The tourism industry has developed comprehensive protocols for the operation of all types of tourism businesses or facilities in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protocols align with the World Health Organisation (WHO), National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) and Department of Health (DoH) guidelines and advice and will be revisited as required on an on-going basis. They cover customer information, PPE, physical distancing, sanitisation and hygiene practices, among others, for staff and customers.
We are confident that these extensive protocols enable the travel, tourism, and related industries to operate safely as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Our businesses will be among the safest places to be. The protocols address all the acknowledged risk areas related to travel and tourism. We will ensure the crucial areas of concern for government are addressed through these protocols and the following:
Persons with a higher risk
It is strongly advisable for persons above the age of 65 and or persons with high-risk health issues are healthy when travelling, acknowledge that he/she is well acquainted and fully aware of the risks involved travelling in South Africa and recognise that he/she are at a higher risk of contracting any infectious or contagious disease in Africa including but not limited to Covid-19
It is strongly advisable for persons to pre-book a private vehicle while staying at one of our lodge partner properties
Limit risk of transmission as a result of travelling between districts & provinces.
To travel from home to and from an accommodation establishment – proof of booking must be carried, plus it is recommended that directions or a map of the route also be carried
We would recommend that customers only stop to purchase fuel or other items at a petrol station or permitted retail operation on-route.
Ability to trace contacts in the event of someone testing positive for COVID-19
All operating businesses will obtain and keep guest/visitor/passenger/client details plus recent and planned travel information b. Staff contact details will be up-to-date and all details of staff on all shifts, drivers of vehicles etc., will be meticulously recorded
Declaration form to include
o General health, chronic and other conditions, and medication
o Physical impairments
o Symptoms prior 30 days
o Smoker status and fitness level
o COVID-19 history
o COVID-19 status disclosure signed-off
o Record of trip – full current trip itinerary (past and future) for tracing
o Recent travel history other than this trip – 1 month
o Next of kin/friend not travelling with you name and contact details
o Nationality
o ID or passport number
o Travel insurance declaration and proof (international guests)
The form will state clearly that the client’s details will be shared with local public health authorities if any other client or staff member they may have been in contact with while on your premises or in your vehicle/craft becomes ill with COVID-19. If they will not agree to this, they cannot proceed.
Where an external transport provider is conveying client’s to or from another facility or establishment, e.g., a hotel or an attraction, copies (electronic or on paper in a plastic folder) of the guest medical and travel declaration taken by the transport provider or facility can be passed on to the facility or transport provider, as long as the client’s temperatures are taken again at point/ time of transfer.
Guests will need extensive information and briefings on the COVID-19 protocols. The information and briefings must emphasise that all measures are for guest and staff safety, and cover:
o Hand sanitising and correct hand washing
o Footwear sanitising where applicable
o Surface sanitising
o Physical distancing – spacing and queues
o Use of masks – detail on proper use and specifically what is expected when eating and drinking
o Brief explanation of procedures if someone has a high temperature or COVID-19 symptoms
o Access to medical services and pharmacies
o Other detail per business and sub-sector – such as room cleaning and linen change frequency, food service options and if restaurant
reservations required, dedicated vehicle seat and vehicle entry and exit procedures (which entrance/exit, not to touch doors or seats except one seat and seat belt) etc.
It is mandatory to wear masks with the following exceptions
o In their guest bedroom
o They are a small group in a self-drive hire car
o While eating or drinking
Acceptable masks are cloth masks, surgical masks and N95 respirators. It is expected that most client’s will have their own cloth masks.
. Recommended practice is to use a flat brown paper bag or other cloth bag, which the mask will slide into. The bag should be marked on one side “outside” and the outside of the mask should always be against that side of the bag.
Frequent hand sanitising
Frequent guest and staff hand sanitising and/ or hand washing is critical along with frequent proper sanitising of surfaces and these together are the key defense against COVID-19.
Members of staff using an area continuously, such as a counter, desk or worktop will be responsible for sanitising their surface after very customer or frequently – every 10 – 15 minutes.
Surface sanitising schedules should be drawn up for other areas, which are not used continuously by a member of staff. Schedules will depend on footfall and type of usage and surface. These schedules must be initialed, or updated on an on-line workflow system, to ensure compliance with sanitising requirements.
The space between any persons in public areas and back of house areas should be a minimum of 1.5 meters at all times, with two meters preferred. Exceptions are when one person, e.g., a receptionist or cashier, is wearing a visor, or if there is a Perspex or similar shield between the people concerned.
On Arrival, but before check-in/ pick-up ect.
If a guest has symptoms on arrival before checking-in, before pick-up etc., they should be asked to return home where possible, and asked to contact their healthcare professional and self-isolate and monitor their symptoms. This is unless symptoms are already severe, in which case a medical professional should be consulted immediately. In the case where they are not in their own vehicle, they should be assisted to organise appropriate safe transport home where possible.
Any vehicle used to transport them should be deep cleaned afterwards. If they cannot for any reason (i.e., they are not in their home town) return home, then they must be moved to a designated COVID-19 holding room/ sick bay or a designated COVID-19 hotel room. In the case of the hotel, they can be checked in.
In the case of transport, restaurant, casino or attraction, if they are already checked-in at an accommodation facility in the area, they should, with consultation with the establishment, be returned to that facility for isolation and monitoring. Any vehicle used to transport them should be deep cleaned afterwards. If they are due to check-in that evening, the accommodation establishment concerned must be contacted and asked if they have a self-isolation room which the guest can check-in to. If not, they should be assisted to move into an identified self-isolation accommodation establishment.
Clients with symptoms
Based on the medical professional ’s recommendation the guest should either be:
o Referred for a COVID-19 test
o Examined (in room, or using safe transport to a GP) by a GP
o Recommended to continue self-isolating – with or without medication
o Referred directly to a hospital for admission
