Airlines, travel companies and the tourism industry as a whole face an unprecedented challenge from the coronavirus pandemic. For it to recover, travelers will need to feel confident that their health is protected, therefore there will be a shift to contactless travel and a new security regime.
In this note we tell you about the hygiene measures that the different providers within the tourism industry will be taking once the countries begin to open borders and people begin to travel again.
1. Flights
IATA specified that they are in favor of implementing security measures such as the mandatory use of masks during the trip (both by passengers and crew), temperature check-ups before and after the flight, a new method of boarding and deboarding from the aircraft to avoid agglomerations and to limit cabin movements.
IATA also advocates for the increase in the frequency of cabin cleaning and simplifying meal service to limit interaction between crew and passengers.
2. Hotels
The hotels will include a 360 quality, safety and hygiene program that addresses all aspects of operation and guest experience, from check in to check out, some of them are:
- Health procedure upon arrival at a hotel, including body temperature control at a hygiene check station; cleaning the lobby with high-level disinfectant every hour and cleaning of luggage and personal electronic devices.
- Increased sanitation in all hotel areas, including high human contact areas, such as stairs, elevators, public areas and bathrooms.
- Express check-out service to minimize contact.
3. Restaurants
Restaurants will include a food and drink protocol where social distancing measures will be implemented, while staff will wear masks and use reinforced hygiene techniques.
4. Meetings and events
Business meeting tourism has been one of the tourist segments most affected by the pandemic caused by Covid-19 and will probably be one of the last to recover.
Some event organizers are already working on conducting online events, while others outline new health protocols for their postponed events, some of the measures to be implemented are:
- Temperature check-ups.
- Health kit for participants.
- Personnel and attendants with face masks.
- Set-ups at 50% capacity.
- Microphone and equipment sanitation.
- Use of digital devices for internal communication of the event.
5. Transportation
Sanitized units, drivers wearing face masks and gloves, who take care of handling doors and luggage. The units will limit their capacity to 50%.
