The impact of Covid-19 on recreational activities in green spaces and the countryside – An international review

This paper compiles international literature on COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 regarding outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. It is based on a bibliometric and qualitative analysis of 287 papers. The paper illustrates and summarizes the recent publications on COVID-19. The synopsis describes the impact of the pandemic, handling of the protective measures, as well as consequences for behaviour and the necessary management consequences to analyze the possible after-effects, including the long-term impacts. Against this background, solutions and new strategies are analyzed. In the discussion part, we take a closer look at the consequences of the presentations in the literature with regard to adapted visitor management and an improved urban green concept. Furthermore, we discuss whether the pandemic may also have positive consequences in the appreciation of nature, which may lead to a new target group in the field of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. © 2023, Verlag Eugen Ulmer. All rights reserved.

Covid-19 and outdoor recreation – Lessons learned? Introduction to the special issue on "Outdoor recreation and Covid-19: Its effects on people, parks and landscapes”

The special issue presents international experiences with COVID-19 in the years 2020 and 2021 on outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. To set the scene, a bibliometric and qualitative analysis illustrates and clusters recent publications on COVID-19. Against this background contributions from Japan, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Austria, Croatia, the United States, New Zealand, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Poland and Ireland draw a truly international picture of the pandemic crisis, the effects, coping behavior and related strategies. The papers contribute to the COVID-19 related research by documenting the shock in the field of outdoor recreation and tourism, by understanding the immediate consequences on behavior and the required managerial consequences and finally, by analyzing the possible follow up effects including long term effects, discussing resilient solutions and proposing new strategies. In the discussion section we try to answer the questions whether the high visitation rate in recreation facilities, forests, parks and protected areas will remain, and whether adapted visitor management concepts will be required. In addition, we discuss possible implications for urban planning and management. Finally, based on a changing connectedness to nature also possible positive effects by the pandemic are discussed which may lead to a new target group in outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. Management implications: The overview on the Covid-19 related literature suggests improvements in planning and management, such as - new concepts for destination and visitor management, considering an ongoing risk-management, - proactive urban planning and management considering short-term effects in the existing built environment as well as a long-term perspective with strategically planned green infrastructure, including not only the supply of green infrastructure, but also its accessibility, its amenities, and aspects of environmental justice, - the consideration of new target groups in tourism and outdoor recreation. © 2022