The Legal Impacts of COVID-19 in the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry

18 permanent disinfection of vending machines, the use of single-use cards (disposable or digitised), the use of single-use table linen, the storage of auxiliary items (i.e. crockery, glassware, cutlery, table linens, bread baskets and coffee cups) in closed rooms or away from clients; napkin rings, oil and vinegar cruets should be substituted for individual doses. When it comes to home delivery, the establishment must have a space available for the pick-up of the order by the delivery person (bar or table), the food will be deposited in closed or sealed bags, and, during delivery, the social distance will be maintained with the client. When the service is at the bar, the waiter must wear face masks and screens, and, when it is at the table, the distance must be guaranteed and crowding should be avoided; in the terrace service, there will be informative signs and posters on hygiene and disinfection guidelines. In order to accredit the guarantees of a safe tourist establishment, the ICTE has created the transversal seal “Safe Tourism Certified” as a guarantee mark and certification for the implementation of the Health Risk Prevention System against COVID-19, which companies, organisations and tourist resources can voluntarily opt for, provided they pass the previous audit. The most representative professional tourism associations attended the presentation: Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), Business Confederation of Hospitality of Spain (CEHE), Spanish Federation of Camping in Spain (FEEC), Association for the Quality of Rural Tourism (ACTR), Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV), Spanish Confederation of Bus Transport (CONFEBUS), National Association of Spas (ANBAL), Entrepreneurs of Night Leisure (Spain at Night), the National Association of Nautical Stations and National Association of Active Tourism Companies (ANETA), as well as the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG). However, problems surfaced when the prices of this certification became known (between 100 € and 400 € depending on the type and size of the company), to which we must add the cost of the audit (between 400 € and 900 €). These prices have generated discontent in the sector because it represents an additional cost, at a time with little activity, leading to several autonomous communities having started certification processes in their territorial area (Andalucía, Catalonia, Castile and Leon, Galicia and others), based on ICTE documents. Undoubtedly, what is desirable is a homogeneous certification at the national level instead of regional certifications; but it can be further aggravated if the certifications of some sectors (hotels, restaurants, etc.) proliferate. If this happens, the tourist can end up confused and overwhelmed.