Abstract:
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%">The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted all corners of societies around the globe since emerging in 2020. One of the many effects the pandemic has had - at least on a temporary basis - is on decision-making and sites that tourists choose to visit. Since its inception, the Texas State Parks system has historically been a collective of natural and cultural sites popular with visitors. Before the onset of COVID-19, the popularity and visitation to Texas’ state parks was on a strong upward incline, corresponding with population growth and greater awareness of these protected state treasures. This paper explores what impacts there have been, if any, on visitation patterns across state parks in different regions around Texas since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. It also looks at how the Texas State Parks system responded to the pandemic in its initial stages, and whether the system has re-invented its approach to tourism during the pandemic.</p>
Keywords: pandemic, visitation, Texas State Parks
Authors:
Bryant Evans, Houston Community College; Submitting Author / Primary Presenter