VALLETTA, July 5 (Xinhua) — Streets in Valletta, Malta’s capital city and a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site, are bustling again with tourists mostly from other member states of the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).
As of July 1, holders of an EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) and UK citizens who hold a green travel pass are allowed to enter Malta without restrictions.
The EU’s DCC, which was formally launched on July 1, features a QR (quick response) code, which contains the holder’s name and date of birth, the card’s date of issue, and a certificate of vaccination, test or recovery from COVID-19. Its aim is to facilitate freedom of movement in the EU.
In recent days, Malta International Airport has been inundated with tourists. According to local media reports, long queues have formed at the airport as the incoming tourists’ COVID documents are meticulously checked to filter out the odd infected visitor.
Europe’s air travel industry has warned that the DCC verification process is still “fragmented,” which threatens travel safety on the continent.
In a letter addressed to the EU member states’ leaders and signed by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), the industry has urged the EU member states’ leaders to “harmonize DCC verification standards and protocols, to avoid unnecessary airport queues and ensure a smooth passenger experience.”
According to the signatories, no less than ten different national approaches and solutions are currently under review across the EU. “A lack of full and effective integration of the DCC in the passenger journey, as well as duplication of document checks both pre-departure and upon arrival” threatens the restart of air travel this summer and “will undermine free movement of citizens across the EU,” the letter…