Advice for tour operators

Seek shade on the beachSunburn on holiday is painful, embarrassing and can stop you having fun. It also increases your risk of skin cancer.

A survey by Cancer Research UK in 2007 found that:

  • 25% of British men and nearly 40% of British women say sunburn has made them feel unattractive on holiday.
  • 15% of British holiday makers had to miss a night out and a third had to miss a day on the beach because of sunburn.

On this page

 

Download our information pack

Cancer Research UK has produced an information pack to help tour operators promote sun protection. The pack contains both industry advice and public communication resources and draws on information from the WHO guidelines.

Download the elements of the pack by clicking on the PDF links below.

You can display this information at your resort and on your website, or include it in welcome presentations and information packs. You may also find the guidelines useful for developing your own SunSmart strategy and organisational policies.

We would like to thank the Federation of Tour Operators and the Association of Independent Tour Operators for their support of these resources.

Back to top
 

Being SunSmart makes for enjoyable trips

As the World Health Organization (WHO) point out in their guidelines for tour operators, part of what makes a positive holiday experience is maintaining good health.

The benefits of being a SunSmart tour operator also apply for winter sun holidays and winter sports holidays.

Helping your clients avoid  sunburn benefits everyone because:

  • holiday makers will have more fun
  • your business shows itself to be responsible and caring
  • you will help to reduce your clients' risk of  skin cancer.

 

Back to top
 

Help promote SunSmart messages

Responsible marketing and communication

Promotional materials from the tourism industry have a big impact on our perceptions of tanning and health. To promote SunSmart behaviour try to:

  • Avoid showing people sunbathing without protection or using overly tanned models in your promotional materials.
  • Include shade, hats, protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen in your corporate imagery.
  • Remind customers of the importance of sun protection both before and during the trip.

Promoting sun protection on site

Help your clients stay SunSmart on their holiday by:

  • Providing sun protection or giving information about local suppliers of  sunglasses,  hats and  sunscreen.
  • Ensuring that the venues you use have plenty of  shade where people are likely to gather e.g. by the pool
  • Planning day trips so that clients will be able to  seek shade during the peak UV hours around solar noon.
  • Promoting awareness and understanding of solar noon.
  • Making sure any  children in your care are fully protected as their skin is more delicate and easily damaged.
  • Advising clients with  sunburn to cover up and stay out of the sun completely.
Back to top