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Written by: Ouyang Dehao
2021-04-06 11:00
Last update date: 2021-04-06 11:00
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has been raging around the world for more than a year. The new crown vaccination work of local governments has been carried out in full swing, and even more than half of the nationals of some countries have completed the vaccination.
In order to resume economic exchanges as soon as possible, following the introduction of the concept of "tourism bubble", the "vaccine passport" has also followed, and has become a topic of heated discussion in Hong Kong near Japan.
Although China, the European Union and other places are planning to introduce vaccine passports, there is no unified standard in various places, and even the political factors behind it have been questioned. The vaccine is used as a diplomatic bargaining chip.
Huang Jiarong, chief lecturer of the Department of Hotel and Tourism at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Hakking Wong), said that it is inevitable to take into account the benefits of immigration measures around the world, including national security or economic benefits.
"While one has the most resources, one may have Say (the right to speak)."
In order to resume economic exchanges as soon as possible, following the introduction of the concept of "tourism bubble", the "vaccine passport" has also followed, and has become a topic of heated discussion in Hong Kong near Japan.
(Photo/Photo by Luo Guohui)
Scholar: Vaccine passport is a tool for travel bubbles
Hong Kong and Singapore reached an agreement last year to establish an "air travel bubble", but the fourth wave of outbreaks suddenly broke out in Hong Kong before sailing, and the plan was urgently stopped.
However, the agreement negotiated between the two places at that time required travelers to undergo virus testing after departure, arrival, and stay for more than a certain period of time.
Huang Jiarong believes that cumbersome procedures involve time and travel expenses. Therefore, the concept of tourism bubbles initially only attracted tourists who had to go, such as business dealings or family visits.
However, the emergence of vaccine passports seems to bring a ray of light to the tourism industry.
Huang said that when the two places discussed the travel bubble last year, they had not yet been vaccinated on a large scale, and could only use multiple virus tests to ensure safety. "It can be more troublesome to call." But the vaccine passport can be a tool under the travel bubble, through science. The establishment of a system of mutual trust in data allows different countries to form large tourism bubbles. "Maybe it is a tourism bubble of a European country, or can we do it in Greater China?"
Related reading: Vaccine Passport | The rich can travel first, personal travel, scholars analyze the five major trends after the epidemic
▼Details of Singapore Tourism Bubbles in 2020▼
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However, now the world's major powers are scrambling to develop vaccines, and then "fighting against vaccines." It is inevitable that people will question the political factors behind them and even use vaccines as a diplomatic bargaining chip.
For example, the European Union proposes a vaccine passport. Member states can allow citizens to be vaccinated with vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency as a condition for mutual clearance. Otherwise, they will not be able to obtain vaccine passports distributed by the European Union.
However, currently there are only 4 vaccines approved by the European Union, namely Fubitai, AstraZeneca, Modena and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The vaccines made in China are not included.
Similarly, the new regulations of the mainland government also indicate that it will provide convenience for foreigners vaccinating China-made vaccines.
At that time, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the new regulations did not affect the current immigration policy, and believed that Western media would politicize the issue.
The world will usher in a period of pain: customs clearance may not resume
Huang Jiarong believes that it is inevitable to take into account the benefits of immigration measures around the world, including national security, that is, whether tourists will pose a threat or economic benefit.
Of course, in addition to the priority consideration of interests, some countries also have political considerations. For example, the border measures between China and North Korea are more relaxed.
"It may not be that North Koreans have great economic interests in China, but they will feel that there are benefits at the political level."
At the same time, each country has different health requirements and vaccine data. It is difficult to admit all vaccinated passengers at once.
Huang believes that the next period of pain will be ushered in. "If you have a vaccine, you can get it as soon as possible. Even next month or at the end of the year, I believe it may not be." Although the World Health Organization should stand in a neutral role and provide authoritative guidance. Let countries follow, but in the current international political environment, he is not optimistic about reaching a consensus among countries.
However, recently, many travel agency leaders have been anxious to get the new crown vaccine. Among them, the executive director of Dongying Tour, Xuan, chose to inject the Kexing vaccine.
Huang suggested that before the experts have determined that the mixed injection can be vaccinated, tourism practitioners should choose a vaccine approved by the region in which they are responsible. "For example, if it is specialized in Europe, will it be BioNTech? If it is transferred to Greater China, it may be returned to Kexing." He estimated that the work flexibility of practitioners will be reduced, and in the future they will only be able to focus on tour groups in specific countries.
▼See the details of the scheduled vaccination and side effects of Kexing and BioNTech in the three pictures▼
What is the reason why China's visas have been relaxed in recent years? Because the Chinese are rich
Therefore, in the foreseeable future, major countries may form regional tourism bubbles through vaccine passports.
As for the poor and backward countries, because they cannot afford vaccines, they are excluded from the tourism bubble, and the day of economic recovery may be far away.
So does the vaccine passport bring unfairness?
Huang Jiarong said frankly that the mainstream countries currently pursue capitalism and free trade. "When you have this kind of thinking dominated, natural interests will go first, and if you have the most resources, you may have Say (the right to speak)." He believes, China is a classic example, from being strictly censored by other places to gradually relaxing visas.
"What's the point? Because the Chinese have money and want to attract Chinese people to spend, I have to open up the visa policy."
According to the Henley Passport Index (HPI Henry Passport Index) published in October last year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport ranks 18, with 170 visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries; while the Chinese passport ranks 67 with 75 countries, compared to India, Vietnam, Mongolia, etc. The neighbouring area is higher.
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