Like the worst of nightmares—far from waking up to find this bad dream gone—Covid-19 remains a part of our lives. While healthcare experts battle it to save us all, the tourism sector is learning to coexist with this pandemic, offering solutions so that a country like ours, where tourism is key, can recover from this blow we’ve been dealt.
This May, the Measures to Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Transmission were drafted by the Technical Committee of ANETA (National Association of Active Tourism Companies), ICTE (Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality) in collaboration with the Ministries of Industry, Trade, Tourism, and Health.
We were fortunate to speak with two key contributors to this protocol: ANETA’s president, Óscar Santos Casado, and its treasurer, Rubén Martínez Obispo, who shared some of the guidelines and recommendations outlined in this decree.
It’s clear that one of Spain’s strengths is its year-round diversity of activities, setting it apart from less fortunate countries. Yet, active tourism in Spain must now grapple closely with Covid’s impact. The best approach? Businesses must fully acknowledge the need to adapt, reinvent themselves, strictly follow protocols, and—above all—avoid rushing to offer activities that could jeopardise adventurers’ health.
From Yumping.com, with support from the active tourism coronavirus transmission reduction protocol, we highlight key sector-specific points:
- Certified materials meeting requirements.
- Basic hygiene rules (handwashing, equipment) and maintaining safe distances wherever possible.
- Small or single-family groups.
- Communication between businesses operating in the same area.
To delve deeper and leave no stone unturned, we’ll summarise each point with insights from experts.
- Risk Management Requirements
General Requirements
Companies must demonstrate unwavering commitment to implemented measures, grounded in a pre-established Contingency Plan tailored to their operations.
Employee representatives, alongside health and safety delegates, will coordinate this plan and risk management to ensure unified, harmonised processes.
Health and Safety/Management Committee per Company
Such a committee is now more critical than ever. Its functions, under the Occupational Risk Prevention Law, will regulate hazard assessments for activities, contingency plans for hygiene-sanitary matters, and compliance tracking.
While quality seals proliferate, they aren’t always guarantees—they may even confuse customers. Active tourism businesses must foster closer, more transparent communication about risks, internalising every point in this safety manual. Seals should be a means, not an end.
Material Resources
This includes the much-discussed PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Companies must anticipate supply-chain restrictions and service limitations, meticulously planning activities while providing clients with necessary hygiene-sanitary materials.
This spans safety distances (factoring venue capacity), laundering workwear at specific temperatures, and documenting staff training on PPE use.
Santos rightly notes that now is not the time for unqualified personnel or collaborative consumption, even if skilled. Unlicensed guides endanger clients and undermine our promotion of certified, safety-backed professionals.
General Measures for Active and Ecotourism Companies
Training remains paramount to implementing these measures effectively.
Staff Protection Measures
Each worker must receive clear, specific instructions on activity protocols. Daily routines should incorporate individual PPE, frequent workspace disinfection, and adapted greetings.
Requirements for Cleaning Staff
This team must use task-appropriate PPE, reflecting their exposure risk. All materials must be discarded post-use, whether outsourced or in-house.
Documents and Records
To reactivate operations, companies must maintain regulated documents, ensuring clients access up-to-date infection-prevention information. This includes:
- Risk identification.
- Accident protocols.
- Staff training records.
- Cleaning/disinfection plans.
- A Declaration of Conformity signed by clients and staff, affirming adherence to all measures.
Informational Measures
Businesses must inform all stakeholders (clients, employees, suppliers) of adopted measures—preferably digitally to avoid shared materials.
- Service Requirements
Article 4 emphasises collaboration with regional sector peers. "Coordinating with other active and ecotourism businesses to avoid overcrowding" is key, alongside remote client management and activity-specific protocols (pre-, during, post-).
In short: We’re all in this together. Protecting yourself protects others. Hygiene rules aim to unify efforts, as tailored protocols for every scenario are impractical.Notably, rural tourism businesses are recovering faster than active tourism. Óscar explains:
"Today, families prioritise safety. Booking rural accommodation feels controlled and secure. But for multi-adventure activities, businesses must guarantee safety to encourage bookings."
We must remember we’re businesses, obliged to adapt—now to Covid-19. Registering as commercial entities is crucial to accessing regional aid and reassuring clients. Our sector thrives on personal connections; now, we must also master risk communication.
- Cleaning and Disinfection Requirements
Cleaning Plan
Surfaces, materials, transport, and cleaning tools must be disinfected pre- and post-activity. Daily logs and stocked supplies are mandatory.
- Maintenance Requirements
ANETA urges sectors not to rush reopening:
"Training and common sense are essential, regardless of regional phases. We must be 100% confident our practices meet today’s safety demands. It’s a major responsibility—hence our call to hire specialists."
Price wars are futile, especially now:
"Slashing prices devalues professionals and undermines years of sector advocacy."
Beyond government measures, ANETA and ICTE’s guidance is pivotal in Covid-proofing active tourism. We’ve also launched a free Business Advisory at Yumping.com—access it here—to support this global fight.
Learning to live with this "bug" takes time. It’s a historic foe—to lives and economies alike. But with collective effort, adherence to expert guidance, and shared passion for our work, we’ll prevail.
