When theme parks reopen after the coronavirus pandemic passes, things may look very different. Even once the worst is over, social distancing measures are likely to be in place for a while. Some parks, such as Toverland, are considering a limit on visitor numbers when they reopen.
While theme parks and other attractions across the globe are closed to the public, operators are busy planning extra health and safety measures to ensure that they are able to open in a safe way, once the pandemic is over.
Toverland, the popular Dutch amusement park, has said it may need to put a cap on visitor numbers once it opens the gates once again.
Limiting visitor numbers
In a report from EenVandaag, Toverland’s director Jean Gelissen said, “We are thinking about working with time slots.” Talking about the practicalities of having people inside the park once again, he said, “We will have to spread. People who don’t know each other will probably no longer be able to coexist.”
Other attractions in Europe are also planning a series of extra measures in order to reopen safely and prevent a further spike in infections. For example, Bellewaerde in Belgium has said it will initially cap the number of visitors allowed in the park at 4,000. This means that guests will be able to spread out and keep a safe distance from others.
Planning to reopen
Bellewaerde will also ensure staff wear face masks, as well as adding distance markers to queues and implementing extra cleaning routines. Meanwhile, Kolmården Zoo in Sweden will require visitors to book online, so it can ensure on 1,500 visitors are in the park at any one time.
We’re likely to see a similar pattern at amusement parks in the US too.
In addition, more cleaning and hygiene routines will probably become the norm. Lance Hart says, “An increase in standards of park cleaning and disinfection is something we are likely to see everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Asian attractions are beginning to reopen (and in some cases close again). Earlier this month, Bob Iger talked about looking to China for practical safety measures such as temperature checks and reduced visitor numbers.
