The International Air Transport Association(IATA), in a statement on Thursday, March 17, welcomed the world's increasing momentum towards re-opening of borders and easing of travel restrictions as Covid-19 moves into the endemic phase - although Asia lags behind.

An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the global top 50 air travel markets, which accounted for 88 percent of international demand in 2019 (as measured by revenue passenger kilometers or RPK), revealed that 25 markets, representing 38 percent of international demand, are now open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine measures, or testing requirements.

This is an improvement from 18 markets, or 28 percent of international demand, in mid-February.

The bulk, or 38 markets representing 65 percent of international demand, are open to vaccinated travelers with no quarantine requirements—up from 28 markets (50 percent of international demand) in mid-February.

However, travel in Asia remains heavily compromised by COVID restrictions, IATA pointed out.

While North American and European international traffic rebounded to -42 percent of their 2019 peaks last year, traffic in Asia Pacific remained at -88 percent.

"Hopefully, recent relaxations including the Philippines, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan are paving the way towards restoring the freedom to travel that is more broadly enjoyed in other parts of the world,” remarked IATA Director General Willie Walsh.

Already, India and Malaysia have relaxed travel restrictions.

Repeated surveys of passengers by IATA during the pandemic showed that testing, and especially quarantine, are major barriers to travel.

The easing of measures reflects the growing consensus that travel restrictions such as border closures and quarantine do little to control the spread of COVID-19.

A recent report by OXERA and Edge Health, looking at the spread of the Omicron variant concluded that travel restrictions may only delay the peak of a wave by just a few days.

“The world is largely open for travel," Walsh noted. "Asia is the outlier."

"As population immunity grows, more governments are managing COVID-19 through surveillance, as they do for other endemic viruses. That is great news for a growing number of destinations that will receive a much-needed economic boost from the upcoming Easter and Northern Summer travel seasons."