its global vision for the Seamless Traveller Journey; enable a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end traveller journey encompassing both air and non-air traveller touchpoints. Systematic biometric verified identification at each stage of the journey will replace today’s manual identity verifications. These solutions will capitalize on several opportunities including improving the customer experience, creating a frictionless experience at touchpoints, improving security, health safety, and promoting commercial benefits to travel providers.
Significant technological advances, especially in biometrics, have enabled digital identity solutions which are demonstrating strong opportunities to enable verified identities. These verified identities enable the secure, seamless movement and management of travellers across travellers’ air and non-air journey.

If you would like more information on the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey initiative, contact Helena Bononi Helena.Bononi@wttc.org.

Visa Facilitation

While millions of travellers cross borders every year without the need for traditional paper visas, millions more still find their travel plans restricted by complicated application processes and paperwork. Huge strides have been made in travel facilitation over the past decade, yet traditional visa policies remain an obstacle to both tourism and economic growth.

This barrier can, however, become an opportunity for growth and job creation for destinations around the world through the implementation of progressive approaches to travel facilitation and new technologies to aid the implementation of new, more efficient visa policies.

WTTC’s research highlights the benefits of visa facilitation in terms of increases in international arrivals as well as job creation.

© World Travel & Tourism Council