WTTC has worked with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (Atta), as well as leading operators in the sector, including Abercrombie & Kent, Intrepid and The Travel Corporation, to create a range of protocols to “support the safe, healthy and responsible restart” of adventure tourism.

The measures for adventure travel include:

• Reducing participant capacity limits for activities to allow for physical distancing
• Ensuring activity difficulty levels do not exceed guests’ ability and skill - decreasing the need for possible rescue
• Providing clear, consistent, and up-to-date communication on new health and hygiene protocols through the organisation’s channels
• Promoting contact tracing apps if required by local legislation
• Sharing guest guidelines ahead of trip or activity digitally and in- person upon arrival on the basis of advice from health authorities
• Encouraging guests to purchase tickets online
• Keeping the same households, families or groups together for all activities to lower risk of exposure when possible
• Encouraging guests to bring their own equipment or gear, such as bikes, skis, and helmets
• Limiting physical contact and queuing where possible

These adventure travel protocols are part of WTTC’s Safe Travels initiative designed to give consumers confidence about travelling again as the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC chief executive, said: “We know travellers will want to explore the world around them once more, so long as they are confident in their safety. The return of travel and tourism will help power the world’s much-needed economic recovery, which is why these protocols are so important.

“The expertise from businesses large and small has contributed to define the new experience for travellers, and these robust global measures have been embraced around the world.”

Shannon Stowell, chief executive of Atta, added that the priority was for adventure travel to “come back strong, resilient and sustainably”. 

“WTTC and Atta collaborating on global guidelines for adventure travel is a significant effort to support companies worldwide in reopening as quickly and safely as possible," said Stowell.