The government has released guidance on how businesses within the ‘visitor economy’ can reopen their doors in a safe manner from 4 July.

Designed to help employers, employees and the self-employed in England understand how to work safely and protect their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the guidance is aimed at business owners, operators and workers in the following areas:

• Hotels and other guest accommodation (including self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, hostels, camping, holiday homes, caravan parks, boats and other types of accommodation including short-term letting).
• Indoor and outdoor attractions (e.g. arcades, walking tours, theme parks, family entertainment centres, static funfairs, zoos and aquariums).
• Business events and consumer shows (e.g. events taking place in meetings, conference, convention and exhibition centres). Business conferences, events, exhibitions and trade fairs are not currently allowed to take place in England.

The document sets out guidance on how to work safely within the visitor economy while minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19. It gives practical considerations of how guidance can be applied in the workplace which, in the case of the visitor economy, will be different for each premises or outlet.

Each business will need to translate this into the specific actions it needs to take, depending on the nature of their business, its size and type, how it is organised, operated, managed and regulated. A site-by-site approach is essential and a COVID-19 risk assessment for each premises will be unique.

The guidance does not supersede any legal obligations relating to health and safety, employment or equalities and it is important that as a business or an employer you continue to comply with your existing obligations, including those relating to individuals with protected characteristics. When considering how to apply the guidance, employers are urged to take into account agency workers, contractors and other people, as well as employees.

To help decide which actions to take, businesses need to carry out an appropriate COVID-19 risk assessment, at a business and site level, just as they would for other health and safety related hazards. This risk assessment must be done in consultation with unions or workers.