WTTC: Travelers should wear masks show they care in the new normal

London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called upon all travellers to don protective face masks to show they ‘wear to care’ in the new normal of travelling.
As countries transition from lockdowns to reopening their borders, the wearing of face masks helps signal the return of safer travels, while also providing personal protection for users as well as those around them.
The advice from WTTC in favour of mandatory mask-wearing comes from evidence that countries which are recovering faster and avoid second COVID-19 spikes are those where the use of face masks have been widely enforced and encouraged.
Following medical guidance from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, WTTC advises the wearing of masks on all forms of transport throughout the entire traveller journey, as well as when visiting any interior venue or those with restricted movement which results in close personal contact of two metres or less.
WTTC has asked governments around the globe to enforce the wearing of face masks, as well as enlisting the support of the private sector to remind customers of their obligations to protect their health and that of fellow travellers.
Travellers around the world are being encouraged to join in the WTTC social media campaign which is launching with the hashtag #wear2care.
Embracing the use of face masks will reduce the risk of transmission, protect the user and those around them, as well as reintroducing a sense of normality. as we learn to live with the virus until a vaccine is found.
The new recommendations follow in the wake of WTTC recently issuing its new guidelines for Safe & Seamless Travel including testing and tracing to ensure people can enjoy Safe Travels in the ‘new normal’.
Frequent handwashing and using hand sanitiser complement the use of face masks which can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The safety and hygiene of travellers and those who work in Travel & Tourism is of paramount importance, which is why we now strongly recommend masks being mandatory.
“‘Wear to care’ promotes the protection of face mask users and visibly shows they care about the welfare and safety of their fellow travellers, which will help save lives and encourage the return of Safe Travels.
“The wearing of masks should not be politicised. Wearing a mask needs to become part of everyday life to ensure everyone enjoys travelling in safety until a vaccine for COVID-19 is found. We implore the private sector and global governments to encourage their use so wearing a mask becomes the new normal.”
Ramon Sánchez, Principal Investigator and Research Associate at Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said: “Wearing face masks has been proven to provide the highest level of protection against transmission at 82%. Constant hand hygiene and surface cleaning, which kills more than 90% of viruses that are found on surfaces, also prevents the virus from reaching the face from the hands.
“The public should keep a two-metre distance whenever they can, however, if that simply isn’t possible, people should increase the ventilation around them. Inside buildings, this can be done by opening doors and windows which decreases the viral concentration by more than 70%.
“Mechanical ventilation, such as air conditioning decreases it by 80% while going outdoors proves more effective by decreasing the viral concentration between 90% and 95%.”
WTTC has led a series of initiatives designed to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of Safe Travels.
Safe Travels Protocols were developed for the global Travel & Tourism sector which focused on measures to drive business to car hire companies, airports, tour operators, attractions and short short-term rentals among many other travel sectors, to enable them to follow strict health and hygiene regimes when re-opening their businesses.
The welfare of travellers and the millions of people working across the Travel & Tourism sector is central to the protocols. In addition to being backed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) they were also widely embraced by thousands of businesses around the world.
Travellers around the world can get involved with the WTTC campaign by sharing pictures of themselves proudly travelling with their masks and sharing the hashtag #wear2care.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: pixabay.com
17/07 23:24
17/07 23:04
17/07 21:55
HCAA | Inspection for upgrade projects at Milos Airport – Defibrillator Donation by an Employee
17/07 20:21
17/07 15:11
Municipality of Athens: Crackdown on Illegal Outdoor Seating in Kolonaki
17/07 14:55
IATA | The EU's targets for the use of sustainable fuels are "impossible to achieve"
17/07 14:47
HAA and HAPCO & DES welcome the concession of Tae Kwon Do to the Region
17/07 14:19
17/07 14:17
SETKE | Suspension of JMD on Swimming Pools – Discontent over Lack of Consultation
17/07 14:13
Britain: Inflation Rises to 3.6% – Cost of Living and Criticism Grow
17/07 13:52
Increase in arrivals and overnight stays in tourist accommodations in May 2025
17/07 13:24
17/07 11:44
Sitia: The double opportunity for tourist take-off with the signature of UNESCO
17/07 11:39
17/07 11:12
Tryp by Wyndham Lisboa Caparica Mar: Renovation with inspiration from the coast
17/07 10:47
National Geographic in Santorini: New Documentary on the Island’s Volcano, History and Mysteries
17/07 08:03
Zig Zag Festival in Tzoumerka: A Cultural Passage from Earth to Sky
17/07 08:00
Aegean Takes Off for India – Direct Flights Begin in 2026 with New Airbus XLR
17/07 07:58
17/07 07:53
Enhanced Accessibility at Mitsis Hotels in Rhodes, Kos, and Crete
17/07 07:51
South Rethymno: A steady summer attraction with 4,000 visitors per day in Plakias
17/07 07:49
17/07 07:18
17/07 07:16
17/07 07:08
Air Mediterranean: New connections to Berlin, Cologne and Vienna from Athens
17/07 07:06
17/07 00:29
16/07 19:52
Eurobank: The Greek tourism model is changing - Less revenue per visitor, more arrivals
16/07 17:15
More students at the Galaxidi School of Tourism Education | Sustainability step
16/07 16:45
16/07 16:41
16/07 15:33
French Transavia invests in Thessaloniki during the winter season
16/07 15:28
Norovirus on board: New case on cruise ship, cases on the rise in 2025
16/07 15:22
Ryanair | Fire on new strikes by French air traffic controllers and Ursula von “Derlayed-Again”
16/07 14:43
3,000 inspections of recreational vehicle rentals by the Coast Guard
16/07 14:38
16/07 14:02
How New Cruise Demographics Are Redefining the Impact on Destinations
16/07 11:45
Kivotos Santorini has joined the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program
16/07 10:51
Sani/Ikos Group offers free holidays to children from "The Smile of the Child"
16/07 10:48
16/07 10:25
16/07 08:04
Etihad – SKY express agreement: Gateway to 24 Greek islands and 3 Mediterranean cities
16/07 08:02
Decisions for tourist shelters in Leros, Chalkidiki, Xiromero and Agia Anna
16/07 07:59
The major airlines that... disappoint – The three worst for 2025
16/07 07:56
16/07 07:53
Symi cries out for mass tourism – 3 euro fee for day visitors
16/07 07:17
16/07 07:15
Explosive increase in visitor numbers at the museums of Ancient Olympia and Delphi in March
16/07 07:13
Expedia: Which Mykonos? Which Santorini? This is the new favorite Greek island
16/07 07:10
Municipality of Limni Plastira: Decision for 6 + 3 years lease of the Mesenikola Guesthouse
16/07 07:07
16/07 06:22
M. Tsakalakis in TN | Tourist Crete seeks protection of its reputation - Concern over bookings
16/07 06:19
Municipality of Soufli: Network of hiking trails with fire protection function
15/07 20:08
Velvento Festival 2025: Cultural rendezvous in the nature of Kozani
15/07 16:06
15/07 15:16
HCAA | + 7.5% passenger traffic at 24 state airports in 6 months, +5.2% overall
15/07 15:11
Green light for 2 strategic investments, amounting to 163 million euros, in tourism
15/07 12:39
Germany | Flights more expensive in the first half of 2025, especially within Europe
15/07 12:32
2,300 young artists painted Hospitality | HCC Student Competition
15/07 12:23
V. Kikilias: Comprehensive master plan for the port of Mykonos
15/07 12:19
15/07 11:36
How much did rodent noise pollution cost a hotel in Crete? | German court ruling
15/07 10:53
Suspension of the GNTO Russia operation - Promotion in the USA via a TV series
15/07 10:51
15/07 10:48
15/07 10:42
15/07 08:24
Public campsites on the Superfund's agenda: Asprovalta takes its turn - Kriopigi follows
15/07 08:06
Municipality of Oichalia: Platform for the promotion of tourism and culture
15/07 08:02
Sounds of Rhodope: A musical retrospective of the multicultural heritage of Thrace
15/07 07:57
WAVErunning 2025: Running alongside the waves for clean beaches
15/07 07:17
The “sunbed battle” is still going strong – What psychology is behind it
15/07 07:14
Permits for floating platforms in front of hotels in Anavyssos and Chania
15/07 07:11
Reduction of the minimum distance from neighboring uses for a kart track in Malia
15/07 07:09
Yiannis Hatzis: The future of Greek tourism lies in small hotel businesses
15/07 06:21
Nikos Chalkiadakis in Tornos News: Crete cannot stand a migrant accommodation facility
15/07 01:36
14/07 19:34
Rhodes Hotel Association | Signing of a local CBA with 11% increases over three years
14/07 19:30
14/07 15:53
Hoteliers' Campaign | "Tourists, thank you for visiting Mallorca"
14/07 15:34
14/07 13:58
EasyJet’s initiative for family reconnection without digital disruption
14/07 13:28
Eleni Skarveli: Greece Best European Destination at The Telegraph Travel Awards 2025
14/07 12:25
Skiathos nominated for the international distinction of “Most Desirable Island in Europe”
14/07 12:19
14/07 11:32
Jennifer Lopez celebrates her birthday at the opening of a hotel in Antalya
14/07 10:36
Wyndham: Partnership with Cygnett for 60 Hotels in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal
14/07 09:45
14/07 08:15
Balearis: Black Night for Bars - Difficult to find staff, but also customers
14/07 07:55
14/07 07:48
Chios Homeric sound: Music festival with classical education and world Greekness
14/07 07:11
14/07 07:02
Lycaia 2025: 14th Revival of Ancient Sport and Culture Games in Lycaio Mountain
14/07 06:58
14/07 01:14
13/07 16:30
13/07 16:06
Which airport hotels in Europe offer value, and what… they just cost
13/07 13:36
Climate crisis threatens Eurozone GDP: Possible drop of up to 5% by 2030
13/07 13:33
New round of tariffs by Trump: 30% on EU and Mexico – Fears of a trade war
13/07 08:40
“Give life to the dying shipbuilding yards” – Out of the 300+ in Greece, only 70 remain
13/07 07:47
IATA | The EU's targets for the use of sustainable fuels are "impossible to achieve"
Municipality of Athens: Crackdown on Illegal Outdoor Seating in Kolonaki
Enhanced Accessibility at Mitsis Hotels in Rhodes, Kos, and Crete
HCAA | Inspection for upgrade projects at Milos Airport – Defibrillator Donation by an Employee
National Geographic in Santorini: New Documentary on the Island’s Volcano, History and Mysteries
Zig Zag Festival in Tzoumerka: A Cultural Passage from Earth to Sky
SETKE | Suspension of JMD on Swimming Pools – Discontent over Lack of Consultation
Sitia: The double opportunity for tourist take-off with the signature of UNESCO
Aegean Takes Off for India – Direct Flights Begin in 2026 with New Airbus XLR
Increase in arrivals and overnight stays in tourist accommodations in May 2025
Britain: Inflation Rises to 3.6% – Cost of Living and Criticism Grow
HAA and HAPCO & DES welcome the concession of Tae Kwon Do to the Region
Tryp by Wyndham Lisboa Caparica Mar: Renovation with inspiration from the coast
South Rethymno: A steady summer attraction with 4,000 visitors per day in Plakias
Air Mediterranean: New connections to Berlin, Cologne and Vienna from Athens