It's that time of year when many of us would typically be thinking ahead, planning holidays for the summer or booking trips for next winter. In 2021, with the future of travel still uncertain because of the global pandemic, things are a little different.
Nowhere is this more apparent than for those working in the travel and tourism industry, which is why the World Travel and Tourism Council has released a set of guidelines focusing on mental health and the recovery of the tourism industry.
“While it is essential for mental health to be thoughtfully integrated within organisational policies, it is important to note the importance of travel in enhancing individual’s mental well-being,” state the new WTTC guidelines.
Building on its diversity and inclusion guidelines released in 2020, the WTTC's new guidelines focus on how companies can boost employees' mental well-being. They are set to be used as a tool to help businesses and people recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism industry.
"The [travel] sector employs people from all socioeconomic backgrounds regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, almost 50 per cent of whom are women and up to 30 per cent youths.
"After nearly a full year of insecurity and hardship that has come from the Covid-19 pandemic, the time could not be more appropriate to invest in the mental well-being of this sector," said Gloria Guevara, president and chief executive of WTTC.
Investing in well-being reaps rewards
The World Health Organisation states that boosting employee mental health is conducive to a successful business. It says that for every $1 companies invest in improved treatment for common mental disorders, a $4 return in improved health and productivity is gained.
Working with leading health authorities like the WHO, wellness associations and private sector leaders in the tourism industry, the WTTC has divided its mental health guidelines into four categories: developing support systems, creating safe spaces, supporting an agile system and exemplifying support for good mental health.
Flexitime and contact-free days
From providing access to professional mental health support to developing policies that allow staff to take time off for mental or physical health, the guidelines seek to build a more resilient workforce.
Allowances for flexible times and working locations, without bias towards management, is another point of note.
It also includes advice that companies should promote a balanced life that includes work and time away from work in the form of leisure travel, time with loved ones and hobbies. They should also foster contact-free periods, encouraging employees to truly switch off when not on duty.
Businesses are also advised to create an environment that respects the value of well-being and to design or rethink physical spaces to include wellness elements where possible.
At a time when lockdowns, quarantines, job losses and uncertainty loom, the WTTC says it is crucial that mental health support is given space in conversations around tourism's recovery.
“Furthermore, throughout its very nature, the travel and tourism sector is one that brings joy to people of all walks of life, therefore it makes perfect sense for the sector to reflect these values within the workplace as well," said Guevara. "We look forward to seeing these guidelines make real change within the workforce."
