A comprehensive guide has been developed by ABTA to assist destinations and the wider travel industry during the transition to restarting travel.

The Post Pandemic Recovery document, which is free to all ABTA members, is designed to help identify areas that should be considered when making modifications to operations.

Developed by the association’s Destinations team and a range of external experts, it provides actions that suppliers of travel and tourism services can take to transition through the operational recovery planning and management process.

Topics include:

• The customer journey
• Management responsibility
• Risk assessment
• Refinement of operational and service provisions and procedures
• Health, safety and security
• Communication
• Supply chain management
• Prevention of spread of infection

ABTA head of destinations Angela Hills said: “For many years the Destinations team has worked with destination governments, local authorities, accommodation, transport and excursion providers, and other suppliers of tourist services to support good health and safety management for the benefit of customers and workers in the tourism sector.

“As we collectively embark on the road to restarting travel, it’s important that we continue to collaborate with and support relevant stakeholders to give confidence that people can travel safely again.

“Any changes to operations or safety practices as part of the recovery process should be made in a balanced and proportionate way, with the primary focus being the safety and well-being of staff and customers and should be in accordance with the legislation and public health requirements of the destination concerned.”

ABTA partners and non-members can purchase the guide via abta.com/shop.

ABTA’s Destinations team has also developed a ‘Country Recovery Plans’ page, available in the member zone on abta.com, to host guidance documents that ABTA has received from destination governments or their tourism association.

In addition, ABTA is hosting a webinar, ‘Destination Health and Safety for Post Pandemic Recovery’, on 1 July.

This is free to attend for members and partners, and non-members can pay to attend. To find out more and register, visit abta.com/webinars.