ATEC aligns with WTTC Safe Travel protocols

September 21, 2020

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has aligned with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to issue Australian tourism businesses with the globally recognised ‘Safe Travel’ stamp.

The stamp developed by WTTC to recognise businesses which adopt standardised health and hygiene protocols.

WTTC recently announced that in just three short months, 100 destinations are now using its ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, with the Philippines becoming the official 100th destination. The widespread adoption of the stamp demonstrates that WTTC and all its global members have the safety and hygiene of travellers as their top priority.

The stamp, which was developed in order to help restore confidence in travellers and work to revive an ailing Travel and Tourism sector, is now also being used by many more major holiday destinations such as the Maldives, Bermuda, Namibia, Uganda and Montenegro.

ATEC has incorporated the Safe Travel branding - designed as a recognisable health and safety trademark for consumers globally - into its COVID Ready program.

ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley advises “ATEC has developed the rigorous, sector specific ‘COVID Ready’ program which aligns with the standards defined by the WTTC. The ATEC program enables tourism businesses to identify COVID risk points within the customer journey and implement risk management solutions, all of which are captured in a COVID Ready plan aligned with state and national regulatory requirements.

“ATEC has incorporated the WTTC Safe Travels branding as part of our Tourism Trade Checklist which recognises businesses who have completed and uploaded a COVID Ready Plan. The WTTC Safe Travel global branding is another level of recognition which will assist Australian tourism businesses to stand out in the international marketplace.

“As an organisation with the authority to endorse tourism businesses, ATEC is able to connect Australian tourism businesses with global Safe Travel protocols which quickly verifies a business’s compliance.”

Over the past few months ATEC has been developing a comprehensive strategy to meet the needs of the industry and expectations of the global traveller once international borders open. The strategy, titled #TravelSafeAustralia includes three components working together to ensure quality COVID Safe experiences, the components include;

• COVID Ready suppliers – all suppliers servicing the international market have completed and uploaded a COVID Ready plan into ATEC Tourism Trade Checklist portal and have received the WTTC Safe Travels stamp and ready for international visitors.

• COVID Risk Reduction – an alignment with goPassport biometric risk management system, a comprehensive, real-time COVID-19 alert system for inbound international travellers.

• COVID Safe Managed Travel - Australian based inbound tour operators (ITOs) taking accountability for the COVID Safe travel of international visitors from arrival to departure.

#TravelSafeAustralia is a leading strategy to re-engage international travellers in a safe and structured way, delivering a strong and clear message around both our expectations and responsibilities in mitigating the risk of COVID in our community and for visitors.

Shelley adds “we are pleased to be able to connect to the global Safe Travel program in supporting the WTTC in its work to ensure the safety of the global travel workforce and travellers as the sector shifts to a new normal.”

19th September 2020 - The Philippines revealed as 100th destination to receive WTTC Safe Travels stamp

4th September 2020 - WTTC launches Safe Travel protocols for adventure tourism

16th August 2020 - WTTC calls for leadership from Australian Government to save tourism

25th July 2020 - Dubai and Indonesia are latest recipients of WTTC Safe Travels stamp

23rd June 2020 - ATEC warns domestic travel not a simple fix for Australia’s tourism industry

9th June 2020 - Global tourist destinations sign up to the WTTC global safety and hygiene stamp

28th May 2020 - WTTC launches world’s first global safety stamp

13th May 2020 - ATEC highlights the harsh reality of a tourism industry in crisis

13th May 2020 - Trip.com Group to oversee WTTC initiative to help revive tourism sector

1st May 2020 - WTTC outlines ‘the new normal’ when travelling resumes

30th April 2020 - ATEC part of new Tourism Restart Taskforce to strengthen industry COVID-19 response

23rd April 2020 - WTTC calls on G20 leaders to coordinate recovery for the tourism industry

22nd April 2020 - ATEC considers diverse and competitive airlines to be critical to Australian tourism

17th April 2020 - WTTC commends global tourism industry for helping during COVID-19

6th March 2020 - ATEC highlights the ongoing threat of Coronavirus to export tourism industry

17th January 2020 - ATEC emphasises the need for positive messages to international tourists

20th September 2019 - WTTC and Deloitte unveil initiative to ensure tourism success during the digital revolution

10th April 2019 - WTTC launches tourism best practices toolkit to inform governments

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