The National Mirror Committee on Tourism inaugurated by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has introduced guidelines for the tourism sector to mitigate the harrowing effects of the COVID-19.
SON, in a statement, said the Working Group of the Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services met online to review the Health and Safety Measures for Tourism and Hospitality Establishments – Post Pandemic (COVID-19) Resumption Standards.
Mrs. Chika Balogun, the committee’s chairperson and Director-General, National Institute for Hotels and Tourism, said at a difficult period like this, stakeholders in the tourism sector need to put all hands on deck to see that they pull out of the challenges put forth by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said Nigeria was not the only country affected by COVID-19, adding that SON, through the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), had deployed standards for organisations to keep the virus at bay by minimising the spread.
Balogun further stated that the draft Standards on Health and Safety Measures for Tourism and Hospitality Establishments – Post pandemic (COVID-19) Resumption guidelines would help the tourism sector pick up eventually when the lockdown is being eased off by the government.
She commended the members for their commitments and dedication to the National Mirror Committee to see that the Nigerian tourism sector would be at par with their counterparts on the global scene.
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Welcoming members to the first sitting after the ease of lockdown by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, the Director, Standards Development, Mrs. Chinyere Egwuonwu, noted that the tourism sector had been adversely affected by the pandemic, both within Nigeria and globally, National Mirror Committee was expected to oversee a comeback by the sector through deliberations on the draft standards and the eventual implementation.
Represented by the Group Head, Service Standards, Engr. Ayoola Ololade, the director stated that SON was ready to work with stakeholders to see the tourism was revamped by ensuring all is put in place for activities to pick when the lockdown is eased.
In a short presentation entitled ‘Health and Safety Measures for Tourism and Hospitality Establishments for Post COVID- 19 pandemics’, Mrs. Chidinma Ewuzie, the Technical Secretary to the National Mirror Committee gave the reasons for the guidelines on the reasons for this is to improve on the safety of the Employers and workers and prevention of a recurrence of the pandemic, and to boost the confidence of guests and employers and employees and to establish a monitoring control to limit the spread of a pandemic.
The draft Standards on Health and Safety Measures for Tourism and Hospitality Establishments – Post Pandemic (COVID -19) Resumption standards specified requirements for tourism and hospitality establishments to enable them to comply with the guidelines for resumption and protection of lives and sustain the business.
The document applies to tourism sector establishments such as hotels, restaurants, fast foods, conferences/meetings/event centres, tour operators/travel agents/tourist information centres, airlines, beaches, among others.
The online meeting had in attendance members drawn from; the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria, Institute of Tourism Professionals, Association of Tourism and Hospitality Consultants in Nigeria, Institute of Hospitality UK, National Association of Catering Institute/Lagos State Post Covid-19 Pandemic Review Committee, Gadeshire Travels and Tours Limited Nigeria, Goge Africa, Hotel Human Capital and W. Hospitality.
