• We stay up to date with DFAT Travel Advisories and with the COVID vaccination requirements laid down by airlines and the destination countries for our tours.

• We provide a safety briefing to the School and travellers, including COVID safety, prior to tour departure.

• Where possible, tour meals and activities are pre-paid so as to avoid having to use cash.

• We work with hotels and suppliers who have COVID-Safe plans and procedures.

All students and teacher chaperones must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of their tour. This may be obtained independently or issued by us. We strongly recommend there is coverage for COVID-19 – both pre-tour and whilst on tour – for example coverage for overseas medical costs related to COVID; amendment and cancellation costs; and cover for related expenses.

Travellers must call on the terms of their own travel insurance policy before any call or claim is made on Libertas Travel or its insurers.

If this occurs, then we monitor and act in accordance with DFAT/Smart Traveller advice. Contingencies may be put in place to avoid COVID hotspots in the destination country – for example by itinerary changes that avoid the affected areas.

If a tour cannot proceed because of an event which could not have been foreseen or avoided – such as a border closure, pandemic, weather event or DFAT advice against travel – then:

• The tour is cancelled.

• Travellers forfeit their non-refundable deposit.

• Travellers receive a refund comprising any moneys held by us to make bookings, and any refunds received back from our tour suppliers for bookings made.

• Travellers must call on the terms of their own travel insurance policy for any refund shortfall.

If a student or teacher chaperone tests positive within 7 days of travel and this prevents them from participating on the tour, then they should make a claim on their travel insurance for the tour costs.

Students and teacher chaperones are asked to bring a face mask and hand sanitizer with them, use masks in high-risk areas, and follow any local/national guidelines, airline or site-specific requirements for masks. Students will be reminded by Tour Manager and teacher chaperones on a daily basis of good hand hygiene practices and local requirements.

If required, we will provide masks and hand sanitizer to tour participants.

When the group is on their tour bus or outside in open public areas, then the Tour Manager in consultation with teacher chaperones may make a group decision about wearing masks.

We will monitor and follow advice from DFAT Travel Advisories and adhere to local guidelines and safety measures. In consultation with the School and teacher chaperones, the tour itinerary may be adjusted to avoid particular locations.

Whilst on tour, teacher chaperones have the duty of care in regard to student travellers.

If a student develops COVID symptoms (including fever, chills/aches, coughing) while on tour then, in consultation with the teacher chaperones and parent/guardian, we will arrange for the student to be tested and accommodated in a single room while awaiting the results.

If the test result is positive, teacher chaperones will contact the student’s travel insurer for medical advice and advise the student’s parent/guardian. Then, in consultation with teacher chaperones and the student’s parent/guardian, we will arrange for the student to receive the necessary care for any stipulated isolation period, and be prescribed any approved medication.

With the tour underway, there will be no refund offered for any tour activities missed due to contracting COVID, and traveler’s must make a claim on their own travel insurance for unrecoverable costs.