US Tourism Industry Worries Anti-Virus Measures Will Ruin Summer

 

Many Americans have been staying close to home since the start of the coronavirus health crisis. Those interested in traveling are now exploring where they can go on vacation this summer. They are discovering that such a trip may require coronavirus tests and even quarantines.

States from Maine to Hawaii are trying to balance the need to contain the virus with urging out-of-state visitors to spend money at hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

Coronavirus containment³ measures get little support from many in the tourism industry. They fear that visitors will choose to wait things out until they can go without worrying about violating a state-ordered quarantine or searching for a testing station for the virus.

Pauline Frommer is editorial director for Frommers.com and Frommers' travel guidebooks. She says discretion⁴ is the better part of valor⁵ during a health crisis.

"You don't want to die because you went on vacation," she told The Associated Press.

Some states like Hawaii require quarantines for out-of-state visitors. Maine, Alaska and Vermont have some version of a test requirement.

In Maine, a state that calls itself "Vacationland," Governor Janet Mills provided an alternative to the 14-day quarantine. Visitors are welcome if they can show that they have been tested within 72 hours of arrival and are not carrying the virus.

Operators of hotels and restaurants say the governor's measure falls short of what is needed to bring in tourists and save their summer season.

"We don't think visitors are going to jump through hoops⁶ like that," said Steve Hewins from HospitalityMaine, the state's tourism trade group. He worries that visitors will just go somewhere else.

Hawaii Governor David Ige extended his state's required two-week quarantine for all arriving travelers. However, state officials are trying to develop a process that could let some travelers return.

Florida has recently reported an increase in coronavirus cases. The state requires a quarantine for visitors from New Jersey⁷, New York and Connecticut. Those states have had some of the highest infection rates during the early days of the health crisis. New York officials now say they are considering requiring Florida visitors to quarantine.

Travelers to Alaska who are tested upon arrival can avoid a quarantine if a test shows they do not have the virus. But visitors are told to limit their activities until they get a second test result showing no infection.

In Vermont, visitors can cut short the required two-week quarantine if they get a test after a week that shows no sign of infection.

Tim Piper is president of the Vermont Inn and Bed and Breakfast Association. He noted⁸, "There is pent-up demand, people are wanting to come to the state."

Neighboring New Hampshire is requiring out-of-staters to prove to having quarantined at home for 14 days before staying at a hotel or other property. The state rejected the idea of requiring visitors to quarantine while they are on vacation.

The safety concerns in Maine have a reason. The state has the highest percentage of people over age 65 -- the group most at risk to the coronavirus.

Businesses like hotels in Maine say the test requirements are difficult, can be costly⁹ and are not easily available.

At the Cod¹⁰ Cove² Inn, owner Ted¹ Hugger wonders whether out-of-staters will pay for the tests, which can cost $150 per person. He also questioned whether testing would keep people safe since it is not required of children 18 years and under who are traveling with adults.

"It just doesn't make sense," he said.

Hewins, of HospitalityMaine, does not like the idea of turning away families who have driven hours to vacation in his state. He likes the rules in New Hampshire, which has something closer to an honor system for visitors.

Compared to some states, Maine has had fewer coronavirus infections and deaths. But Maine's governor worries that rural hospitals could have large numbers of coronavirus patients if millions of visitors arrived without observing safety measures.

"I can think of nothing more devastating¹¹ than an outbreak or resurgence¹² of this deadly untreatable virus during...tourism season," she said.

I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.

Words in This Story

quarantine –n. keeping someone apart from other so they do not pass on a disease

tourism –n. the businesses of providing hotel, restaurant or other services for people who travel for pleasure

discretion –n. being careful about what you say or do

valor –n. courage or bravery

jump through hoops –n. to do a complicated or bothersome series of things in order to reach one goal

pent-up –n. held in or kept inside and ready to burst out

devastating –n. causing damage or harm

resurgence –n. growth or increase that happens after a period of little activity

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 cove   

n.小海湾，小峡谷

参考例句：

• The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁，嫩绿一片，好一个山外的小海湾。
• I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。

3 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

4 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

5 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。

6 hoops   

n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓

参考例句：

• a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
• Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎，这个季节的裙圈比较宽大，裙裾却短一些。 来自飘（部分）

7 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 cod   

n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗

参考例句：

• They salt down cod for winter use.他们腌鳕鱼留着冬天吃。
• Cod are found in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.北大西洋和北海有鳕鱼。

11 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

12 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。