Abta is highlighting child safety abroad by updating an online training tool in conjunction with child welfare charity ECPAT UK.
The online facility covers all child-safeguarding issues relevant to the travel industry.
Staff will be encouraged to report potential cases of child labour while specific advice is offered to employees responsible for managing the contracting and subcontracting supply chain.
The enhanced e-learning has different courses for different audiences, and covers:
• Risks to children of abuse and exploitation in travel and tourism sector
• Developing child safeguarding policies and procedures
• Implementing child safeguarding policies and procedures
Abta aims to ensure that travel industry staff – from travel agent staff to tour operator representatives based in resort – are well equipped to deal with any issues they may become aware of, recognising the role they can have in looking out for and reporting potentially abusive behaviour.
The association has worked closely with ECPAT UK on child welfare issues for many years.
The training is the third course to be introduced on the association’s Knowledge Zone e-learning portal.
Members can access the Knowledge Zone either through Abta’s new education and careers hub or at abta.com/abtaknowledgezone.
The online training will be free to members while non-members can purchase the training tool for £29 per user.
Abta destinations and sustainability director Nikki White said: “As an industry we can support the protection of children by being aware of different types of issues and the risks that could arise with regards to child safety.
“Abta and our members are taking a long term, active role in child safeguarding. This means putting procedures in place to deal with this very sensitive issue and to support the protection of both children travelling to destinations and those living there.
“This training is relevant for all staff, as the welfare of children can cut across many parts of the businesses. Anyone who has completed this training before will find it helpful to do the updated course, which takes account of new developments in this area.”
ECPAT UK chief executive Bharti Patel added: “ECPAT has a long history of working with the travel industry on child safeguarding issues and we are happy to be working with Abta once again to refresh this essential training tool.
“Children everywhere have a right to be kept safe from harm and this updated tool will give travel professionals an understanding of the specific risks children face in travel and tourism, the importance of robust child safeguarding policies, and procedures to identify and protect vulnerable children.”