IATA’s Interactive World Map Shows Travel Restrictions by Country
Free website to help travelers navigate constantly changing border entry rules is updated more than 200 times a day
For confused travelers whose heads are spinning with daily news announcing “openings” that are not really open, the International Air Transport Association is providing a free online interactive world map showing the latest COVID-19 entry regulations by country.
The map uses the organization’s Timatic database to show information on documentation needed for international travel. The system updates more than 200 times a day showing accurate travel restrictions to specific areas based on citizenship and country of residence.
The link can be viewed here. Providing the traveling public with updated information is part of an overall strategy IATA and other key global organizations are developing to coordinate the global recovery in air travel.
‘’As the aviation industry prepares to safely restart, travelers will need to know which countries’ borders are open and what health restrictions exist,” said Anish Chand, IATA’s assistant director, Timatic. “This Timatic offering will be a vital tool for travelers who need easy access to accurate information on entry requirements.”
While the information is timely, it is not fully explanatory. A recent check on Canada, for instance, shows US citizens are exempt from restrictions but then states at the end of the entry that they must fall into specific categories. Turkey’s entry states that all restrictions have been lifted which is not currently the case.
However as an updated supplement to thorough research and a connection with an in-the-know travel consultant, it can be a useful tool in the ongoing struggle to stay current during the COVID-19 crisis.
