VisitEngland has announced the launch of ‘We’re Good To Go’, a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark that will “provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for visitors as the tourism sector works towards reopening.”
The scheme has been developed in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales. Every country will have the same mark with text variations and there is also a Welsh language version.
The ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark signifies that businesses across the sector are adhering to the respective government and public health guidance, have carried out a Covid-19 risk assessment and examined that they have the required processes in place. The scheme is free to join and open to all businesses across the segment.
To acquire the mark, businesses must complete a self-assessment process through the online platform goodtogo.visitbritain.com. This includes a check-list confirming that all the require protocols have been implemented, before receiving certification and the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark for display in premises and online.
The self-assessment involves specific guidelines for sectors including accommodation, visitor attractions, restaurants and pubs, business conference and events venues and tour and coach operators with signposting to further industry and trade association guidance as required.
In England businesses function in accordance with the UK Government’s official guidance for the sector including ‘Working Safely during Covid-19: Visitor Economy’.
In addition to this, an alert system ensures that businesses are notified of any changes to the official guidance. A call-handling service provides support and assessors would also carry-out random spot-checks to ensure that the required measures are being carried out.
VisitEngland and VisitBritain are also launching a Know Before You Go campaign that informs visitors about what is safe to do and when, information about destinations and available services before travelling.
Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said, “I want to encourage the public to experience a great British holiday this summer and be confident that they can do so safely.
“This new industry standard will show people that tourism businesses, destinations and attractions are adhering to the guidance. It puts safety first and is an important move in getting this industry back up and running.”
Adding to this, VisitEngland director Patricia Yates said, “With millions of jobs and local economies across the country reliant on tourism, it is essential that businesses can get up and running as soon as the respective government advice allows to capture the peak British summer season.
“We want visitors to be able to enjoy their holidays and to support businesses to be confident they have the correct procedures in place. Our priority is to make sure tourism rebounds to once again become one of the most successful sectors of the UK economy and this ‘ring of confidence’ is a crucial step on the industry’s road to rebuilding.”
