The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released the second phase of its protocols designed to rebuild consumer confidence and drive the return of safe travel.

The latest ‘Safe Travels’ measures include protocols for aviation, airports, MICE and tour operators.

Measures relating to airports and airlines have been devised following consultation with WTTC members, including Iberia, Emirates Group, Etihad and the Oman Aviation Group among others.

It has also involved the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI) to rebuild trust and provide reassurance that airports and airlines will offer safe environments in which to fly once travel restrictions are relaxed.

The protocols aim to provide consistency to destinations and countries as well as guidance to travel providers, airlines, airports, operators, and travellers, about the new approach to health and hygiene in the post-Covid-19 world.

WTTC president & CEO, Gloria Guevara, said: “For the first time ever, the global private sector has rallied around our Safe Travels protocols which will create the consistency needed to allow a re-invigorated Travel & Tourism sector re-open for business.

“Among the most important of these measures are those which will enable the aviation sector to take-off. Aviation’s return is critical to help repower the global economic recovery.

“WTTC aviation protocols were created in close collaboration with ACI and IATA. We thank their leaders Angela Gittens and Alexandre de Juniac for their guidance, as it is vital we restore consumer confidence to get people travelling and flying safely again.

“The expertise from large and small tour operators also contributed to define the new experience via tour operators and visiting event venues. These were defined in coordination of experts from this segment, through these robust global measures which have been embraced by businesses around the world.”

Measures announced today (29 May) include:

Airports

• Enhanced cleaning including to self-service equipment, baggage trolleys, counters, buggies, security checkpoints, washrooms, elevators, handrails, boarding areas, and common areas with a specific focus on high-frequency touchpoints
• Provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to staff, such as masks
• New signage and announcements to limit interaction and queuing at touchpoints
• Possible pre-arrival health risk assessment to prevent delays upon arrival
• Reduce passenger touchpoints through online check-in before departure, use of self-check-in kiosks and bag drop, home-printed bag tags, greater use of biometric e-gates and boarding card reading at gates
• If entry-exit screening is mandated, it should be carried out in a non-intrusive, walkthrough manner, through full-body infrared scanners using handheld infrared thermometers, and ear gun thermometers
• Enhanced food safety and hygiene at restaurants, with prepacked foods to avoid handling of food at buffets
• Possible redesign of immigration halls together with governments and airlines to speed up procedures
• Where declarations are required upon arrival, electronic options should be used to minimise contact; ideally using contactless processes.

Airlines

• Provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to staff such as masks
• Reduce passengers’ touchpoints through online check-in before departure, use of self-check-in kiosks and bag drop, home-printed bag tags, greater use of biometric e-gates and boarding card reading at gates
• Provide approved hand sanitisers as appropriate based on high-traffic areas, such as check-in and boarding areas
• Revisited guidance for cleaning teams for all areas of the plane including washrooms, as well as check in and boarding areas, with a specific focus on high-frequency touch points
• Consider boarding from back of the plane to the front, window to aisle
• Limit movement in the cabin as much as possible
• Retrain crew and frontline staff regarding infection control and hygiene measures

Tour operators

• Enhanced sanitation, disinfection, and deep cleaning practices for coaches and other vehicles
• Focused cleaning on high-frequency touch points, including handrails, door handles, tables, onboard toilets, air conditioning filters, overhead lockers and headsets
• Pre-allocated seating plans with no rotation
• Limit physical contact and queuing where possible
• Explore staggered timing for access to venues, hotels and restaurants among others
• Health, sanitation, disinfection and hygiene and food safety protocols at partner restaurants
• Establish with partners and suppliers including shops, showrooms, tasting venues/shops, museums, shows theatres, concert halls, factories and farms, that they follow likely protocols.

Convention Centres, Meetings & Events

• Implement physical distancing for seating distribution and aisles, utilising government guidance if available. Create visual support through clear signage
• Reduce venue capacity limits for participants as appropriate and required by local legislation
• Distinguish between different areas of risk in the venue
• Consider pre-arrival risk assessment questionnaire for participants
• Limit physical interaction and possible queuing at reception and registration using advance registration to enhance participant flow
• Create isolation units outside the venue where possible for those showing Covid-19 symptoms.

Visit wttc.org for more information.