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Hotels, restaurants, bars and local attractions are being urged to sign up to a new 'Visit Safe' scheme to bolster the island's reputation and boost tourist confidence, while keeping everyone safe.
The ‘Visit Safe’ charter has been developed by Visit Jersey in partnership with the Government and the Jersey Hospitality Association.
It is described as the official Jersey charter to show that “a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow Government and industry covid-19 checklists and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing”.
Businesses are invited to review the Visit Safe Checklists that are relevant to them and implement the measures as appropriate before completing an online declaration form.
Five different forms are available for 'Accommodation', 'Attractions and activity', 'Bars and pubs', 'Restaurants and Cafés' and 'Wholesalers'. Each business is expected to consult the checklist that applies and mark itself against the criteria.
They cover various areas of businesses activity from the provision of PPE for staff to physical distancing and sterilisation measures among many others, and are to be use in conjunction with the current covid-19 Public Health guidance.
While the scheme is optional, the ‘Visit Safe’ page on the Government website states that if businesses do not adhere to the checklists, they could cause "reputational damage" to both their own business and the wider island.
“This checklist is not only to protect you and your staff, but also your customers and the Island’s visitor economy,” it adds.
Pictured: Businesses are invited to sign up to the scheme or face "reputational damage".
As part of the Charter, officials will be making unannounced spot checks to check the checklists are being followed, which the Government assured won’t be intrusive but “a way of assisting [businesses] to be Visit Safe”.
It is hoped the scheme will provide the local tourism and hospitality industry with a “united approach” to address the risks from covid-19 and mitigate its present and future impact to the visitor economy.
In addition, the Charter aims to “instil consumer confidence and kick-start the visitor economy” by providing a “seal of approval” for businesses that implement the Visit Safe checks and processes.
“We are stronger as one and with a united approach to marketing the Visit Safe Charter we will have a greater impact,” the scheme's web page adds.
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