As of April 28, 2020
TRANSITIONING TO THE NEW NORMAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR TRAVEL AND TOURS
In preparation for the transition to the “new normal” caused by COVID-19 pandemic, travel and tour services are directed to
adopt the following operational guidelines to help contain the spread of a pandemic, prevent health emergencies and to ensure the
safety of guests and employees. These guidelines are adopted based mainly on the recommendations of the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH).
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
I. PRE-TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Regularly check government’s health
and travel advisory that includes
localized ordinances, airport and
seaport announcements prior to
confirmation/implementation of a
travel booking.
2. Consider and adopt digital modes of
payment and implement online
transaction for foreign and domestic
tourists.
3. Implement mandatory travel
insurance for every travel booking.
Insurance options include trip
cancellation insurance, travel health
insurance or medical evacuation
insurance.
4. Revise and adopt appropriate and
reasonable tour operator refund
policy.
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
I. PRE-TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (cont.)
5. The tour operator shall keep a
directory of clinics and hospitals
located in the city / municipality
where the tourist attraction is, at all
times. There must be at least two (2)
public and private hospitals,
respectively, in the list, including their
addresses and hotline numbers.
6. Require both domestic and foreign
tourists to fill up a travel record /
history from the beginning of 2020
and require medical certificate from a
government hospital.
7. Adopt new itineraries, taking into
consideration data and information
from the Department of Health and
carefully review historical foot traffic
of the destinations being sold.
8. Selling attractions that have cramped
indoor settings and places that are
frequented by non-tourists, such as
shopping malls, market places, parks,
medical facilities or hospitals, flee
markets, etc. is highly discouraged.
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
I. PRE-TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (cont.)
9. Regular updates/briefing of tour
guides about personal hygiene,
respiratory etiquettes, appropriate
use of PPEs, and other necessary
safety measures against COVID-19.
should be mandatory.
10. Information such as contact details of
tourists (mobile or email address),
including contact person in case of
emergency, name and address of the
hotel where they are staying, and
corresponding consulate / embassy
for foreign tourists must be collected
by the travel and tour agency.
11. Tours to zoos, pet parlors, pet
exhibits, or any activity that involves
human-animal interaction may be
allowed but with restrictions. Guests
shall be highly discouraged to touch
animals, poultry, birds, reptiles etc.
Droppings shall always be cleaned
and collected regularly.
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
I. PRE-TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (cont.)
12. Tour groups shall be arranged in
accordance with the passenger limit
guidelines for vehicles and social
distancing measures of 1 seat/meter
apart. An appropriate vehicle for the
size of the group is as follows:
Car/Sedan – not more than three
(3) passengers including the
driver and tour guide. No
passenger seated in front
passenger seat.
Vans – only two (2) passengers
per row are allowed.
Buses and coasters – only 50%
of the total capacity is allowed or
one (1) seat apart.
II. TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Body temperature checking on all
tourists. Only tourists cleared during
the screening shall be allowed to
proceed with the tour. Those with
fever and flu-like symptoms shall be
referred to the nearest health facility
for medical examination.
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
II. TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (cont.)
2. Mandatory briefing of tourists on the
preventive measures and health
protocols, especially on respiratory
etiquette and hand hygiene before
the start of the tour.
3. Mandatory wearing of surgical masks
throughout the duration of the trip.
4. Provision of complete sanitary kit
comprising of disposable tissue
paper, surgical masks, vomit bags,
70% solution alcohol and other
medical supplies.
5. Tourists are required to sanitize /
wash their hands before alighting and
boarding the vehicle.
6. Social distancing of at least one (1)
meter apart must be practiced by
both tour guide and tourists at all
times during the tour.
II. TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (cont.)
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
7. The driver / maintenance personnel
shall clean and disinfect the interior of
the vehicle before and after carrying
tourists. Additional sanitation shall be
made in the absence of tourists, while
visiting an attraction or dining.
8. Mandatory check-up and inspection
of air-conditioning system to ensure
good ventilation and ensure that
windows are in good condition and
openable in case of busted air-
conditioning system at all times.
10. Impose a no-spitting, no-littering
policy inside the bus, public areas
and attractions.
11. The tour guide shall remind tourists at
the end of the trip to wear face masks
consistently for at least fourteen (14)
days. The tourist who experiences
symptoms of the disease upon return
shall inform the tour operator about
his / her medical condition.
III. POST-TRIP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
ESSENTIA NOT OPTIONA REMARKS / SUGGESTED
PROPOSED GUIDELINE
L ESSENTIAL L REVISION
1. The travel agency shall give the latest
relevant travel advice and warnings
to tourists after the trip. This
opportunity may also be used by the
travel agency to advertise its tour
packages to destinations that are
clear of COVID-19.
2. A record of tourists’ profile per group
tour shall be kept for at least six (6)
months for possible contact tracing.
The profile shall contain information
on contact details, indicators of
symptoms, attractions visited,
restaurants dined in and hotels
stayed.
Name of Respondent :
Organization/Agency :
Date :
References:
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
As of April 28, 2020
Center for Disease Control Prevention (March 26, 2019). Traveler’s Health. Travel Insurance: Peace of Mind While You Travel. Retrieved from: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/insurance
Centre for Health Protection (Hong Kong). (2020). Guidelines on Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 019 (COVID-19) for Tour Leaders and Tour Guides Operating Overseas Tours. Retrieved from:
https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/nia_tour_leaders_and_tour_guides_operating_overseas_tours_en.pdf
DOT Guidelines on Social Distancing and Community Quarantine for Land Transport.
Transitioning to the New Normal: Health and Safety Guidelines for Travel and Tours
