SpTH

Pros

• Facilitates filling and submission of mandatory health forms
• Allows generation and presentation of QR codes on phone
• Improves tractability of travelers possibly exposed to confirmed Covid-19 patients

Cons

• Requires improvements in translation quality to cater to non-Spanish speaking users
• Lack of consistency in on-phone QR code acceptance across Spanish airports

Overview

SpTH is a health application developed by Aena SME S.A as part of the Spain Travel Health Program. As mandated by the Spanish Government in July 2020, this app aims to facilitate the health declaration process for all air passengers to Spain by enabling the submission of required health forms and generation of mandatory QR codes prior to arrival.

QR Code Accessibility

SpTH is an integral element in the hygiene protocol initiated by the Spanish government, which applies to all arrivals regardless of nationality and age. The mandatory health form must be filled and a corresponding QR code generated before the commencement of the journey to Spain. This process involves providing recent health and travel details, which can be done via a desktop interface. Although the form completion process can be undertaken on a desktop, the challenge lies in printing the PDF document containing the QR code, which could be inconvenient for some users.

The SpTH app resolves this issue by offering an adaptable platform where users can fill out the mandatory forms at their convenience. The QR code, generated 48 hours prior to arrival, does not need to be printed but can be presented on the phone upon arrival in Spain. This allows for easier management of the QR code in preparation for the air terminal control.

Utility and Challenges

The implementation of SpTH has, above all, been instrumental in aiding Spanish authorities in tracking travelers possibly exposed to confirmed Covid-19 patients. However, despite its utility, there exists a couple of challenges potentially affecting the user experience.

Firstly, the quality and clarity of translation could be enhanced. As non-English speaking travelers might utilize this app, clear and accurate translation is crucial for eliciting precise health and travel details from users. Secondly, there is an apparent inconsistency in the acceptance of on-phone QR codes amongst Spanish airports, with some requiring a printed document, which could cause confusion and inconvenience for travelers.

Conclusion

Despite these shortcomings, the SpTH app is undoubtedly beneficial in facilitating the adherence to the new health protocol in Spain. It significantly simplifies the process of complying with the hygiene protocol, thereby creating a smoother journey for travelers to Spain. However, several improvements could be made, notably ensuring consistency of QR code acceptance across all Spanish airports and enhancing the clarity of information provided, especially for non-Spanish speaking users.

Pros

• Facilitates filling and submission of mandatory health forms
• Allows generation and presentation of QR codes on phone
• Improves tractability of travelers possibly exposed to confirmed Covid-19 patients

Cons

• Requires improvements in translation quality to cater to non-Spanish speaking users
• Lack of consistency in on-phone QR code acceptance across Spanish airports