Operating during COVID-19
4 March 2022
The following resources focus on practical guidance to help tourism businesses operate in a COVID-19 Secure way during the coronavirus pandemic.
Information on emergency funding, including Government support, can be found on our Support for tourism and event businesses during COVID-19 page.
Update 21 February 2022:
In a statement in the House of Commons Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the UK Government’s plan for living with COVID-19.
The Prime Minister said that the UK Government will continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations, but the ongoing approach for England will be around four principles, including:
- The removal of all domestic restrictions in law.
- From Thursday, 24 February:
- The legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test will end. Self-isolation support payments will also end. COVID provisions for Statutory Sick Pay will still be able to be claimed for a further month.
- Routine contact tracing will end. Fully vaccinated close contacts and those under 18 will no longer be asked to test daily for seven days.
- The legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate will be removed.
- Until 1 April, people who test positive will still be advised to stay at home. After April 1 people with Covid-19 symptoms will be advised to exercise personal responsibility.
- From 1 April:
- Free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public will end.
- The UK Government will no longer recommend the use of voluntary COVID19-status certification, although the NHS app will continue to allow people to indicate their vaccination status for international travel.
- Continuing to protect the most vulnerable with targeted vaccines and treatments.
- Maintaining resilience: ongoing surveillance, contingency planning and the ability to reintroduce key capabilities such as mass vaccination and testing in an emergency
- Securing innovations and opportunities from the COVID-19 response, including investment in life sciences.
Key Government guidance
Hotels and other guest accommodation
Guidance for people who work in or run hotels and other guest accommodation.
Events and attractions
Guidance for people who work in settings related to events and visitor attractions.
Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
Guidance for people who work in or run restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, nightclubs or takeaways.
Weddings and civil partnerships
Guidance for venues hosting weddings and civil partnerships.
Shops, branches and close contact services
Guidance for people who work in shops or similar environments and for close contact services.
Managing public outdoor settings
Guidance for local authorities, owners and operators to support the safe use and management of outdoor public places.
Guidance from Public Health England
Guidance for businesses, employers and employees on preventing the spread of the virus.
Grassroots sport operators
Guidance for grassroots sport providers, venue operators and participants.
Domestic cruise ships
Guidance on domestic cruise travel during COVID-19.
COVID-19 risk assessments
Guidance from the HSE on completing a COVID-19 risk assessment.
Ventilation of indoor spaces
Guidance on the ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of COVID-19.
NHS
Create an NHS QR code for your venue
Create a free QR code for your venue to support the track and trace system.
Protecting customer and staff details
Guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office on how to manage personal data collected for NHS Test and Trace.
Maintaining records of staff and customers
Guidance for hospitality and tourism businesses on collecting and maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace.
Be award of COVID-19 vaccine fraud
Download the Government quick guide to preventing COVID-19 vaccine fraud.
Downloadable posters
Government posters for display in venues to remind customers of the current guidance.
Rules on face coverings
When face coverings are required, including information on exemptions.
Face covering poster
A downloadable poster to display on business premises where face coverings are required.
Test and trace workplace guidance
What to do if you or someone you employ is required to self-isolate, including self-isolation rules and financial support.
Guidance on mandatory COVID-19 status checks
Guidance for venues and events that must use the NHS COVID Pass, or equivalent proof of vaccination or testing, as a condition of entry.
VisitEngland Academy Business Support Webinars
Guidance from UKHospitality
Guidance for accommodation businesses
Alex Hare
Government guidance for accommodation
Guidance for people who work in or run hotels and other guest accommodation.
Guidance from PASC UK
Read detailed COVID-19 updates and guidance for self-catering operators from the Professional Association of Self-Caterers.
VAT guidance for hotels and accommodation
Find out when you need to pay VAT if you provide holiday accommodation, caravans and camping facilities.
Guidance on managing linen
Guidance from UKHospitality and the TSA on managing linen in hotels and the hospitality sector.
COVID strategy e-book for hotels
An e-book from the Institute of Hospitality to help hotels create a COVID-19 resilience strategy.
Guidance for visitor attractions
VisitBritain
Government guidance: events and attractions
Guidance for people who work in settings related to events and visitor attractions.
VAT guidance on admission charges
Check which attractions are eligible for the temporary reduced rate of VAT from 15 July 2020.
Health and safety measures from Merlin
Merlin Entertainment’s guidance document for visitors explains what measures they are taking to keep their attractions safe.
Guidance for outdoor events
Guidance from the Events Industry Forum on how to work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rebuilding Heritage support programme
A free support programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to help the heritage sector respond to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
Guidance for volunteers
Official guidance on how volunteers can stay safe during COVID-19.
Managing public outdoor settings
Guidance for local authorities, owners and operators to support the safe use and management of outdoor public places.
Good practice guidelines for museums
Guidance from the National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC) on how to operate museums safely during COVID-19.
Guidance from ALVA
Guidance from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) on maintaining social distancing and other measures in Step 4.
Guidance for zoos and aquariums
Guidance for tour guides and coach travel
Guidance for handling tour groups
Guidance on handling tour groups, including coach trips, from UKinbound.
Guidance from the Institute of Tour Guiding
Guidance for tour guides during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recovery webinar for coach travel
Watch our webinar 'Coach travel - building towards recovery', recorded 14 January 2021.
Guidance for restaurants, pubs and takeaways
Alex Hare
Government guidance for hospitality
Guidance for people who work in or run restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, nightclubs or takeaways.
Pavement licences
Government guidance on pavement licences (outdoor seating proposal).
Guidance on new pavement licence
Guidance on the new pavement licence, including a Q&A checklist, from NEXSTART.
VAT guidance for catering and takeaway food
Find out when you need to charge VAT and at what rate if you supply food and drink for the purposes of catering or as a takeaway.
Pubs Code Declaration
The Declaration provides some safeguards for Market Rent Only (MRO) rights and suspends some deadlines for operators.
Guidance for events
VisitBritain/Nicolas Chinardet
Government guidance for events
Guidance for people who work in settings related to events and visitor attractions.
Guidance on mandatory COVID-19 status checks
Guidance for venues and events that must use the NHS COVID Pass, or equivalent proof of vaccination or testing, as a condition of entry.
Risk management template for event organisers
A resource to help event organisers to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in event settings.
Weddings and civil partnerships
Guidance for couples planning to get married or form a civil partnership in England, and venues hosting these events.
Guidance from the Events Industry Forum
Guidance from the Events Industry Forum on running COVID-Secure events.
Reports from the Events Industry Forum
Reports and briefings by the Events Industry Forum on COVID-19, including a paper on the effective use of ventilation and air cleaning devices.
Events Guidance for Local Authorities
Organised events guidance for local authorities.
Health and Safety
VisitBritain
Latest health advice
Find an overview of the virus, including the symptoms and latest advice on preventing its spread, from the NHS.
Public Health England
Guidance for businesses, employers and employees on preventing the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 de-contamination
Guidance on how to clean an area recently vacated by somebody with suspected COVID-19.
Information posters
Downloadable public information posters for display.
Food Standards Agency
Guidance on the safe production of food, including allergens and industry guides to good hygiene practices.
What food businesses need to know
Government guidance for food businesses on food hygiene, including packaging and maintaining social distancing in specific food business settings.
Safe water supplies
Guidance for businesses relying on a safe water supply, particularly when re-opening after COVID-19 lockdown.
Inclusive reopening guidance
Helping visually impaired customers
Top tips from Henshaws on helping visually impaired customers navigate your COVID-19 safety measures.
Reopening tourism for disabled travellers
Guidance from the UNTWO on how to provide a COVID-Secure environment without creating obstacles for disabled customers.
Guidance from the Business Disability Forum
Resources and webinars from the Business Disability Forum to guide your organisation, employees and customers through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidance from RNIB
Best practice guidelines to help you understand how to help your blind and partially sighted customers.
Guidance on sighted guiding
Guidance on how sighted guiding can be done safely and what additional precautions to take.
EMBED reopening guidance
Solution-based guidance to help you consider the potential barriers faced by disabled customers.
7 principles to ensure an inclusive recovery
A guide for the arts & cultural venues to support disability inclusion, designed to complement Government guidance on COVID-19.
Top tips on supporting disabled people
This infographic from AccessAble gives practical guidance on supporting disabled people during COVID-19.
Supporting your disabled customers
Euan’s Guide top 10 tips to help venues to support disabled customers during COVID-19.
UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide
This guide from UNWTO can help inclusive recovery.
Inclusion training
Find training courses on disability awareness and inclusion for you and your staff.
Guidance from the ISTO
Recommendations from the International Social Tourism Organisation on welcoming disabled people during COVID-19.
Make your business accessible
Find guidance, tools and resources to help you provide access for all in our dedicated section.
Reopening your venue
Guidance from Attitude is Everything on how to reopen your venue for Deaf and disabled audiences.
Looking after your employees
Alex Hare
Government guidance on working safely
How to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace.
Testing guidance for employers
Your legal obligations as an employer on testing during COVID-19.
Advice from ACAS
Guidance on handling employees, including sick pay, managing staff shortfalls, if somebody becomes unwell at work and what to do if you need to close.
Online sick note system
An online sick note system on the NHS website can provide employees with evidence that they have been advised to self-isolate.
Guidance from HSE
Health and Safety Executive advice on keeping your employees and workplace safe.
Test and trace in the workplace
If there is more than one case of COVID-19 in your workplace you should contact your local health protection team.
Psychological first aid training
A free 90 minute online training course to help you recognise people at risk of distress.
Managing working from home arrangements
Guidance from ACAS on making working from home arrangements, management and health & safety.
Self-isolating after returning to the UK
Guidance for employees and employers on self-isolating after returning to the UK.
Cleaning your workplace to reduce risk
Guidance from HSE on cleaning your workplace to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
Changes to apprenticeships due to COVID-19
Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations and external quality assurance providers.
Employees and face coverings
Guidance on managing requirements for staff face coverings and exemptions.
Protecting home workers
Guidance from HSE on your employer responsibilities for people working from home.
Supporting employees with hearing loss
Simple steps that employers can take to support staff with deafness and hearing loss during COVID-19.
Approved COVID-19 test providers
The list of private providers of COVID-19 testing to help employers set up their own testing programmes.
Guidance on work absences
Guidance for employers and workers on rights and responsibilities related to employees who may not be able to go into work during COVID-19.
COVID-19 Visa Concession Scheme
Information for people who have been unable to return to make an application for leave to remain (LTR) or indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
Instructions for COVID-19 self-testing
How you can safely test yourself and your staff for COVID-19 and report the results.
Support finder tool for individuals
Employees can use this Government tool to find advice and support on COVID-related issues such as paying bills or self-isolating.
Staff testing endorsement scheme
The We Offer Testing to our Staff (WOTTOS) endorsement scheme is a free promotional scheme for businesses in the workplace testing programme.
Employer COVID-19 vaccine toolkit
Ensure your employees get access to reliable and accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Enabling safe and effective volunteering
Guidance to help businesses understand how to safely and effectively involve volunteers during the pandemic.
Long COVID advice for employers and employees
Guidance from ACAS on sickness and absence from the workplace because of long COVID.
Hybrid working
Advice for employers on how to consider, discuss and introduce hybrid working from ACAS.
Staff training
WorldHost customer service training
This 60 minute online course can help customer-facing staff adapt their service, at a cost of £5 + VAT per person.
HIT customer service training
This 2 hour online course from HIT focuses on the customer service adaptations needed in light of COVID-19, at a cost of £25 + VAT pp.
Welcome to Excellence training
‘Customer service excellence’ remote training course for £25pp from Tourism South East and Welcome to Excellence.
Promote your business
Escape the Everyday...responsibly
Be part of our domestic marketing campaign to highlight your business to consumers.
'Know Before You go' campaign
Get involved in our public information campaign and download the toolkit.
Improve your marketing strategy
This eBook from Amadeus focuses on how to launch your marketing strategy in the aftermath of COVID-19.
