2020 Runte, Chantal: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the visitation of protected areas - A comparative study of five German national parks

As an unexpected crisis the COVID-19 pandemic led, among other effects, to lockdowns, travel restrictions, new rules and regulations and changed social behaviour of people all around the world. In Germany, this caused a rising demand for recreational experiences in nature and in domestic destinations, and thereby affected the visitation of protected areas.

This thesis studied the impact of the COVID-19 on protected areas within a mixed-method case study approach of five German national parks. Similarities and differences between the spatial and temporal distribution of visits in the national parks with potential causes, as well as challenges and adaption processes the national park authorities faced and adopted are highlighted.

Based on data collected from counting devices of the national parks, as well as explorative interviews with national park staff, findings suggest that the impact of the pandemic challenged the national parks to different extents in visitor number and behaviour management, and in some cases functioned as an intensifier of existing problems and/or as a fast forward to future overtourism issues. Consequently, national park authorities implemented various adaptive measures in visitor guidance, information, and education to anticipate and react to changing circumstances with varying success.

Recommendations for policymakers, management, and future research include the backing of rangers in protected areas, the expansion and funding of visitor monitoring studies and the seizing of new opportunities in communication channels, as well as the assessment of the recreational value of different types of green spaces.