WTTC gives global destinations stamp of approval for safety protocols

Major tourist destinations around the world – including Turkey, Mauritius and Bulgaria – have signed up to the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The endorsements come just a couple of weeks after the WTTC launched the special ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, to enable travellers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted its standardised global health and hygiene protocols. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) also embraced the standard. Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The number of global destinations adopting our private sector protocols is growing at a rapid pace. It’s hugely gratifying and shows the success and importance of the WTTC Safe Travels stamp. “The stamp is vital to re-establish worldwide consumer confidence in travel and tourism and so travellers can be sure that enhanced standards of hygiene are in place for them to be able to travel safely. “As WTTC health and hygiene protocols, affecting hotels, restaurants, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, restaurants, outdoor shopping and transportation are implemented, so the list of destinations recognising the new stamp also continues to grow.’’ Other destinations embracing the WTTC protocols include Jamaica, Ontario (Canada), Portugal, Saudi Arabia and the Mexican destinations of Baja California Sur and Yucatan. Popular city destinations which have obtained the new stamp of approval include Barcelona, Cancun, Madrid and Seville. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkish Minister of Culture & Tourism claimed Turkey has been a role model for the world during Covid-19 with its health system and treatment methods. “We have also pioneered setting the direction for safe tourism with a certification programme for normalisation of tourism and we are now glad to see WTTC bringing the efforts to a global level,’’ he said. The WTTC protocols were devised following the experience of the organisation’s members dealing with Covid-19 and based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, travel and tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330m total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.