Maybe you’ve been considering a road trip along California’s magnificent Pacific coast, or a visit to its superb parks or beaches. But even focusing on the outdoors, aware of social distancing, you wonder —how safe is it?
The coronavirus crisis has devastated California’s tourism industry, bringing leisure travel to a halt for three months. And the recent surge of the virus now has many beaches, theme parks and bars shutting down throughout the state.
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom reported that over the past two weeks the number of hospitalized Californians had risen 43 percent. And over the past week, California’s case count surpassed 200,000 known infections, forcing a roll back of the state’s reopening in some counties.
But California is fighting back to keep its tourism industry viable and to keep tourists safe and willing to travel. State public health guidance, which went into effect June 12, allows counties to open for leisure travel providing that health benchmarks are met and social distancing and sanitizing protocols are adopted.
The state’s tourism marketing nonprofit, Visit California, is using the phrases “Travel California. Respect California.”
A Responsible Travel Code asks visitors to travel with RESPECT by committing to seven main points when exploring the Golden State:
· Roam Responsibly
· Educate Myself
· Safety First
· Preserve California
· Embrace Community
· Celebrate Culture
· Teach Others
The code marries the imperative to travel safely with California’s ongoing effort to encourage visitors, tourism industry partners and Californians to create a sustainable and respectful environment. As the code’s preamble pinpoints, “respect is the key to keeping each other safe and all of California’s precious and fragile beauty protected, today and tomorrow.”
“The tenets of our Responsible Travel Code speak to both preserving California and to the safety of our communities and visitors as the state begins to reopen for leisure travel,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “We hope this code can serve as a quick resource for travelers on how to stay safe and be respectful of others and of the environment when visiting the state.”
The code is published on the newly launched VisitCalifornia.com as part of a Responsible Travel Hub. It also shares what businesses and communities across the state are doing to ensure the safety of their employees and guests. Content covers California beaches, hotels, wineries, breweries, shops, restaurants and parks and trails.
“Visitors should plan ahead by checking with the destinations they intend to visit to learn what activities are allowed, prohibited or limited, and prepare accordingly,” Beteta said.
Author of PLACES I REMEMBER: Tales, Truths, Delights from 100 Countries. Visit my website, tweet me @lealane or follow me on Instagram, where I’m Travelea. Besides
Author of PLACES I REMEMBER: Tales, Truths, Delights from 100 Countries. Visit my website, tweet me @lealane or follow me on Instagram, where I’m Travelea. Besides Forbes, I’ve blogged about travel at Huffpost, Salon, and the Daily Beast. I’ve written for The New York Times, The Miami Herald and Gannett Newspapers; was managing editor of Travel Smart (a clue to what I’m good at!); appeared weekly on The Travel Channel; and was a regular speaker at The New York Times Travel Show. An award-winning writer and avid photographer, I’ve contributed to dozens of guidebooks. created over a thousand travel pieces and columns, and authored eight books. I love to share discoveries in travel, food, art, culture and lifestyle through my words and photos.