Global Guidelines to Reopen Tourism by UNWTO

Saturday 30th of May 2020

Global Guidelines to Reopen Tourism by UNWTO

On 28th May, The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) released a set of guidelines to help tourism sector emerge stronger and more sustainably from COVID-19. The guidelines highlight the need to act decisively, to restore confidence and, as UNWTO strengthens its partnership with Google, to embrace innovation and the digital transformation of global tourism.

“These guidelines provide both governments and businesses with a comprehensive set of measures designed to help them open tourism up again in a safe, seamless and responsible manner,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. The guidelines were produced in consultation with the Global Tourism Crisis Committee and aim to support governments and private sector to recover from an unparalleled crisis.

The new guide, a follow up of the Recommendations for Action already endorsed by the Committee, is focused on seven priorities for tourism recovery based on the pillars of mitigating the economic impact, developing safety protocols and coordinated responds and fostering innovation.

It highlights the importance of restoring the confidence of the travelers through safety and security protocols designed to reduce risks in each step of the tourism value chain. These protocols include:

• The implementation of check procedures where appropriate

• Inclusion of temperature scans, testing, physical distancing

• Enhanced frequency of cleaning

• Provision of hygiene kits for safe air travel, hospitality services or safe events

Furthermore, as UNWTO strengthens its partnership with Google, The UNWTO Guidelines highlight the opportunity to foster a digital transformation of destinations, companies and employees with initiatives such as the free online training with the UNWTO Online Academy and the implementation of apps such as the Hi Card to improve international interoperability at the airports and hotels.