New guidelines ensure insurance adequately covers travellers in the COVID-19 world (photo courtesy Unsplash/Xavier Mounton Photographie).
New travel insurance guidelines have now been developed by The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The guidelines are designed to drive the return of travel and ensure the insurance sector is fit for purpose to cover travellers in the COVID-19 world. They aim to promote consistent standards and with an increased focus on health and safety.
The guidelines were compiled with input from leading companies, many of whom have already partnered with public health experts and governments.
“We have worked closely with key players across the travel insurance industry to make recommendations to ensure individual travellers, groups and organisations can feel safe and confident enough to travel,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and chief executive officer.
It is hoped that the measures outlined in the guidelines will help travel insurers develop products with every contingency needed to enable travel to recommence.
Detailed discussions took place between key stakeholders and organisations to ensure maximum buy-in, alignment and practical implementation.
The guidelines are an evolving document and have been divided into four pillars, including operational and staff preparedness, ensuring a safe experience, rebuilding trust and confidence, innovation and implementing enabling policies.
WTTC has also unveiled Safe Travels protocols for hospitality, retail, airports, airlines, tour operators, convention centres and meetings and events, backed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019 travel and tourism was responsible for one in ten jobs globally and contributed more than 10% to global gross domestic product.
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