During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people answered the phone calls for outdoor activities to help maintain their physical and mental health. As people turn to summer vacation, this trend seems to continue in 2021.

One study after another shows that spending time in nature can reduce stress levels and promote recovery. This is also a great way to stay active and get the recommended amount of exercise.

A study It was found that people who spend two hours a week in green spaces (including local parks and other natural environments) are more likely to report good physical and mental health. Whether two hours is a visit or a few short visits, the benefits are obvious.

In order to obtain these Numerous benefits -It also includes lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety, improving mood and enhancing immune system function-people need to feel safe in the environment, Richard Louv said, A journalist in San Diego, who wrote this bookThe last child in the woods. “

Are crowded parks a hot spot for COVID-19?

At the beginning of the pandemic, health officials expressed concern that even outdoor entertainment venues may be hot spots for the spread of the coronavirus. However, the need to provide healthy outlets while the whole family was on standby last spring caused public officials to keep most parks open.

People flocked.

in Pennsylvania, The number of visitors to state parks and forests increased by 26.6% last year. According to national park data, the volume of walking and bicycle traffic on national park trails has increased by 200% compared to two years ago, and bookings for cabins, campgrounds and pavilions have increased by 35%. After gazette publication.

Philadelphia Park Saw 50% peak Among the visitors. So far, no COVID-19 outbreak has been linked to city parks. A recent study by Drexel University investigated the use of parks in Philadelphia and New York between May and July last year and found no relevant information about the surge in COVID-19 cases.

This research is published in Extreme Events Magazine, The focus is on small and medium-sized parks in the city. It compares the usage rate of the park with the transmission rate of COVID-19 in the surrounding area. The increased usage observed in the 15 Philly Parks and 7 New York Parks included in the study did not lead to higher COVID-19 transmission.

“Although it was speculated earlier that the park may become a gathering place for a large number of people and promote the spread of COVID-19, our research did not find a strong correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases in the community near the park and the number of people using the park. Correlation,” explained Drexel Engineering Professor Franco Montalto who leads the research team.

Researchers also observed that only a small percentage of park users do not wear masks (22.7% in Philadelphia and 1.2% in New York). In these two cities, less than 1% of people engage in any high-risk behavior, including spitting and coughing. Contact sports are not the main problem either.

Montalto said: “Although the municipalities that closed the park during the pandemic may have done so out of prudent considerations, our work has no evidence of closing the park during the pandemic.”

The growth trend of outdoor tourism destinations

There has been a similar increase in the number of visitors to parks across the country, including national parks such as Yellowstone National Park. As the United States and many other countries begin to relax travel restrictions, the renewed interest in outdoor spaces has also prompted more people to book outdoor-oriented vacations.

Travel expert He said that most people may choose camping and road trips at first, but they expect that interest in domestic and international air travel will also increase.

According to research Destination analyst, Soon 33% of people will go to outdoor-oriented destinations. People’s interest in eco-friendly huts and health resorts is also growing.

International Marriott Residences and Villas Recently, searches for outdoor themed destinations in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and other places have surged; Alabama’s Gulf Coast; Palm Springs, California; Puerto Rico; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; and Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

To reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, most travelers want to live in private camps or houses and do self-guided hikes and rafting instead of booking group trips, travel experts say.

Alyssa Ravasio, CEO of Hipcamp, an outdoor vacation booking resource, said: “Going out is essential to human health and happiness. In the current moments of stress and anxiety, the outdoors is more important than ever.” New York Times Last summer, these trends began to be observed for the first time.