US Tourism Industry Worries Anti-Virus Measures Will Ruin Summer
2020-06-26
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1Many Americans have been staying close to home since the start of the coronavirus health crisis.
2Those interested in traveling are now exploring where they can go on vacation this summer.
3They are discovering that such a trip may require coronavirus tests and even quarantines.
4States 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.
5Coronavirus containment measures get little support from many in the tourism industry.
6They 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.
7Pauline Frommer is editorial director for Frommers.com and Frommers' travel guidebooks.
8She says discretion is the better part of valor during a health crisis.
9"You don't want to die because you went on vacation," she told The Associated Press.
10Some states like Hawaii require quarantines for out-of-state visitors.
11Maine, Alaska and Vermont have some version of a test requirement.
12In Maine, a state that calls itself "Vacationland," Governor Janet Mills provided an alternative to the 14-day quarantine.
13Visitors are welcome if they can show that they have been tested within 72 hours of arrival and are not carrying the virus.
14Operators of hotels and restaurants say the governor's measure falls short of what is needed to bring in tourists and save their summer season.
15"We don't think visitors are going to jump through hoops like that," said Steve Hewins from HospitalityMaine, the state's tourism trade group.
16He worries that visitors will just go somewhere else.
17Hawaii Governor David Ige extended his state's required two-week quarantine for all arriving travelers.
18However, state officials are trying to develop a process that could let some travelers return.
19Florida has recently reported an increase in coronavirus cases.
20The state requires a quarantine for visitors from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
21Those states have had some of the highest infection rates during the early days of the health crisis.
22New York officials now say they are considering requiring Florida visitors to quarantine.
23Travelers to Alaska who are tested upon arrival can avoid a quarantine if a test shows they do not have the virus.
24But visitors are told to limit their activities until they get a second test result showing no infection.
25In Vermont, visitors can cut short the required two-week quarantine if they get a test after a week that shows no sign of infection.
26Tim Piper is president of the Vermont Inn and Bed and Breakfast Association.
27He noted, "There is pent-up demand, people are wanting to come to the state."
28Neighboring 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.
29The state rejected the idea of requiring visitors to quarantine while they are on vacation.
30The safety concerns in Maine have a reason.
31The state has the highest percentage of people over age 65 -- the group most at risk to the coronavirus.
32Businesses like hotels in Maine say the test requirements are difficult, can be costly and are not easily available.
33At the Cod Cove Inn, owner Ted Hugger wonders whether out-of-staters will pay for the tests, which can cost $150 per person.
34He also questioned whether testing would keep people safe since it is not required of children 18 years and under who are traveling with adults.
35"It just doesn't make sense," he said.
36Hewins, of HospitalityMaine, does not like the idea of turning away families who have driven hours to vacation in his state.
37He likes the rules in New Hampshire, which has something closer to an honor system for visitors.
38Compared to some states, Maine has had fewer coronavirus infections and deaths.
39But Maine's governor worries that rural hospitals could have large numbers of coronavirus patients if millions of visitors arrived without observing safety measures.
40"I can think of nothing more devastating than an outbreak or resurgence of this deadly untreatable virus during...tourism season," she said.
41I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1Many 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. 2States 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. 3Coronavirus containment 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. 4Pauline Frommer is editorial director for Frommers.com and Frommers' travel guidebooks. She says discretion is the better part of valor during a health crisis. 5"You don't want to die because you went on vacation," she told The Associated Press. 6Some states like Hawaii require quarantines for out-of-state visitors. Maine, Alaska and Vermont have some version of a test requirement. 7In 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. 8Operators of hotels and restaurants say the governor's measure falls short of what is needed to bring in tourists and save their summer season. 9"We don't think visitors are going to jump through hoops like that," said Steve Hewins from HospitalityMaine, the state's tourism trade group. He worries that visitors will just go somewhere else. 10Hawaii 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. 11Florida has recently reported an increase in coronavirus cases. The state requires a quarantine for visitors from New Jersey, 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. 12Travelers 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. 13In Vermont, visitors can cut short the required two-week quarantine if they get a test after a week that shows no sign of infection. 14Tim Piper is president of the Vermont Inn and Bed and Breakfast Association. He noted, "There is pent-up demand, people are wanting to come to the state." 15Neighboring 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. 16The 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. 17Businesses like hotels in Maine say the test requirements are difficult, can be costly and are not easily available. 18At the Cod Cove Inn, owner Ted 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. 19"It just doesn't make sense," he said. 20Hewins, 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. 21Compared 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. 22"I can think of nothing more devastating than an outbreak or resurgence of this deadly untreatable virus during...tourism season," she said. 23I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 24David Sharp reported this story for The Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 25________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27quarantine -n. keeping someone apart from other so they do not pass on a disease 28tourism -n. the businesses of providing hotel, restaurant or other services for people who travel for pleasure 29discretion -n. being careful about what you say or do 30valor -n. courage or bravery 31jump through hoops -n. to do a complicated or bothersome series of things in order to reach one goal 32pent-up -n. held in or kept inside and ready to burst out 33devastating -n. causing damage or harm 34resurgence -n. growth or increase that happens after a period of little activity