The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can and should do more to help grow consumer confidence in travel, ASTA says.
ASTA CEO Zane Kerby wrote to CDC director Robert R. Redfield outlining what needs to be done to help the industry rebound.
The CDC has an essential part to play in ‘formulating specific guidelines for travel in the near future.’
"For the livelihood of these Americans, their families, their clients and the traveling public, it is critical that the travel industry rebound as quickly as possible," wrote Kerby.
Consumers need clear guidance that travel is safe, remarking that ‘CDC’s communications with regard to travel has been uneven at best.’
ASTA wants clear timelines for a restart of the cruise industry, and a recovery roadmap for all other travel industry sectors.
"We ask the Administration to tell suppliers in each vertical what steps they need to take, by when, to restart travel safely. Doing so, we believe, will supercharge the travel recovery."
Kerby also asked that the government to focus on cross-border travel and escalate the resumption of US state department passport services.
"Taken together with the financial relief provided to travel businesses by the U.S Congress and the private sector doing its part, we believe the steps outlined will help instill consumer confidence and get America moving again," Kerby added.
