The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) presented global health security protocols to resume activity at airports, airlines, and tour operators, after several preliminary sketches.
These measures were designed by representatives of the tourism industry, members of the WTTC, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Council of Airports (ACI), and are based on the standards of the World Health Organization and the Centers for the Disease prevention.
The protocol’s objective is to standardize the criteria for health and hygiene.
Protocol for airports
Includes deep cleaning of luggage carts, counters, security checkpoints, restrooms, elevators, handrails, boarding areas, high-frequency common areas.
It also instructs the use of protective equipment among personnel (masks, face masks, gloves) and signage to limit crowds and assess health risks.
Contact reduction through online check-in, kiosks, and during the delivery of luggage, use of biometric electronic doors, and the reading of boarding passes. Input and output detection through full-body infrared scanners, use of handheld infrared thermometers, and gun thermometers.
Food hygiene in restaurants and the use of prepackages to avoid handling. Redesign of immigration rooms to speed up procedures. Use of technology for arrival declarations.
For airlines
The protocol instructs the use of protective equipment among staff (face masks, face masks, gloves), the reduction of contact points through online check-in, kiosks, printed luggage labels at home, biometric doors, and reading of boarding passes.
There will be hand sanitizer in high traffic areas and deep cleaning of all areas of the plane, bathrooms, and departure rooms. In addition, it is urged to limit movement in the cabin, as much as possible.
Finally, the training of personnel on hygiene measures and infection control is provided.
For tour operators
There will be sanitation, disinfection, and deep cleaning in vehicles, at contact points (handrails, handles, tables, toilets, and air filters).
Preassigned seating plans should limit physical contact and lines.
There must be a staggering time to access rooms, hotels, and restaurants. Sanitation, disinfection, hygiene and food safety in restaurants, shops, showrooms, museums, theaters and concert halls, convention centers, and salons.
Correct signage and physical distance for the distribution of seats and aisles. Reduction in the capacity limits of the place and identification of risk areas.
There will be a risk assessment questionnaire prior to the arrival of users.
The WTTC protocol includes an isolation space that must be delimited for users with symptoms of Covid-19.