What are the basics any good COVID-19 mitigation plan should address? The Haines Borough Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) is working to answer this question as it finalizes a list of recommendations for tour operators.

At a working group meeting Tuesday, TAB members and tour operators discussed mitigation measures for protecting employees, clients and the community.

In January, the assembly approved a proposal to require a COVID-19 mitigation plan in order to receive a tour permit approval in 2021. Those who participated in Tuesday’s TAB working group said their goal is to offer guidance to support businesses as they try to meet the new permit requirement without being overly prescriptive.

“I did not want to make this an overbearing process, where we would say, ‘This is the mitigation plan we require.’ I understand that all tour operators have different things that they’re doing, different ways that they’re handling their business,” said tourism director Steven Auch, who originally proposed the COVID-19 mitigation plan requirement. For example, a mitigation plan for a walking day tour would likely differ from that of a multi-day expedition.

Auch said the intention behind requiring COVID-19 mitigation plans is to show community members that the tourism industry is taking steps to protect them as visitors enter the community.

“What we’re trying to say to the community is we’ve thought about this and we’re trying to be clear about this,” Auch said.

Mitigation considerations discussed on Tuesday included training for employees, use of protective equipment, social distancing, regular sanitizing and keeping tour groups separate.

“Stay healthy, understand how the virus spreads, limit your exposure, and what to do if you feel sick or suspect you’ve been exposed… protective equipment for your employees, make sure that if it’s an appropriate time and place, they use face coverings, or physical barriers if you can put them in your vehicles, take advantage of sanitizing and distancing,” TAB chair Andy Hedden said listing specific areas to consider based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Hedden said a general policy might be to have people on tours social distance and wear face coverings when distancing is not possible.

He said he plans to have a draft of the mitigation plan guidelines ready for review at the Feb. 18 TAB meeting.