Port of Spain, April 26, 2021: Caribbean Airlines is collaborating with The Caribbean Public Health Agency, through its Regional Traveller Health Program (THP) to promote healthy, safer tourism, as the region opens to tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both CARPHA and Caribbean Airlines are committed to safe and responsible tourism to protect the health and wellbeing of both visitors and the local populations. 

On April 20-21 April, a total of 179 employees of Caribbean Airlines underwent CARPHA’s COVID-19 Essential Health Guidelines Training for Airlines. These staff members included flight attendants, customer experience officers, crew control officers and others. All participants received certificates of participation. 

The training is the first step in Caribbean Airlines acquiring the Caribbean Travellers Health Assurance Stamp for Healthier Safer Tourism (HST) award. The HST Stamp is a measurable and verifiable recognition award for tourism entities that are implementing CARPHA’s recommended proactive COVID-19 health monitoring and safety measures. The award is recognised by the region’s premier tourism agencies (CTO and CHTA) and internationally in November 2020 by the World Travel Tourism Council (WTCC). It provides travellers with the added assurance of a healthier safer option when choosing a tourism product in the Caribbean.

The COVID-19 training that Caribbean Airlines employees received was specifically designed by CARPHA for the airline industry. Caribbean Airlines is the first airline in the Caribbean region to receive this training and to enrol and initiate the process for the HST award. The airline’s participation, demonstrates its commitment and leadership to ensure safe regional travel. Caribbean Airlines is working judiciously to be the first airline to be awarded the HST Stamp in the region. 

Caribbean Airlines, Head of Corporate Communications, Dionne Ligoure noted: “From the onset of the pandemic, Caribbean Airlines rolled out programmes to educate and secure the health and safety of our employees and customers, including the ability for customers to access COVID-19 test via our website and adding a tool that provides up to date info on entry requirements to all of our destinations.  Collaborating with CARPHA on this important initiative is another example of our commitment. The HST Award, will be a further demonstration of Caribbean Airlines putting safety first”. 

Dr. Lisa Indar, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division, remarked “We are delighted to be engaging with Caribbean Airlines. As the Caribbean’s main airline with the largest network, Caribbean Airlines is ensuring that they are protecting travellers every step of the way from check-in to disembarkment, playing a critical role in fighting COVID-19 and reinstating safe travel to the Caribbean”. 

The award of the HST Stamp is also dependent on reporting to CARPHA’s Tourism and Health Information System (THiS) – a real-time, web-based, confidential, early warning system for public health illnesses. Previously, it was designed primarily for use only by the accommodations sector, but CARPHA modified its THiS to also enable reporting by airlines. In the upcoming months CARPHA and CAL also propose to collaborate on various advocacy activities to promote Healthier Safer Tourism and the HST Stamp.

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CARPHA, the Caribbean’s sole public health agency responsible for preventing disease, promoting, and protecting health, is leading the regional health response against COVID-19. CARPHA’s THP aims to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors, and thus protect the quality, reputation, and sustainability of Caribbean tourism. This unique programme adopts a multi-pronged (real-time early warning and response tourism and health information system (THiS), regional guidelines, food safety and environmental sanitation training, hospitality health safety and environmental standards, policy) and multisectoral (regional and international health and tourism partners) approach for implementation. The program has built capacity and equipped countries with regional tools that supports preparedness and response to public health threats like COVID -19.

About Caribbean Airlines

Caribbean Airlines was established on September 27, 2006 and commenced operations on January 01, 2007.  It is an authentic Caribbean airline which provides passenger and cargo services. The airline’s professional teams offer a genuine Caribbean experience on all its services and actively demonstrate the warmth of the islands both on and off the aircraft. Caribbean Airlines operates more than 600 weekly flights to 22 destinations in the Caribbean and North and South America. The airline’s fleet is comprised of Boeing 737-800 and ATR72-600 aircraft. Jointly owned by the people of Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, and with an operational base in Jamaica, Caribbean Airlines employs more than 1600 people. The airline is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is recognized as an IATA Operational Safety Audit qualified airline. It is a certified FAA repair station as per regulation 145. For more information on Caribbean Airlines, visit www.caribbean-airlines.com. Follow Caribbean Airlines on Facebook: www.facebook.com/caribbeanairlines and on Twitter @iflycaribbean.