Safety standards key as industry recovers from COVID-19
A new report published in Travel Law Quarterly https://lnkd.in/gMdhNpes highlights the important role of safety standards in tourism as the industry recovers from COVID-19 lockdowns. Safety standards are seen as a key element in rebuilding consumer trust and confidence. (Jeff Wilks, Psychologist & Professor)
COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the importance of health and safety standards across all service industries, especially international tourism. The protection of visitors and the delivery of quality service are now essential for destinations to be competitive and to attract tourists in the New Normal.
In the context of COVID-19, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently released its International Code for the Protection of Tourists2 while the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) took a very operational approach with its ‘Safe Travels’: Global Protocols & Stamp for the New Normal. Both groups have highlighted the importance of clear minimum international standards for the tourism industry.
The WTTC approach divides global protocols into four pillars:
1. Promoting Operational & Staff Preparedness
2. Delivering a Safe Experience
3. Rebuilding Trust & Confidence
4. Implementing Enabling Policies
The WTTC protocols have been applied to a range of tourism activities and settings, such as: Adventure Tourism, Hospitality, Tour Operators, Attractions, Convention Centres, Meetings and Events, and considerations of Insurance.
COVID-19 has raised consumer expectations about health and safety, to the extent, it can be argued, that there is no returning to lax standards.
Industry standards are generally not legally binding on tourism operators, though they are often part of licensing, accreditation, or industry memberships. Standards can be used in legal proceedings as a guide or measure of acceptable local practice and form the basis of legally enforceable regulations under legislation. A range of standards are available to assist tourism operators, especially from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which for adventure tourism, for example, states:
A provider can use this International Standard for the following:
a) to enhance safety performance;
b) to meet expectations for participant and staff safety;
c) to demonstrate safe practice;
d) to support compliance with applicable legal requirements.
Source
Travel Law Quarterly
Author
Jeff Wilks
Managing Director
Tourism Safety
Links
- Adventure tourism – Safety management systems
- Australian Adventure Activity Standard and associated Good Practice Guides
- Adventure Travel Guide Standard
- Activity Safety Guidelines for Adventure Activities (NZ)
Have a story to tell or news to share
Let us know by submitting a news story, an article, a review, a white paper and more …
Submit
