ADVENTURE TRAVEL COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES

DRAFT

This document is a draft distributed for global review from 15 to 19 June 2020. It is not ready for use. The text of this document will be reviewed, improved, formatted, and

designed and it is expected to be published 23rd of June. If you have comments and suggestion use the review template provided at: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/COVID19guidelines/

We’re on a Team

The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new phase, travel is restarting, and travelers and companies want to operate minimizing COVID-19 contamination risk. ATTA COVID – 19 Health and Safety Guidelines for Adventure Travel have been developed between ATTA, Cleveland Clinic and a cohort of operators. These Guidelines provide a Safety Management Framework to support Adventure Travel Companies to come back, they can also be used in with the activity specific guidelines. Also, they should be used in conjunction with local, regional, and national official recommendations and should never be less restrictive than those.

INDEX:

ADVENTURE TRAVEL COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES 1

INDEX: 1

AIM 2

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 2

COVID-19 RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC GOALS 3

1. CREATE TRANSMISSION BARRIERS 3

2. ENHANCE SANITATION 3

3. PROMOTE HEALTH SCREENING 3

4. PROMPT RESPONSES 3

5. PROTECT COMMUNITIES 4

SAFETY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 4

COVID-19 RISK TARGET AREAS 4

RISK AND SAFETY FACTORS 5

ATTA COVID-19 Risk Assessment and Planning Tool 5

COVID-19 Requirements Implementation Checklist 10

Annex 1 – Managing Symptoms 11

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AIM

1. Provide guidance, reliable expertise, and recommendations for adventure travel to re-open and operate while managing the new risk and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is for all that serve the Adventure Travel Trade sector and fall under the compliance of top-level recommendations (governments, WHO, CDC, etc).

2. Provide a common set of actions, target areas and risk factors in a framework that can be used by the diverse global pool of business and suppliers so the industry supply chain can work together by having a shared approach.

3. Provide a framework structured around companies' safety management systems, so changes in the company’s procedures can be revised and adapted as upcoming changes in pandemic risk levels and top-level recommendations are easier to implement.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Elimination of risk is not possible, and for the adventure travel industry to survive there will need

to be shared responsibility and acceptance of this and which is then communicated across all

levels and down to the customer. In order to do this companies, need to embrace uncertainty;

know what you can; and exercise informed consent.

Organizations will need to MONITOR, EVALUATE and COMMUNICATE effectively to deal with this

situation. To help them with this, the following principles should always be at the top of anyone’s

mind when going through this planning and operating stage:

1. PROTECTION - of the vulnerable: people and communities.

2. PREVENTION - of risks.

● Symptom screening

● Enhanced sanitation and hygiene, with a focus on hands.

● Physical distancing and engineering controls

● Face coverings when physical distancing is not possible.

3. RESPONSE - to COVID-19 presence and other emergencies.

● Managing symptoms and plan for separation.

● Evacuations and the medical chain.

● Testing

● Follow up and communicate promptly.

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COVID-19 RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC GOALS

There are five strategic goals that all Adventure Travel companies should aspire to undertake within their operations which relate to COVID-19 risk management, for their trips to be conducted as safely as possible and to meet the guiding principles:

1. CREATE TRANSMISSION BARRIERS

1.1. SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING Reduce the number of people in a group whenever possible. Adapt operations and practices to allow distancing by at least 2metters/6ft and mitigate if not possible.

1.2. SURFACE CONTACT Reduce touchpoints where possible.

2. ENHANCE SANITATION

2.1. IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH TOUCH SURFACES Defined cleaning and disinfecting procedures with following manufacturer’s instructions for use of approved products. Identified cleaning frequency. 2.2. HAND WASHING Regular opportunities to wash and sanitize hands. 2.3. CLEANING/SANITATION MEASURES Rigorous cleaning measures in all areas within your control. Review of suppliers and providers for adherence to internal / national / international policies.

3. PROMOTE HEALTH SCREENING

3.1. PREVENTIVE Who should travel? Morally or ethically not be allowed to travel? 3.2. POTENTIAL Health screening measures for customers and staff with isolation measures in place. Check the Managing Symptoms annex for more information.

4. PROMPT RESPONSES

4.1. ACTUAL / REACTIVE If staff or customers test positive or have symptoms for COVID-19. 4.2. EVACUATIONS How will customers or staff be removed or evacuated from activity or trip. 4.3. EMERGENCIES Local EMS and medical chain assessment. Emergency Response Plan updated. 4.4. CANCELATIONS Updated Terms and Conditions. Valid travel insurance policies.

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5. PROTECT COMMUNITIES

5.1. GROUP SIZE AND TYPE Impact of group and trip on the community. 5.2. MORAL/ETHICAL DECISIONS CONDUCTING TRIP Chance of being a vector/bringing in the disease. 5.3. VULNERABLE PLACES Poor EMS/Medical chain of care. Low cases with high risk/vulnerable local communities.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

To achieve these strategic goals an adventure travel organization will need to have a safety management framework in place or to update existing policies. To develop this system, companies will need to ensure that COVID-19 associated risks are mapped and analyzed considering the variables applicable to the tour. There are seven "target areas" of safety and risk management to consider, related to COVID-19 risk factors. The analysis of the risks under this framework, using ATTA COVID-19 Risk Assessment and Planning Tool will provide operators, suppliers and providers a common language, objectively comparable risk levels and mitigating procedures, as well as transparency in communicating between stakeholders so decisions to operate can be made.

COVID-19 RISK TARGET AREAS

1. TOUR LOCATION SCREENING

Travel restrictions. COVID-19 risk level. Airlines. Testing. Local vulnerabilities and impact on communities.

2. CUSTOMER SCREENING

Vulnerable and high-risk groups. Type of groups. Prior exposure/medical declaration forms. Travel insurance.

3. TRANSPORT

Transport to and from destination as well as local travel to and from tour location.

4. HOSPITALITY

Accommodation. Restaurants and feeding.

5. ACTIVITIES

Distancing. Equipment. Face coverings. Popular areas. Guide/Staff interaction.

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6. MEDICAL

Evacuation. ICU/Medical care assessment. Procedures for guests/staff showing symptoms. Post operational procedures if guests/staff show symptoms.

7. COMPANY CONSIDERATIONS

Guide/Staff exposure before the trip. Guide/Staff training. Staff screening. Monitoring and Evaluation. Information flow. Informed Consent. Safety culture & compliance. Operational Capacity. T&Cs – Refunds and cancellations.

RISK AND SAFETY FACTORS

ATTA COVID-19 Risk Assessment and Planning Tool

The COVID-19 Risk Assessment and Planning Tool has been designed to assist anybody in the Adventure Travel industry with a standardized template that can be used at all levels to assess whether a trip may be viable in relation to the COVID-19 related risks. It is not designed to give a definitive answer or direction as to whether a trip will be safe and will be the responsibility of the author to make an assessment with the facts and the situation that is presented to them. The tool is split into different safety factors based on the ‘COVID-19 Adventure Travel Target Areas’ that the user, be it an operator, supplier or provider, will need to answer how that affects their operation or particular trip that is being assessed. A summary of these individual safety factors are detailed below:

1. DESTINATION

What factors need to be considered with the location where the trip is running to. These factors can be split down to:

1.1. DESTINATION TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Operations can only start again when there are no travel restrictions in place at the host destination or comply with host travel recommendations. Travel advice will need to be assessed for the destination from the host government along with from the operator’s country of origin, such as that issued by the State Department or Foreign Commonwealth Office. The assessment should include not only travel restrictions at destination, but restrictions that may be in place related to returning home.

1.2. DESTINATION COVID-19 SITUATION

An assessment into the current situation of the destination will need to be evaluated using the many official information resources available. This will constantly change as time progresses so will need to be reassessed when the situation improves, and case numbers and infection rate are considered low enough to resume travel.

1.3. AIRLINE RELIABILITY

If customers are needing to fly into the destination an assessment should be made on whether a safe, regular, reliable, and viable service will resume. This should all be factored

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in for customers flying in from multiple destinations, but also for return flights, should the customer need to take an unscheduled flight home.

1.4. DESTINATION TEST AND TRACE PROGRAM

Does the destination have a Test, Trace and Track service running? In order to accurately assess the contamination risk, this service will need to be in place. Will a customer who shows symptoms be able to be tested? A number of countries require a contact tracing app to be installed and this may be mandated for visitors to that destination.

1.5. COMMUNITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The operator should assess how the trip could affect local communities to which it travels to. A guiding principle will be to protect and guard against small, remote, or vulnerable populations that may not have been affected by the virus.

1.6. OPERATOR’S ASSESSMENT OF DESTINATION COVID-19 SITUATION

An overall assessment will need to be made into the viability of resuming the trip using the information presented to them at the time. As the situation progresses and improves this assessment will need to be constantly reevaluated.

2. CUSTOMER

What factors need to be considered with the location where the trip is running. These can be defined as:

2.1. CLIENT RISK/VULNERABILITY

Operators should evaluate the need to review the customer suitability for the trip based on the destination situation, age of the client and any pre-existing medical conditions, with certain groups being at a higher risk of presenting with more severe symptoms if diagnosed with the Coronavirus. Consider having in place a new refund policy for the COVID19 period.

2.2. GROUP TYPE

There will be a varying level of risk associated with each trip and type of group embarking on that trip. A F.I.T or a family group from the same household will present less complexity or risk of virus transmission than a large group travelling in from multiple destinations.

2.3. COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

Organizations may already require customers to fill out a medical declaration form on booking, but this could be updated with questions relevant to the Coronavirus, such as client's isolation habits, having tested positive, shown signs of symptoms.

2.4. TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is a requirement for most operators to request that customers have valid travel insurance for the destination and trip type they are embarking on. The pandemic has added additional complexities surrounding insurance which the operator will have to assess the risk of whether they accept a client who has insurance but does not cover a claim relating to COVID-19 for example.

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3. TRANSPORT

3.1. TRANSPORT TYPE.

There will be a different level of risk depending on the size and type of transport used. Suppliers will need to ensure that enhanced sanitation measures are in place and social distancing can be implemented where practicable, which might vary depending on the makeup of the group. Added measures such as driver protection, PPE (face coverings), hand washing, and health checks can all be implemented to reduce risk of possible transmission.

4. HOSPITALITY

4.1. ACCOMODATION

Suppliers should be adhering to internal, national, and international COVID-19 guidance and protocols for the safe running, cleanliness and protection of guests and staff in the hotel and accommodation sector. Organizations and operators should ensure that these standards are met or find alternatives. Despite these enhanced safety measures, it can never eliminate the virus risk, and there will be a higher level, or chance for possible transmission, the larger the establishment.

4.2. FEEDING

Similar to the hotel industry, food suppliers will be asked to adhere to guidance and protocols, which will be in line with their internal/national and or international policy to ensure the highest levels of hygiene, enhanced sanitation and distancing measures are in place. Operators will need to confirm that suppliers can meet these guidelines or only use those that can. There will be a different risk level dependent on how the customer is fed, such as if the trip is self-catered to clients staying in large hotels or eating at restaurants. Buffet and family style (common food containers) catering should be avoided.

5. ACTIVITY

There are several considerations that an operator, supplier or provider should evaluate, and measures implemented to enable the safe but enjoyable running of the activity. Each activity is different with the nature of the pursuit, needs and safety of the participant and risk threshold of the organization, with many variables to consider. The factors below allow the user to simplify the assessment to the COVID related considerations. More detailed guidance can be found in Activity Specific Recommendations.

5.1. DISTANCING AND FACE COVERINGS

Each activity on the trip should be assessed on whether participants can remain socially distanced to reduce possible risk of transmission. For some this takes place naturally and is thus low risk, such as trekking, cycling or horse riding, but other activities may be higher risk such as tandem paragliding or skydiving. Measures can be taken to limit the risk of transmission if distancing is hard to maintain or in enclosed spaces by using face coverings. The risk increases where distancing measures cannot be implemented, and it is inappropriate to wear a face covering.

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5.2. ENHANCE SANITATION

Certain activities will use individual, group, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enable the users to participate. All contact surfaces and touchpoints will need to have an enhanced sanitation regime to ensure that any possible traces of the virus are reduced. For some activities this may present a very low risk with little to no equipment used, but for some pursuits this may be difficult due to the nature and frequency of the equipment used, with an example being a ropes course.

5.3. POPULAR AREAS

An activity that takes place in popular areas, may pose a greater risk of interaction with other users, visitors or activity participants, and thus increase the possible chance of the transmission of the virus. Operators where possible should assess whether other, more quieter destinations or areas can be visited, or if not, what measures can be put in place to reduce the chance of contact or interaction with other users.

6. MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Despite all measures, there is always the potential for individuals to develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 before or during tours. The vast majority of people infected with Coronavirus show minor to no symptoms, however some will go on to develop more serious signs which require admittance to a hospital, an ICU, then at worst require mechanical ventilation and can lead to death. Operators and providers should assess these medical considerations and review their emergency response plan accordingly with these factors in mind:

6.1. EVACUATION

Definitions for when to separate and how to separate suspected cases need to be in place. Both in medical emergencies and in technical activity assistance or rescues, many pre-defined distancing methods need to be adapted or cannot be used. Companies need to establish special procedures to address these risks and clear thresholds for when distancing procedures can be changed and what those changes will be.The risk and complexities increase the more remote that activity takes place, and the time needed to extract the guest. Consideration should be put into how and by what means by which the customer will be removed/evacuated too, with a review and update of the destination Emergency Medical Services (EMS) support.

6.2. LEVEL OF CLINICAL CARE / CAPACITY

A review should be made on where the nearest definitive medical care with CCU/ICU capacity with appropriate mechanical ventilators that can be used should a customer develop severe symptoms and require this level of medical support. This assessment should also include current admissions/COVID cases and what the impact would be should there be a rise of severe cases. If the destination has a poor medical infrastructure with minimal amount of ICU beds for the population, then this could be deemed a high risk for the operator to conduct a trip to.

6.3. PROCEDURES FOR GUEST / STAFF SHOWING SYMPTOMS

It is vital that health screening takes place to monitor guests and staff such as temperature checks, visual checks and asking if any symptoms are being felt. It is important to not only remove them from activity/trip to reduce possible transmission risk to others but also be in a

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place to have medical care should symptoms worsen. The remaining of the group travelling with the suspected infectious guest/staff should be closely monitored for symptoms. At any time, staff or other travellers may choose to evacuate if they feel they are at risk.

6.4. POST OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR GUEST / STAFF SHOWING SYMPTOMS

If suspected symptoms are shown in a guest or staff member, there needs to be a policy of what will happen with the transportation, caring, isolation and testing, if available for visitors in that destination. If the trip or activity allows for the immediate removal of the guest or staff along with any immediate member of the travel party such as a family member or those that share a room, and they can isolate and be tested, this is a far lower risk than those that can’t be removed from the group.

7. COMPANY CONSIDERATIONS

7.1. STAFF EXPOSURE RISK PRIOR TO TRIP

If the trip or activity occurs in a destination or area with a reasonable risk of being infected with the virus, then it could be possible that the staff or guides are exposed to being infected prior to the trip commencing. Whilst this may be hard to control with guests, a company may require that staff abide by certain distancing precautions and measures to limit their chances of exposure.

7.2. SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

If the company already has an established and functional SMS, all the measures proposed here can be integrated in their existing system, as a safety management system that is running means they already have the framework required. This will include; risk inventories, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's), trip and incidents reports, data analysis and improvement processes, screening, communication with clients, staff training and emergency responses.

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COVID-19 Requirements Implementation Checklist

🗹 The company is committed to the Guiding Principles and COVID-19 Risk Management Strategic

Goals of the COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for Adventure Travel.

🗹 COVID-19 associated risks are mapped and analyzed considering the variables applicable to the tour, e.g. venue, population, activity, product design, level of supervision, logistics, etc, as listed in the COVID-19 Risk Target Areas - ATTA provides an COVID-19 Risk Self-Assessment tool that companies are encouraged to use to assess and communicate their risks and strategies.

🗹 Companies define their tolerable level of risk, develop, and implement risk mitigation procedures that address each of the variables considered in the risk analysis.

🗹 Clients are informed of the tour's COVID-19 exposure and risk mitigation strategies to accept shared responsibility and exercise informed consent.

🗹 Companies ensure their Terms & Conditions encompass and allow for the updated practices (e.g cancellation policies) and Insurance for COVID-19 associated coverage is defined.

🗹 Companies have developed procedures to handle clients or employees who show COVID-19 symptoms during the tour or at work.

🗹 Companies have developed procedures to handle clients or employees who have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 during the tour or at work.

🗹 The company emergency action plan is adapted to include special considerations for emergencies (when some predefined distancing methods may not be realistic) and for any changes in local or regional EMS capabilities.

🗹 Companies have developed procedures for medical screening of vulnerable clients and staff.

🗹 Companies have developed procedures to inform and promote responsible sanitary habits of staff and clients prior to the trip.

🗹 Companies developed and implemented staff training to the additional COVID-19 protocols.

🗹 The operation is monitored to ensure the risk mapping, communication and mitigation procedures are working as planned; and improved as necessary.

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Annex 1 - Managing Symptoms As your staff return to work and you start to receive tourists, they may still have concerns about possible exposure to COVID-19 — and how to tell the difference between symptoms of the virus and other common illnesses. It is important to educate your employees about the symptoms of COVID-19. These resources will help you and your workers not only recognize what symptoms to look for, but how to manage any situation where they have symptoms. What Symptoms Should I Be Watching For? Patients with confirmed infection with COVID-19 reported these respiratory symptoms (as of May 12, 2020):

● Cough ● Shortness of Breath or Difficulty of breathing ● Fever ● Chills ● Muscle Pain ● New loss of taste or smell ● Sore throat ● Other less common symptoms: ● Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Symptoms can range in severity from very mild to severe. In about 80% of patients, COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms. For an up-to-date list of symptoms, please consult the CDC’s website. How do I handle an employee who has symptoms or becomes ill at work? Follow these steps if one of your employees begins having suspected COVID-19 symptoms or feels ill during the work day: › Immediately separate the employee who is ill from other workers, customers and visitors. › Send the employee home and instruct them to follow-up with a healthcare provider for appropriate testing and treatment. › Close off all areas that the ill employee was using. › Refer to the CDC guidance for cleaning and disinfecting your building when someone is sick.

What should I do if an employee has been exposed to someone who has COVID-19? Follow these procedures for employees who have been exposed to someone but don’t have symptoms: › Screen all of your employees for temperature and symptoms when they arrive at work each day. › Perform regular self-monitoring as outlined by your occupational health program. › If not already required, ensure affected employees wear face masks in the workplace for 14 days from the date of the exposure. › Maintain physical distance guidelines of at least 6 feet from others in the workplace. › Disinfect and clean works spaces, especially shared spaces and equipment.