U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Biden administration rescinding restrictions on travel from eight southern African nations:

“The action by the White House to lift the travel ban on southern African nations is the right decision, given the safety protocols and vaccination and testing requirement in place for U.S. entry. Assessing an individual’s health risk should be the key factor in such determinations, rather than enacting broad travel bans which have not proven to be effective at stopping the virus’ spread.”