A new standard has been developed for adventure holidays following increased calls to make overseas activity trips safer.
The British Standards Institute has launched the ‘BS 8848: A specification for adventurous activities, expeditions, visits and fieldwork outside the UK’ aimed at reducing risk of injury.
Gap year travel companies and adventure holiday operators are being encouraged to adopt the voluntary standard meaning they will have to conform to good practice when organising trips and make sure suppliers abroad adhere to the safety guidelines.
The idea for the standard was originally proposed by Peter Eisenegger whose daughter Claire died of heat stroke while on a gap year expedition.
BSI developed the standard with a technical committee which included ABTA head of legal services Simon Bunce, who is recommending its activity and adventure holiday members to sign up.
He said: “We were pleased to work with the BSI on this and feel sure it will contribute to the well being of travellers on high risk trips.”