Luxury travel and tour operator, Overseas Leisure Group, is advocating a shift in mindset among today’s traveller by introducing its “Responsible Traveller Challenge” comprising of two industry-first incentives aimed at inducing a higher level of social responsibility when booking and travelling, in order to protect our beloved destinations and hospitality workforce from potential exposure to COVID-19.

As an incentive for travellers to get tested, Overseas Leisure Group is offering a USD 250 credit on each booking after proving that all adults in the travel party have been tested negative for COVID-19 during the 72 hours preceding their departure. The offer applies to all portfolio destinations and travellers can apply their credit towards activities, incidentals or restaurants during their trip.

Alternatively, travellers can select to have the credit donated to Partners In Health, an international health care organization helping global communities and those impacted by Covid-19. The monetary incentive initiates a significant call to action for the traveller taking responsibility to protect those they encounter and the environment within each destination throughout their journey. These pioneering incentives also provide the travel advisor with the support and tools they need to promote the importance of being a responsible traveller among their client base.

The company also partnered exclusively with App provider Entrsafe to offer travellers a mobile method for evaluating their own exposure, symptoms and risk to others from the Coronavirus prior to and during periods of travel. The App will help travellers self-evaluate and “clear” their condition before boarding a plane or checking-in to their final destination, which is now being made available through the Apple App Store or via Google Apps.

Travellers will be advised to use the App daily prior to entering a venue or meeting with an experiential guide for example, as part of a wider effort to protect local employees.

“Prior to the COVID crisis, we already had common measures in place that were ultimately best in class,” says Felix Brambilla, CEO of Overseas Leisure Group. “Since March, we have taken further steps to protect clients and vendors. After witnessing the shocking acceleration of Covid-19 cases in my home town caused by a resurgence in tourism, I felt the essential need to put measures in place that ensures travellers take ownership and responsibility for their own risk to others. More innovative practices are now being implemented such as the usage of our self-clearing App, an incentive for those who test prior to travel, financial protection with our Carefree Bookings program, and strict refund policy which passes laws and recommendations to protect travellers. Our newest incentives have been adopted to call luxury travellers’ attention to how significantly they can impact a destination when visiting an otherwise protected location.”