MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago has called for new measures to help revitalise the travel and tourism industry.

Speaking at the virtual G20 Summit, the MSC Cruises boss addressed tourism ministers from the G20 Group of Nations and senior executives representing leading travel and tourism brand from across the world.

Vago called for the industry to embrace rapid testing technology and harmonise protocols to revitalise the travel and tourism industry.

He urged business leaders to work with public authorities to harmonise health and protocols with rapid Covid-19 protocols – what he believes will accelerate the sectors’ recovery.

MSC Cruise executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “I am here today to talk about our experience of in August being the first major cruise line to restart operations in the Mediterranean, following the global halt to cruise operations by our entire industry in March due to the pandemic.”

The chairman then went onto detail MSC’s advanced health protocol, listing its nine key pillars.

These include testing of guests and crew, shore excursions as bubbles, ventilation with HVAC, contingency response, isolation space on board and tracking and tracing, physical distancing and masks.

Vago continued: “The core element of the protocol is our universal testing of all guests and crew before embarkation to create a sterile and safe bubble, which protects them throughout their time with us.

“We are now in the midst of our eighth sailing with a second vessel due to restart later this month with a longer itinerary, and we have safely carried 16,000 guests.

“Throughout, we have been rigorous in the implementation of our protocol and have had to deny embarkation to well over 100 guests for testing positive, travelling with someone who tested positive, not having the correct medical paperwork or for infractions of our protocol.

“Our data shows that in a pandemic where up to 80 per cent of those infected in the current outbreak are mild or asymptomatic according to the latest WHO data, there can be no doubt that testing is the key.”

Vago concluded by highlighting to the summit that cruise ships are considered amongst the safety holidays in the world.

The virtual event was hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

“The event’s goal way to support the recovery of the travel and tourism industry.”

Yesterday (7 October) CLIA global members agreed to Covid-19 testing for all passengers and crew before boarding, on vessels with 250 or more passengers.