In these tough times for tourism related to COVID-19, everyone is joining together to overcome common challenges and deal with negative consequences. Even competitors are collaborating to achieve their goals in the fight against the pandemic.

 

The two largest cruise holding companies in the world, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., have announced a partnership to develop detailed health and safety protocols for cruises.

 

The collaboration created a Healthy Sail Panel working group led by Mike Leavitt (former Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services and former Governor of Utah) and Scott Gottlieb (former Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration).

 

The Healthy Sail Group will develop protocols for the safe resumption of cruises and is scheduled to provide its initial recommendations by the end of August. The development includes the work of experts in public health, infectious diseases, biosafety, and service on board a cruise ship.

 

Despite the contribution of these two holdings to the development of these protocols, the representatives of the companies stated that the information and all the developments will be available to all “players of the cruise market”.

 

The group has already worked together over the past month and is jointly exploring four different aspects:

 

The first is a health check to minimize the risks of COVID-19 exposure to different groups of passengers.

 

The second is to conduct studies of the working environment and technical means of controlling the spread of the virus to determine how passengers interact on the liner with service personnel to reduce direct contact and risks of infection.

 

Third, cruise lines want to focus on contingency planning. Develop an algorithm of actions when a certain passenger is infected for the safety of other guests of the liner.

 

And, fourthly, route planning and changes in the very principles of route development, which will make it possible to react with lightning speed to an unexpected closure of a port or the introduction of various restrictions.

 

In addition, different experts were recruited in all four fields: public health leaders, scientists, engineers, who had experience in the field.

 

All Healthy Sail Panel developments will take into account the recommendations:

- CDC - on the limitation of cruises from the United States;

- the US government;

- the European Union;

- As well as other countries and associations.

 

Also, in the process of work, representatives of the group will follow the news from organizations responsible for COVID-19 from different countries and adjust their protocols if they require it.

 

We hope that all work will be completed on time, since the group includes leading experts in their industry:

 

Helene Gayle, M.D., M.D., Executive Director of the Chicago Community Trust, and former President and CEO of CARE. She spent 20 years at the CDC, working primarily on HIV / AIDS, and also directed global health programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Julie Gerberding, M.D., M.S., is currently the Executive Director and Chief Physician of Merck. She is the former head of the CDC - the first woman to lead the organization - and has led more than 40 emergency responses to pandemics and epidemics such as anthrax, SARS, bird flu, foodborne disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

 

Steven Hinrichs, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and director of the University of Nebraska Biosafety Center. He was responsible for developing a nationwide program for the rapid identification of biological agents of mass destruction.

 

Michael Osterholm, M.D. He is one of the leading experts in public health, infectious diseases and biosafety. As director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, he is an international leader in the world in pandemic preparedness.

 

Stephen Ostroff, M.D., has many years of experience in public health, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as the FDA and CDC, where he has worked on emerging infectious diseases, food safety and coordinating a comprehensive outbreak response. He was Acting FDA Commissioner from 2015-2016, and prior to that served as the FDA's Chief Scientist. Previously, he worked as Deputy Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the CDC.

 

William Rutala, Dr. Phil Osofii, MSc, MSc in Health, is a specialist in the medical management of a variety of diseases and has extensive experience in epidemiology and virology, in particular outbreaks and emerging pathogens. In particular, his research focuses on the prevention of health-related infections, with a particular emphasis on the disinfection and sterilization of reusable medical and surgical devices.

Kate Walsh, Ph.D., is Dean of the Cornell University School of Hospitality Management and Professor at EM Statler. A professor of management, she is a leader in education for the global hospitality industry and a renowned expert in organizing organizational services, leadership and career development, and the impact of strategic investments in human capital.

 

As well as representatives from cruise lines, including Captain Patrick Dahlgren, Royal Caribbeans SVP for Global Marine Operations and Fleet Optimization for Global Brands, and Robin Lindsey, EVP Marine Operator for NCLH.

 

In addition, several experts will serve as senior advisors to the group, including Dr. Caitlin Rivers, professor and epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and an expert in the epidemiology and science of emerging infectious diseases, as well as Dr. Phyllis. Kozarski, Emeritus Professor of Medicine in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine, and an expert in medical advice and pre-travel education, global health and the epidemiology of travel-related infections and infectious diseases.

 

We sometimes see negative comments on various web-resources both about cruises and about all travel in general. But after analyzing the information, it turned out that the vast majority of these haters are people who have never been on cruises or had the opportunity to carry out other travels.

 

As for real tourists, they share our optimism and desire to travel!

 

The most relevant news in tourism:

 

Consultation on any questions:

 

+38 044 337 84 01

+38 093 653 05 53

+38 066 653 05 53

+38 097 653 05 53

Email: info@4gates.com.ua

 

Director For Gates Ukraine

Nikolay Plokhotnyuk