Strong health and safety standards in travel are essential for maintaining consumer confidence. As we head into the busy summer season, it’s worth remembering that some of the biggest risks on holiday are often the most familiar – water safety is a good example.  

Pools, beaches and waterparks are central to many holidays. But, when abroad, there can be different standards and levels of supervision – not all pools or beaches have a lifeguard present – therefore, risks can change quickly.  

ABTA is once again supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week, helping to raise awareness of how easily incidents can happen, and how preventable they are. Together with them, ABTA has also created a practical water safety toolkit for members, giving them simple, shareable guidance to help customers stay safe in and around water while on holiday.  

This sits alongside ABTA's wider health and safety work that they do. 

ABTA continues to work closely with the FCDO on its Travel Aware initiatives, which recently have included advice around travelling to the 2026 World Cup Finals. The FCDO will, in the coming weeks, launch its summer-specific campaigns, including, ‘Stick With Your Mates’ which is all about helping young holidaymakers look after themselves and each other abroad, and ABTA will be sharing this message as part of the social media activity throughout the summer. 

ABTA's role is to equip members with the tools, insight and partnerships to help customers travel with confidence – but ABTA also targets the members’ customers directly through the social media activity – helping people with the right advice at the right time.  

Members can download the water safety information here.