Level of sanitary preparedness of European facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the series of COVID-19 cases a pandemic. A series of sanitary and epidemiological restrictions were introduced in most countries. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of sanitary and epidemiological preparedness of European accommodation and catering facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic by Polish tourists and their perception of safety in selected destinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 300 Polish tourists (125 women, 175 men, age 46.5+/-12.9 years) travelling to southern European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. The five most common destinations were selected: Italy, Austria, Greece, Croatia and Mediterranean islands. Tourists rated accommodation and catering establishments on the basis of a proprietary questionnaire on sanitary and epidemiological preparedness and their perception of safety. 70% of the respondents had a COVID passport, and 50% of them had additional health insurance in case of a COVID-19 infection. RESULTS: The higher the sanitary regime, the greater the feeling of safety in the group of female respondents aged 45-50 years (p < 0.005), while the higher the sanitary and epidemiological standards, the shorter the stay (p < 0.001). Milder restrictions provided a greater sense of freedom and mental rest in the group of male respondents than in the group of female respondents (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The respondents’ opinions revealed that the highest level of safety with regard to sanitary and epidemiological requirements was observed in Austria and Italy, while shorter length of the stay in these countries resulted from high prices, particularly in catering establishments. According to the respondents, less stringent restrictions, among others lack of the necessity to own the COVID passport, were linked to Croatia and Mediterranean islands. The sense of safety was satisfying while the sense of freedom and mental rest was high. KEY MESSAGES: • Most of the sanitary-epidemiological procedures used during the pandemic could have prevented many other infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases. • Sanitary regimes should correlate with a sense of security.