The move by the WTTC is part of an extended partnership with the World Economic Forum, which will also promote the Safe and Seamless Traveller Programme that aims to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the global travel and tourism industry.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC’s chief executive, said: “We believe that through our leadership and collective expertise, we will be better able to raise awareness on the importance of travel and tourism and drive forward strong research and initiatives for its sustainable development.”

The Common Trust Network is seen as a “crucial mechanism” to create a “harmonised, standards-based trust framework” to facilitate health status verification around the world, which will allow travel to restart and recover during the ongoing pandemic.

Christoph Wolff, head of mobility at the World Economic Forum, added: “The Common Trust Network is an ambitious but necessary collaboration across and beyond the travel and tourism ecosystem, which will harmonise programmes related to digital Covid-19 test results and health record verification.”