Visitation to protected areas in light of COVID-19: Input requested

New guidance is being developed on behalf of the EU to help protected area authorities and park managers operate tourism safely in the wake of COVID-19.

The objectives of the guidance is to ensure that it:

• Is based on sound data and advice from reputable sources
• Provides clear linkages to national policies and directives
• Highlights the importance of tourism in protected areas for visitors (e.g. Healthy Parks, Healthy People), for conservation and for local livelihoods
• Provides guidance on safe visitation: information, infrastructure and practices
• Includes examples of good practices
• Shares links to further information and resources

If you are working on these issues – either from a tourism, protected areas or public health perspective –  and can assist with examples or resources – please get in touch.

Contact details: Dr Anna Spenceley – annaspenceley@gmail.com

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Some current guidance for the operation of tourism in the wake of COVID-19:

• 1. Visitor guide to camping during COVID-19 – British Columbia Parks
  2. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Government of Canada
     • Maladie a coronavirus (COVID-19) (French)
  3. Protecting funding for public health and equity– Advisor news
  4. Recommendations for the safe practice of trekking– Fundación Trekkingchile
     • Recomendaciones sanitarias para practica segura de trekking
     • Gesundheits – hinweise fur die sichere Durchführung einer Wanderung
  5. Resource kit for accommodations  – Travelife
     • COVID-19 guest communications
     • Tourism and hospitality COVID-19 resilient training
     • Free online consultations
  6. Recomendaciones para una visita segura (video) – Corporacion Nacional Forestal, Chile
  7. #RecreateResponsibly – #RecreateResponsibly
     • Get the toolkit
  8. An ethics framework for COVID-19 reopening process – Johns Hopkins
  9. A note on re-opening: What’s safe?  – IUCN WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group
  10. OARS COVID-19 general mitigation plan– OARS
  11. Managing Scotland’s parks and greenspaces during Covid-19– Greenspace Scotland
  12. Coronavirus/ COVID-19– Pairi Daiza 
  13. Guidelines for visiting 21 refuges in the Ecrins National Park– Fédération Française des clubs alpins et de montagne 
  14. COVID-19 interventions for the tourism sector – KZN Wildlife
  15. Conheça os parque que ja foram reabertos – Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio)
  16. COVID-19 Guidance for Parks and Green Space managers – Parks for London
      • Example Risk Assessment 
  17. Reopening guidance: Considerations for the attractions industry – The Global Association for the Attractions Industry
  18. NPS Public Health Update– National Parks Service
  19. Federal Recreation Reopening Strategy Recommendations – Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
  20. Travel in the new normal: Industry guidance for promoting health and safety of all travellers – US Travel Association
  21. Restaurant reopening guidance – National Restaurant Association
  22. COVID-19 safety and social distancing graphics – National Parks Service
  23. Thailand DMC unite to create uniform health and safety standards ahead of tourism restart– Destination Mekong
  24. Tourism industry guidelines for coronavirus (COVID-19) – Victoria State Government
  25. COVID-19 update – Parks Victoria
  26. The Oceanic Standard COVID-19 reopening guidelines: Restaurant + hotel food service –  Oceanic Global
      • Fact sheet
      • Regulation database
  27. ‘Safe travels’: Global protocols & stamp for the new normal– WTTC
      • Hospitality – Global Protocols for the new normal 
      • Tour operators – Global protocols for the new normal 
  28. Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer public spaces – urban centres and green spaces – Gov.uk
  29. Response to COVID-19 –  CFP people spaces places
      • Managing public parks during COVID-19 
  30. Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)  – Gov.uk
      • Hotels and other guest accommodation
  31. Coronavirus (COVID-19)  – Parks Canada
      • How to visit during COVID19 
      • Camping during COVID-19
      • Frequently asked questions
  32. COVID-19 – National Parks Service
  33. Guidance for administrators in parks and recreational facilities – CDC
      • Visiting parks and recreational facilities: Protect yourself and others from COVID-19
      • Communication resources (English) 
      • Recursos de comunicación (Spanish) 
  34. Using trails safely in pandemic in the wake of COVID-19  – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 
  35. Approved industry COVID safe plans – Queensland Government
      • Queensland parks and wildlife service campgrounds
      • Queensland tourism and accommodation 
      • Zoos and aquariums  
      • Restaurant and catering
  36. Destinations sign up to WTTC safety stamp– TravelMole
  37. Travel industry guidelines for sectors re-opening in one place – Skift
  38. Adventure Travel COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines –  Adventure Travel Trade Association

   

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For +700 resources already collected on this topic, please see my post of COVID 19 and sustainable tourism: Information resources, and links under ‘Ideas to help resilience and recovery.’