TravelAge West
Search Sponsored by

Explore TravelAge West

Destinations

Back
  • Africa & Middle East
  • Asia & South Pacific
  • Caribbean
  • Central & South America
  • Europe
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • USA & Canada

Travel Types

Back
  • Family
  • Adventure
  • Cruise
  • River Cruise
  • Tour Operators
  • Luxury
  • Hotels
  • Culinary
  • Romance
  • Wellness
  • Sustainability

Directories

Back
  • Hotels
  • Cruise
  • Job Seeker Center

Interactive

Back
  • Click & Win
  • Geo Quiz
  • Slideshows & Video

Professional Development

Back

Industry Insight

  • Business Features
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
  • Coronavirus and Travel
  • Need to Know Research

Education

  • Certifications
  • Digital Guides
  • Fams
  • Thought Leadership
  • Advertiser Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Immersive Family Experiences

Events

  • Global Travel Marketplace
  • GTM West
  • WAVE Awards
  • Future Leaders in Travel Retreat

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Search TravelAge West

Clear Field
Jeffrey Ment, Managing Partner of The Ment Law GroupContributing Writer

Share

  1. Home
  2. Industry Insight
  3. Opinion

Legal Lingo: Is It Legal for Countries to Require Vaccine Passports?

Apr 19, 2021
Legal Lingo: Is It Legal for Countries to Require Vaccine Passports?
Some countries, such as Denmark and Israel, have given the green light on vaccine passports.
© sirichai/stock.adobe.com

There is not much debate over whether COVID-19 vaccines are saving the travel industry. No matter your personal position on these vaccines, it is undisputable that suppliers and destinations have the right to mandate regulations for participation or entry.

I wrote this article while enjoying some time away on St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). To gain entry into the USVI, I had to provide proof of either a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than five days prior to arrival, or a positive antibody test. As with a vaccine requirement, I could either comply, or be denied entry. My family and I gladly complied, and I received the coveted “You are Approved for Travel” email.

 Much like a traveler’s visa, compliance with destination COVID-19 protocols is not optional.

Much like a traveler’s visa, compliance with destination COVID-19 protocols is not optional.

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Travel advisors find themselves spinning around daily trying to keep up with the ever-changing rules for travel. When feasible, advisors should pass on destination protocols to their clients. As an example, the cruise industry is leading the way in requiring proof of vaccinations, with several lines already announcing their intent to require vaccinations from guests and crew onboard.

And although we are growing accustomed to vaccine rules, one area that is generating controversy is the concept of a vaccine passport (a digital or paper document suggesting that the holder has been vaccinated).

Picture this: Upon arrival to a foreign destination, clients are greeted by the familiar color-coded Customs and Border Control lanes. The signs, however, now boldly pronounce “Vaccine Passport Holders Only.” While great debate over the requirement of such a passport is swirling around, the bottom line is that travel companies and countries can legally require vaccinations.

LegalLingo_041921
Jeffrey Ment, Managing Partner of The Ment Law Group
Credit: 2021 Jeffrey Ment

So, is the debate over passports really that significant?

Many constitutional scholars and government officials — including the Biden Administration — are not in favor of requiring a vaccine passport. Reasons for this include the possible invasion of a traveler’s privacy; violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); too much federal government intervention; and the creation of a two-tiered society (awarding vaccinated travelers more privileges than those who are not vaccinated).

  However, countries such as Israel and Denmark are leading the way in rolling out such programs. Denmark recently unveiled its "Coronapas" vaccine passport, which allows its holders to travel domestically. The Israeli “Green Passport” now allows holders to travel to Greece and Cyprus. And former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair recently remarked that vaccine passports will become inevitable for travel, urging the U.K. government to develop a system now. The EU has also just given the go-ahead to a COVID-19 digital travel pass system that should be in place by summer.

Many travelers feel that a digital vaccine passport system strikes a balance between encouraging travel and keeping public health concerns front and center. A recent study commissioned by Amadeus found that just over 9 in 10 (91%) of travelers surveyed say they would be comfortable using a digital health passport for future trips. Likewise, Mark Snider, owner and managing director of Little Gem Resorts, believes vaccines have given guests “a noticeable sense of relief.”

“It’s almost as though they now have a license to enjoy themselves and to rediscover some of the freedoms lost over the past year,” he said. “We do host weddings and special events at our three resorts —  on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and St. John in the USVI. What is interesting is to hear the questions now being broached about the “new normal” — should invitees be required to be vaccinated or not?”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and airlines alike, meanwhile, are working on electronic options. Similar to a client’s TSA PreCheck number or airline frequent flier number, a vaccine passport number is soon to be part of a traveler’s overall profile.

 Of course, it would be best if there are some universal standards regarding the issuance of a vaccine passport, and much more work must be done to legitimize its process and issuance. The falsification of such passports is also a concern, but the train has already left the station — vaccines are here, and our industry’s survival is tied to a successful rollout.

 I believe vaccine passport holder lanes will be arriving soon at airports all around the world, and travel advisors should prepare for this. Science is saving our industry, and passports are just one more piece of the overall picture.

Meet Jeffrey Ment

Jeffrey Ment currently works as a travel law attorney and previously worked as a travel advisor, airline sales manager and tour guide. For more than 28 years, he has represented individuals and companies in the travel industry.
Have a question for Jeffrey? Send an email to [email protected]

Have a question for Jeffrey? Send an email to [email protected]

The Details
The Ment Law Group
www.mentlaw.com

Tell Us What You Think! forum

Related Content

8 Lessons Learned From COVID-19, According to a Travel Industry Attorney

8 Lessons Learned From COVID-19, According to a Travel Industry Attorney

  • Most Read
  • Most Shared
  1. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations?
  2. Why Are So Many Flights Being Canceled?
  3. 3 Free Hula Shows on Kauai
  4. A Quick Travel Guide to Mazamitla, Mexico
  5. What’s New in Acapulco, From New Attractions to Enhanced Safety Initiatives
  1. Why Are So Many Flights Being Canceled?
  2. 6 Tips for Better Cybersecurity While Traveling
  3. An Inside Look at “The Real Love Boat,” Filmed on Regal Princess
  4. Air New Zealand Will Launch Lie-Flat Seats in Economy
  5. Airline Passengers With Disabilities Have a New Bill of Rights

From Our Partners

More Stories Like This

4 Ways to Use Your CRM That Will Guarantee Success

4 Ways to Use Your CRM That Will Guarantee Success

Editorial: Avoiding Mistakes Is One of the Many Benefits of Using a Travel Agent in 2022

Editorial: Avoiding Mistakes Is One of the Many Benefits of Using a Travel Agent in 2022

USTOA Announces ‘Future Lights,’ Up-and-Coming Leaders of the Tour Industry

USTOA Announces ‘Future Lights,’ Up-and-Coming Leaders of the Tour Industry

'Micro-cations' Are Rising in Popularity

'Micro-cations' Are Rising in Popularity

The U.S. Travel Association Will Prioritize Sustainability Through Its New Coalition

The U.S. Travel Association Will Prioritize Sustainability Through Its New Coalition

This Wyndham Program Is Designed to Increase the Number of Black Hotel Owners

This Wyndham Program Is Designed to Increase the Number of Black Hotel Owners

Air Travelers Bill of Rights_HERO

Airline Passengers With Disabilities Have a New Bill of Rights

Editorial: Flight Cancellations and Delays Are Hassles This Summer — But Temporary Ones

Editorial: Flight Cancellations and Delays Are Hassles This Summer — But Temporary Ones

Why Business Travel Is Struggling to Make a Comeback

Why Business Travel Is Struggling to Make a Comeback

Asta Legislative Day 2022_HERO

ASTA’s Legislative Day Sees a Record Turnout

TravelAge West

About TravelAge West

  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Sales Team
  • Contact Us
  • My Profile

Advertise

  • Advertise With Us
  • Write For US
  • Media Kit
  • Upload Ad Material
  • Digital Ad Specifications
  • Reprints
  • Subscribe to Print

Stay Connected to TravelAge West

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.


Northstar Travel Group

Northstar Travel Group

  • Travel Weekly
  • Travel Weekly Asia
  • Travel Weekly China
  • TravelPulse
  • TravelPulse Canada
  • TravelPulse Quebec
  • Meetings & Incentives
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • AGENTatHOME
Copyright © 2022 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
Load Carousel Here
Load Video Here