WTTC Teams with WEF on Biometric Passenger Identification Standards

“…the WTTC said that it will work with the WEF to promote international harmonization of digital traveller systems through the use of standards that will promote interoperability.”

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has another new ally in its efforts to promote the use of biometrics and other cutting-edge technologies for traveller identity management: The industry alliance has teamed up with the World Economic Forum.

In a statement announcing the partnership, the WTTC said that it will work with the WEF to promote international harmonization of digital traveller systems through the use of standards that will promote interoperability. And the WTTC emphasized that both organizations “are committed to increasing the use of biometric-enabled technology as the way to increase passenger efficiency while improving border security.”

The organization went on to note that the World Economic Forum is already deeply involved in this effort through its Known Traveller Digital Identity initiative, which is aimed at combining biometric identification and blockchain distributed ledger technology to enable robust passenger identification. The project is highly complementary to the WTTC’s Seamless Traveller Journey program, which identified the KTDI initiative as an emerging model of how biometric passenger identification could be put into place.

The trend toward biometric passenger identification is already well underway, with government agencies like US Customs and Border Protection looking to such technologies to enhance border security, and private sector airlines and airports seeing advantages in using biometrics to speed up customer processing. But the bulk of this is happening without the guidance of overarching, international standards.

Commenting on the partnership, WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara explained that the global travel and tourism industry is expected to see tremendous growth over the next ten years, and said that it’s crucial “to maximise the growth in a way that ensures safe and hassle-free travel by using biometric technology.” Guevara added that the collaboration with the WEF will help to ensure that “the different solutions can work together and successfully achieve ‘interoperability’ so that a traveller can move seamlessly from one part of their journey to another using biometric technology.”

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July 22, 2019 – by Alex Perala