Guidance published for businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors

The Department for the Economy, in partnership with Tourism NI, has published guidance on working safely in the tourism and hospitality sectors during coronavirus. This will allow businesses to plan and make preparations following the announcement that self contained accommodation can reopen from 26^th July and hospitality and other accommodation can reopen from 3rd July.

This overarching advice is aimed at local business owners, operators and workers in the following areas:

• Hotels and other tourist accommodation, including self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, guest houses, guest accommodation, hostels, campus accommodation, bunk houses, holiday homes, camping, caravan parks and other types of accommodation.
• Indoor and outdoor attractions and experiences, including museums and galleries, historic parks and gardens, libraries, arts venues, cinemas, theme parks, family entertainment centres and zoos.
• Business events and consumer shows, for example, those taking place in meetings, conference convention and exhibition centres.
• Hospitality businesses, including restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars.

The information provided is intended to help businesses make decisions that will enable them to reopen as safely as possible for both their workers and customers.

Businesses are advised to use the guidance to identify an action plan which is unique to their business and takes into consideration the size and type of business. Businesses will need to undertake a risk assessment of their premises and make any changes required to ensure maximum safety.

You can download the guidance on working safely in the visitor economy sector here.

Tourism NI has published additional sector-specific guidance for working safely in:

Hotels and tourist accommodation – Download guidance here

Restaurants, pubs, bars and food services – Download guidance here