Florianópolis City and Airport receive international recognition as a safe destination

Florianópolis City and Airport receive international recognition as a safe destination

15 set 2020

The World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC), one of the largest international travel and tourism organizations, recognized the city of Florianópolis and Florianópolis International Airport as a destination and safe places, due to all the actions to combat and control the coronavirus, carried out by the Florianópolis City Hall and the Floripa Airport. With this, Florianópolis becomes the first destination to use the Safe Travels seal, in which the city's gateway, the airport, is also attested. 

Since the first half of March this year, with the early adoption of the quarantine to contain the advance of the pandemic, Florianópolis has emerged on the national scene as a reference in the management and control of the Coronavirus crisis. The lethality from the disease is one of the lowest, compared to other Brazilian capitals.

VIDEO: PRECAUTIONS AT THE AIRPORT

 

Another prominent indicator is the number of tests performed to detect the disease. From April to August, the Capital has already coordinated the execution of more than 70 thousand tests. The number is about 20% more than South Korea, the country that carried out the most tests in the world. Regarding social isolation, the PMF offers a hotel for people who are socially vulnerable or who for some other reason are unable to do home isolation after confirmation of the disease. 

Technology is an important ally. A nationwide reference for pioneering telemedicine, Alô Saúde Floripa offers free pre-clinical care by phone, app or website 24 hours a day. And each family health team has smartphones for direct contact and monitoring of patients. More than 60 video calls have already been made. Another tool is the SMS alert system, which warns residents within a 200-meter radius when a neighbor tests positive for Covid-19. 

“The Safe Travels seal is an important recognition to the city of Florianópolis and its airport at a time when the tourism sector is facing, together with the public authorities, the war against Covid-19. It has been a daily and constant challenge but without a doubt, we will come out of this crisis even stronger”, comments the Mayor of Florianópolis, Gean Loureiro.

The QR Code platform is also a successful case in screening for possible contamination by the disease. More than 5,3 establishments have joined this service, which already has around 1,5 million check-ins. Soon, another tool will be used in the municipality. It is the Laura artificial intelligence system, which will contact patients through WhatsApp messages asking simple questions to monitor the health status of suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19. The initiative is the result of a partnership between PMF and Unimed.

"In the midst of this challenging moment that we are facing, receiving the security seal gives us even more breath for the resumption of economic activities related to tourism in our city. I also thank the Floripa Airport for the partnership with the public authorities since the beginning of the measures to combat the pandemic", adds the Secretary of Tourism, Technology and Economic Development of Florianópolis, Juliano Richter Pires.

From arrival at the airport to disembarkation

At Florianópolis International Airport, the passenger's entire path, from the moment he arrives at the airport, to disembarkation, was mapped and received specific actions to control the coronavirus. 

Last Friday, the Floripa Airport, in partnership with Intelbras, implemented yet another novelty. Artificial intelligence thermal solutions were installed in the passenger disembarkation area, which identifies people with high temperatures. In addition to temperature measurement, the equipment has facial recognition technology, which identifies the correct use of masks.

The new system measures the temperature remotely and of up to 15 people simultaneously. If a passenger with a high temperature is identified, he will be approached by the professionals of the municipal Sanitary Surveillance, present at the airport, and referred for evaluation of symptoms. 

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, the airport has pioneered some actions, such as the implementation of a single line and guidance of boarding groups through screens, eliminating the formation of 3 lines and, consequently, the chance of agglomeration; the sanitary barrier at disembarkation in partnership with the city hall; and the installation of acrylic protections on the service counters with a magnifying glass for reading documents, without the need for handling.

“We have always had high sanitary standards. And now we've intensified them, going beyond the recommended protocols. The recognition by WTTC crowns our actions and demonstrates to passengers that traveling is safe” observes Ricardo Gesse, CEO of Florianópolis airport. 

Other actions at the airport

  • Parking gates issue the ticket from the vehicle's approach sensor, without the need for the driver to press the button.
  • At the entrance curb at 14/32 Boulevard, sanitized carts are arranged in a separate row.
  • The airport establishments already have an open architectural design, which guarantees greater ventilation.
  • They also strictly control the number of people and use of alcohol gel at the entrance.
  • Handrails, counters and all passenger contact points are cleaned with sanitizing products used in hospitals every 4 hours.
  • Trays, on x-ray inspection, are cleaned immediately after use.
  • Position marking stickers are in all locations for queuing, elevators, seating and escalator, maintaining minimum individual and family group distancing.
  • At check-in, Latam installed a remote service system, in which the passenger talks to the attendant via cameras.
  • Azul installed the autonomous baggage dispatch counter, made by the passenger himself with a QR Code.
  • A Floripa Airport placed sanitizing mats, also with sanitization products used in hospitals, for direct disinfection of shoes.
  • At each disembarkation, the aircraft are sanitized, before the boarding of new passengers.
  • All airlines operating in Florianópolis use HEPA filters inside the aircraft that renew the air every 3 minutes.

About WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel and tourism industry, with a mission to ensure the industry is seamless, safe, inclusive and sustainable. The organization has existed for 30 years, operating in 185 countries around the world. To issue the Safe Travels seal, the destination and locations must meet a series of requirements and protocols recommended by the WTTC.