The latest edition of the Abta ‘Blue Book’ tourism accommodation health and safety technical guide has been published.
The 2023 version has been comprehensively reviewed and updated by Abta’s destinations team together with a range of external experts and tour operators.
The 268-page guide, now in its fifth edition, covers health and safety topics including risk management; fire, pool, water and food hygiene safety; security; waterparks; fuel and energy management; transport; legionella; incident management; and natural disasters.
The travel association stressed that the guide is not intended to supersede or replace local law or regulations with regards to safety, health, hygiene and security, but can be used by accommodation providers to assist in the development of their own safety and risk management programme, in conjunction with compliance with local, regional and national safety legislation.
Digital and hard copies of the guide are free for Abta members, who are encouraged to share it with their suppliers.
The Abta destinations team also recently updated online supplier health, safety and security training videos to remind tourism accommodation providers of the importance of reviewing health, safety and security management processes.
Abta head of destinations Angela Hills said: “Good management of health, safety and security is fundamental in delivering fantastic travel experiences and has been an essential part of the destinations team’s work here at Abta for many years.
“I’m therefore delighted that we’re launching the latest edition of the Tourism Accommodation Health & Safety Technical Guide and would like to thank our members and the team of international health, safety and security specialists who contributed to its production. Their expertise has been invaluable.”
Jeff Wilks, managing director of the consulting group Tourism Safety, professor at the Griffith Institute for Tourism at Griffith University in Australia, and regular user of the guide, said: “This new guide, revised and updated, provides the most detailed and comprehensive coverage of tourist health and safety practice areas available worldwide.
“The guide is the current industry benchmark in health and safety support for tourism operators and destination managers.”
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