Abta has published a Post Pandemic Recovery guide to help destinations and the travel industry in the “complex transition” to restarting travel.
The Travel Association noted the “catastrophic impact” of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global travel and tourism industry as it launched the guide, which identifies areas that travel providers, suppliers and destination governments should look at during the recovery.
Developed by Abta’s destinations team with assistance from external experts, the association says the guide offers a “holistic view” of the actions those in the industry can take to transition through the operational recovery planning and management process.
Topics include the customer journey, management responsibility, risk assessment, refinement of operational and service provisions and procedures, health, safety and security, communication, supply chain management and prevention of spread of infection.
The guide is not intended to replace local government or public health authority guidance but has been designed to complement the Abta Tourism Accommodation Health and Safety Technical Guide and other publications and guidance from Abta.
Angela Hills, Abta’s head of destinations, said: “For many years the Abta Destinations team has worked with governments, local authorities, accommodation, transport and excursion providers, and other suppliers of tourist services to support good health and safety management for the benefit of customers and workers in the tourism sector.
“As we collectively embark on the road to restarting travel, it’s important that we continue to collaborate with and support relevant stakeholders to give confidence that people can travel safely again. Any changes to operations or safety practices as part of the recovery process should be made in a balanced and proportionate way, with the primary focus being the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers and should be in accordance with the legislation and public health requirements of the destination concerned.”
Hills thanked contributors including BeSafe Ltd, IGI Ltd, Intertek Cristal, Preverisk Group, Professor Rodney Cartwright and Travelife for their “invaluable” expertise.
The guide is free to all Abta members, while Abta partners and non-members can purchase it. It is available in English and is being translated into eight more languages: Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish.
Abta’s destinations team has also developed a ‘country recovery plans’ page to host guidance documents it has received from governments or tourism associations.
A webinar, ‘Destination Health and Safety for Post Pandemic Recovery’, will be hosted on July 1, where further details and insights from the guide will be discussed.