Global Safety Stamp To Boost Post-COVID-19 Tourism Recovery
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a self-certified Safe Travel Stamp based on worldwide industry protocols. The stamp aims to boost post-Covid-19 tourism recovery by enabling travellers to experience ‘Safe Travels’ by recognising destinations and service providers who have adopted globally standardised protocols in terms of health and hygiene.
Eligible tourism service providers such as accommodation establishments, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, short term rentals, car rentals, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports, will be able to use the stamp once the health and hygiene protocols, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented.
By ‘eligible’, the WTTC means that the Stamp is available to all companies involved in Travel & Tourism (non-WTTC members), international or national-level Travel & Tourism industry associations, WTTC members,
and public destination authorities (national, regional and municipal governments). The stamp is free to use.
Destinations in Africa already signed up (at the time of publishing this article) include Egypt, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa. A full list of all countries can be downloaded here.
In South Africa, Cape Town Tourism, Drakenstein Local Tourism Association (Paarl & Wellington), Franschhoek Wine Valley and Tourism, and Visit Stellenbosch have already joined the growing list of destinations using the Safe Travels Stamp. The Plett Tourism Association are already encouraging their members to use the stamp on websites, email signatures and other communication published digitally or printed. “It is important that we ensure alignment and profiling of our province as part of the #SafeTravels campaign,” said Patty Butterworth in the associations' recent newsletter.
Users of the stamp have to confirm that they have implemented and will ensure ongoing compliance with, the Safe Travels protocols and, in the case of aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s “Takeoff: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis”, as outlined in the WTTC Terms & Conditions.
The Protocols
Most of the eighteen protocols available for download include; Promoting Operational & Staff Preparedness, Delivering A Safe Experience, Rebuilding Trust & Confidence, and Implementing Enabling Policies.
However, it should be noted that while the protocols take into account current WHO and CDC guidelines, they are living documents which the WTTC will update as new information becomes available about COVID-19.
For more information visit https://wttc.org/COVID-19/Safe-Travels-Global-Protocols-Stamp
