COVID-19 2020 Wales Information for Group/Coach Visits Welcoming UK and international visitors back In terms of group sizes, the Coronavirus to Wales safely, here we outline important Regulations 2020 limit any group outdoors to information for operators and visitors to Wales. 30 people in total (including organiser/driver/ A list of Frequently Asked Questions in relation to guide etc.) provided certain measures are in coronavirus (COVID-19) is updated on gov.wales place; this can include a mix of households (not – please check back regularly. limited to the same/extended household). All reasonable measures must be taken to ensure Guidance and regulations for tour/coach physical and social distancing from people operators outside of a household or extended household Anyone operating tours or visits around Wales and other reasonable mitigating measures will need to ensure that they and their clients must also be taken in order to reduce the risk of comply with the latest* Coronavirus Regulations transmission of the virus. Younger children (those 2020 and guidance for tourism and hospitality of primary school age – aged 11 or younger) do businesses for a phased and safe re-opening. not need to rigidly follow the advice to stay This must include a full risk assessment and 2 metres apart. consideration of all requirements including (but Indoor group visits are only permissible with not limited to) social/physical distancing and our members of the same household or extended Test, Trace, Protect approach. households provided their entry indoors is In respect of transport, coach operators should staggered so as not to create a gathering of follow the guidance that applies to public more than one household indoors. Venues and transport operators and ensure that they have operators need to work together to plan for such undertaken a full risk assessment. Note that visits so that they stay within the requirements three-layer face coverings are compulsory on of the regulations and guidance. public transport in Wales. Please also read the latest travel advice via Welsh Government coronavirus FAQ and details provided by Transport for Wales. 30 * Subject to change. 30 Together we’ll Keep Wales Safe Educational Visits coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, and to check Non-overnight domestic educational visits can that they are self-isolating for the first 14 days resume in the autumn term. These should be after they arrive in the UK. done in adherence with protective measures, We recommend that before travel you check such as COVID-19-secure measures in places the relevant official government websites for the at the destination. Visits should be thoroughly most up to date information. risk assessed to ensure they are done safely. As part of the risk assessment, schools will need What if a UK visitor develops COVID-19 to consider what control measures need to be symptoms? used and ensure they have taken into account If a visitor develops or arrives with symptoms wider advice on visiting indoor and outdoor of COVID-19, then they (and anyone travelling venues. Schools will want to consider the needs with them – but see specific to coaches below) of all learners taking part in an educational visit, should: including their ability to comply with COVID-19 • Inform their accommodation provider safety measures at the venue. They should also immediately, and if travelling on an organised be mindful of the safety of supervising staff. tour inform the organiser immediately. Schools will also need to have contingencies in place should there be changes to national • Return home as quickly as possible, if well (Wales), regional or local coronavirus measures. enough to do so. They must use the most direct route, and should not use public Travel corridors and self-isolating transport. Visitors do not have to self-isolate on arrival into • They should then self-isolate immediately Wales when travelling from one of the travel and follow the self-isolation guidance corridor countries. Please check before travelling. Please note that the travel corridor countries • The person with symptoms should apply for may be different in England, Scotland and a free COVID-19 antigen test, preferably at Northern Ireland. This applies to all international a convenient location close to their home as travel by train, ferry, coach, air or any other soon as possible. route. What considerations need to be taken into Visitors who live, have been to, or stopped in a account by coach and tour operators? country that’s not on the travel corridor list will • Operators should be aware of Welsh have to self-isolate until 14 days have passed Government policy on contact tracing since leaving that country. (see https://gov.wales/contact-tracing-your- Official advice is available fromWelsh questions), and the potential implications of Government and UK Government and a visitor developing symptoms and testing international travellers should also follow the positive for COVID-19 whilst on a tour to official advice from their respective governments Wales. and/or embassies. • More specifically,a coach tour operator We would also recommend all visitors check the should be operating as safe an environment latest public health advice on coronavirus before as possible on the coach itself, and as a travelling, or on arrival in the UK. party travelling together. They should consider the risk of the whole coach party Public Health Passenger Locator needing to self-isolate if someone develops Registration form COVID-19 symptoms. Where no social It is a legal requirement that all travellers to the distancing and other mitigating measures UK have to complete a ‘Public Health Passenger have been put into place the whole party will Locator Registration Form’. This has to be be treated as a ‘household’ and will need to completed 48 hours before arrival into the UK follow the self-isolation guidance. and the completed form will need to be shown • Coach operators should also understand the on arrival at the UK border, either by printing a key factors that will be taken into account by copy, or showing on a phone. The government the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service in will use this information to contact visitors if they identifying contacts of an individual who has or someone they’ have travelled with develops tested positive for COVID-19. tracing guidance that will be provided directly A contact means: to them by the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service. The service will contact them as soon • someone within 1 metre of an as they receive a positive test, and will also individual who has tested positive contact the accommodation provider if there and a person with whom they have is a suspected outbreak on your premises (i.e. had a face-to-face-conversation, had more than one confirmed case). skin-to-skin physical contact, have You should be aware of the risk associated coughed on, or been in other forms of with bookings from international customers contact within 1 metre for 1 minute or should they develop COVID-19 symptoms during longer their stay, given they may not be able to vacate • someone within 2 metres of them for accommodation until they receive a negative more than 15 minutes test or their self-isolation period is complete. • someone they have travelled on You will need to consider this as part of your risk the coach with – where no social assessments and the potential mitigations you distancing measures have been put might put in place. The cost factor and your in place (e.g. spacing passengers associated booking policy needs to be clearly on seats), or other measures have communicated with your potential customers in been put in place such as wearing of advance of accepting bookings. 3-layer face coverings or installation Overall Visitor Economy Guidance of protective screens. Visitor Economy Guidance is available to The level of risk will be determined by help tourism and hospitality businesses safely the contact tracing team and whether re-open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) the whole coach party should be pandemic. identified as confirmed contacts of the Additional guidance has also been produced person who has tested positive. See in consultation with the Hospitality sector for https://gov.wales/contact-tracing-if- Pubs, Bars, Cafes and Restaurants, which can be you-are-confirmed-contact viewed on the UK Hospitality website. As each premises is different, businesses should What happen if an international visitor read all guidance to understand the measures develops COVID-19 symptoms? to be considered to re-open the business safely. As it would not be safe for an international guest with COVID-19 symptoms to travel home Wales is ‘Good to Go’ Wales has launched the “We’re Good To Go” whilst experiencing symptoms, they should stay at their accommodation and: industry standard mark. This self-assessment scheme has been designed in partnership with • Immediately apply for a free COVID-19 Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and antigen test whilst at their accommodation, VisitEngland. It provides reassurance for all and follow the self-isolation guidance. sectors of the tourism industry and to your clients • If they become very unwell and feel they that businesses have clear processes in place cannot cope with their symptoms, inform and are following industry and Government them to use the 111 online coronavirus service. COVID-19 guidance on cleanliness and social If internet access is unavailable, call 111. In a distancing. You can filter the product search medical emergency, dial 999. for ‘We’re Good to Go’ businesses. • If they receive a negative test result then they Destination information for Wales no longer need to self-isolate and can return traveltrade.visitwales.com home as they wish/or on completion of their stay.