Created in line with local government agencies, as well as the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols for tour operators, the four-tier Charter outlines the requirements that all Exodus Travels trips will meet in order to operate.
Adventure specialist tour operator Exodus Travels announces its new 2020 Travel Safety Charter and updated booking flexibility as part of its ‘Book & Travel with Confidence’ message for the travel trade.
Flexibility: As part of Exodus Travels’ new enhanced booking flexibility, the tour operator is offering refunds for all trips that it has to cancel for any reason. Refunds will also be given to those that are asked to self-isolate or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, if it coincides with their holiday dates.
Exodus Travels has also moved to introduce industry-leading customer friendly terms on how long before travel customers can cancel their trip without penalty. Customers will now have their balance for the land portion of their trip refunded if they need to cancel up to 42 days before departure, while the 21-day no-fee flexibility guarantee enables customers to transfer to a future departure for free up to 21 days before departure.
Travel Safety Charter: Created in line with local government agencies, as well as the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols for tour operators, the four-tier Charter outlines the requirements that all Exodus Travels trips will meet in order to operate.
The Charter includes new health and safety measures under the following headings: Safe Destinations, Cleaning Protocols, Healthy Small Groups and Specialist 24/7 Guidance.
Safe Destinations: A five-stage approval process has been developed, which all Exodus destinations will be required to pass before opening to guests. This is based on both FCO advice and a separate validation by a leading independent Travel Risk Management company.
A tour will run providing that the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice is positive, COVID infection rates are under control in the destination and entry requirements or local restrictions do not significantly impair the itinerary. Exodus Travels will also have access to a list of approved emergency medical services and local partners will be required to meet its COVID-19 safety requirements.
Cleaning Protocols: Enhanced cleanliness and hygiene safety measures will be introduced in all accommodation, transport, meal locations and venues used by Exodus Travels, and local teams will visit each one in advance of travel.
In addition, Exodus Travels has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with further assurance that health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted to keep them safe.
Healthy Small Groups: Guests on Exodus Travels’ guided group trips will join a ‘small group bubble’ (average of 10 travellers) and be able to take advantage of a boost in the number of available optional single rooms. Every member of the group will complete a declaration prior to travel, to state they are free of COVID symptoms and any known exposure and will be asked to take a temperature check in the first 12 hours upon arrival.
Specialist 24/7 Guidance: At all times throughout every trip, there will be support from local experts in the destination and head office. The local expert guide will plan ahead to minimise time in crowded places by re-routing or arriving at quiet times, where possible. The UK-based response team will work in tandem with the local guides, identifying local medical facilities or arranging repatriation if necessary.
Sam Seward, Managing Director at Exodus Travels, says: “During these last few months, our expert guides and head office teams have been working hard behind the scenes to put together this Travel Safety Charter in preparation for welcoming our guests back on our adventures safely and responsibly. In addition, we’re delighted to be able to offer the type of booking flexibility and financial security customers need and expect, should plans have to change. Like a very small handful of adventure travel operators, we have now processed all refund requests relating to cancellations since the start of the crisis and with these enhanced measures, we hope to give our trade partners the extra confidence to book their customers with Exodus Travels.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
