The travel world is undergoing a sea of changes at the moment and consequently, it has redefined travel space characterized by sustainability, agility and resilience. Collaboration holds the license to the future and rightly so.

The use of digital technology will see new heights than ever before. Next, the development of a cohesive policy and legal regime surrounding the use of digital technologies in place should strike a balance between the protection of civil rights and public health. Finally, the travel ecosystem should ensure the integration of different digital identity solutions. The role played by organizations including International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will be vital to bring aviation and health priorities, policies and guidelines together. Paper-based passports are still the primary form of identity for travelers. A contactless world would demand the deployment of standardized digital travel credentials and initiatives such as IATA’s ONE ID concept, which espouses biometrics for a seamless journey, must be adapted and accelerated to this novel context.

Ultimately, the pandemic has set off two trends that have been in the offing for some time. One is seamless travel, where the body and face is the passport. The idea of decentralized identity has been floating for a while which allows the individual possess and control identity attributes including the place and date of birth and physical characteristics, in addition to health info, details of travel history, and other data. Pooled together, these trends will ensure travel is efficient, enjoyable and safe.

Automation of the travel sector will know no bounds. That, for me, will be the new normal. Biometrics will play a vital role than ever before in the area of identity verification and their use will ensure fingerprint and hand scanners are the first routine-tests that travellers have to undergo and pass through.  Not just these, touchless options will emerge including the likes of contactless fingerprint, in addition to face and iris recognition all serving at the frontline of COVID-19 battle.

The role of touchless data entry solutions such as touchless document scanning, gesture control and voice commands can turn out to be indispensible. Great care must be taken to make sure these technologies are inclusive, and to get rid of the risk of potential biases. From Touchless Entrance Solutions including converting sliding doors to revolving doors, contactless entry, retrofitting air curtains, and integrating external access control system, there are always new ways to invest in innovation to check the spread of COVID-19 and other potential infections in the future, and ​ mitigate health risks involving Corona virus. Other takeaways include lowering building energy waste and costs, and secure and faster access to destination.