ALTA: New travel restrictions annul demand and increase jobs at risk

ALTA stated (11-Feb-2021) new travel restrictions in Latin America go against economic recovery, and quarantine "annuls" demand and increases the number of jobs at risk. ALTA added that predictability and government-industry coordination are fundamental to maintain consumer confidence. ALTA stated that the region has seen reimposition of measures which had already been suspended, such as quarantines on top of tests and destination prohibitions. ALTA qualified this as "a step back in the efforts to recover several economic sectors, such as travel and tourism". ALTA executive director and CEO Jose Ricardo Botelho stated: "Between Jan-2020 and Nov-2020, carriers that operate in the region transported around 40% of passengers transported in during the period in 2019". He added: "Nov-2020 marked a milestone with around 16 million passengers in the region, 45% of the Nov-2019 total, thanks to the reactivation of practically all countries". He concluded: "This shows that there is an interest and need to travel". [more - original PR - Spanish]