ISO and CEN publish COVID-19 prevention guidelines for tourism sector

On 19 May 2021, the European Standardisation Organisation (CEN) published a European standardisation deliverable for COVID-19 health and safety protocols in tourism establishments and services, developed at the Commission’s initiative. It complements CEN’s endorsement of a safety protocol developed at the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO), which was adopted on the previous day (18 May) and to which HOTREC extensively contributed.

The CWA 5643 series is composed of two parts. First, the endorsement by CEN of the ISO PAS 5643 ‘Measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism industry’, which contains requirements and recommendations for various tourism enterprises and locations

Second, a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) ‘Guidelines and requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism industry – Part 2’ offers a dedicated European label and clarifies minimum requirements for a quality assurance mechanism.

EU countries now have the opportunity to award the label, making use of various EU funding possibilities. Tourism service providers can use the protocols of the ISO PAS 5643 only, or opt on that basis for labelling under the CWA, if and as provided for by national competent authorities.