The airports of Galeão in Rio de Janeiro and Guarulhos in São Paulo have been internationally recognized for adopting a series of measures to protect the health of travelers during the resumption of flights. The former received, at the beginning of the month, the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) seal, which is endorsed by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The latter was certified by the Airport Health Accreditation, an entity that evaluates the protocols implemented to promote the safety of passengers, visitors, and staff.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, this recognition confirms that Brazil is prepared for the resumption of travel and tourism. “Protocols like these and those from the Ministry of Tourism provide safety for passengers to return to travel. These initiatives demonstrate that all tourism segments are committed to protecting the health of Brazilians and those who visit us,” he emphasized.
Among the measures adopted by the airport terminals are: actions to ensure social distancing, the use of personal protective equipment by passengers and the airport community, the availability of hand sanitizer dispensers, temperature measurement technology, and a heat map of the terminal, as well as the presentation of measures adopted by the service, retail, and food sectors. Additionally, Guarulhos International Airport is the first in the country to have a laboratory for conducting Covid-19 tests. Some countries, such as Portugal and France, require passengers to present this type of test to allow entry into their territories.
In May, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and the Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) implemented measures for airlines and airports. In addition to the permanent use of masks by passengers and staff, maintaining a two-meter distance between individuals, and sanitizing terminals and aircraft, the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) by workers is recommended, depending on the situation; the encouragement of communication campaigns; and the dissemination of audible announcements, among other actions.
Other Airports
In addition to Galeão and Guarulhos airports, the terminals in Brasília and Confins (MG) have also been adopting measures to ensure the sanitary safety of passengers. These locations feature hand sanitizer dispensers, protective barriers at user service points, and informative stickers for floors, seats, restrooms, and elevators. At the federal capital’s airport, the use of technology that measures temperature and checks for mask usage of those entering the boarding gates has drawn attention.
Floripa
The WTTC also recognized the city of Florianópolis and the International Airport of Florianópolis as safe destinations and locations, due to all the actions taken to combat and control the coronavirus, carried out by the City Hall of Florianópolis and Floripa Airport. With this, Florianópolis becomes the first destination to use the Safe Travels seal, with the city’s gateway, the airport, also certified. Since the first half of March this year, with the early adoption of quarantine to contain the pandemic’s advance, Florianópolis has emerged nationally as a reference in crisis management and control of the Coronavirus.
Source: Ministry of Tourism