After surveying American travelers in late April, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that 84% of respondents would resume visits to public spaces if health and hygiene measures are implemented, including guaranteeing social distancing, mandatory use of hand sanitizer, and regular disinfection of spaces.

The BCG concludes that tourism service providers must set themselves apart and leverage the situation to earn travelers’ trust by prioritizing their safety. One way to increase demand in the reactivation stage is by ensuring that facilities are clean, sanitized and safe.

With this in mind, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, supported by ProColombia and Icontec, launched the biosafety certification Check in certificado, COVID-19 bioseguro, aiming to validate sector companies on a voluntary basis. To become certified, they must implement all the measures that minimize the risk of infection and guarantee a safe experience for the traveler. These are outlined in Resolution 666 of 2020 and in the specific protocols for each value chain in the tourism sector.

The certification will be valid for 2 years, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism will keep a record of the tourism service providers that are granted the seal.

This initiative is supported by the UNWTO and it is the first of its kind in Latin America, making Colombia a pioneer country in implementing measures aimed at boosting tourism in a conscious, responsible, and safe manner once the sector is reactivated.