Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1379774
9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 T he unveiling of the electronic COVID-19 vaccine certificate by the Maltese authorities earlier this week was an important step in the recovery process. e vaccine certificate will enable certain social events to recommence because it makes controls easier to im- plement. It provides hope that life can start having a semblance of normality, even if vigilance and personal hygiene must remain top priorities. e vaccine certificate also makes it possible for Maltese who opt to trav- el abroad for their holidays to return back to Malta with no hassle. However, the utilisation of vaccine certificates for international travel re- mains erratic at best. Although the EU has agreed on a common digital certificate to ease travel between member states, the sys- tem is slated to become operational on 1 July. Some member states like Germa- ny, Greece, Croatia and Malta have launched their national systems. But unlike some of these countries, Malta is so far not accepting certifi- cates from other States. is decision is baffling, more so when tourism com- petitor countries like Greece and Cro- atia have said they will recognise vac- cine certificates issued by other States. Croatia has even reached a bilateral agreement with Hungary to recognise certificates from that country despite having also used the Russian Sputnik vaccine, which has not received ap- proval from the European Medicines Authority. While Malta should stick to certifi- cates related to vaccines approved by the European Medicines Authority, it risk falling behind its competitors by not recognising foreign vaccine certif- icates. At this point in time, only persons with a Maltese vaccine certificate – for which read Maltese and residents of Malta – can exempt themselves of the requirement to get a negative PCR test for entry into Malta. is is a setback for tourism since it requires visitors to have a negative COVID test prior to boarding even if they are fully vaccinated. It is an added inconvenience and possibly an expense that some other competing destina- tions are doing without when accept- ing foreign certificates. e government has said it is in the process of negotiating bilateral agree- ments with several countries for the mutual recognition of vaccine certif- icates pending the EU system coming into force. No such agreement has been an- nounced so far. ese agreements have to be concluded as soon as possible, especially with EU member states that are also issuing electronic vaccine cer- tificates. Malta cannot risk falling be- hind in a cutthroat recovery. Malta needs tourism to restart and to do so it is necessary to make cross-bor- der travel easier, while ensuring that all safety precautions are maintained. is is not a call to abandon the cau- tionary approach that the health au- thorities have adopted over the past few months to bring the pandemic un- der control. But if people have willingly accepted to take the vaccine because it provides hope that normalcy could soon return, it makes little sense to ignore inocula- tions as part of an opening strategy to reboot ailing economies. Malta depends on tourism and while it should continue adopting a cautious approach, it cannot simply shut out vaccine certificates as a useful tool to make it easier for travellers to reach the islands. Malta must accept COVID certificates 3.6.2021