Advice to the travel industry about travel and holiday activities in Norway
Updated
This content is archived and will not be updated.
The Norwegian tourism industry is preparing to welcome visitors in a safe manner. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that everyone who offers services and activities to tourists should plan how to do this according to infection control advice.
The most important measures to limit transmission are:
- Sick people should stay at home
- Good hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and enhanced cleaning
- Limit contact between people
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has issued a template that different industries, businesses, services and organisations can use as a basis for their own infection control routines, see: Template for infection control guidelines - branch standard (in Norwegian).
Here is a summary of some specific advice for good infection control in services associated with tourism:
Dining locations
Locations where food is served can open if necessary infection control measures are taken to ensure their safe operation. Places that do not sell food can stay open from 1st June if they also have table service. There is no upper limit for the number of people who can be in a dining location, and this will be decided based on the size of the facility and the ability to keep the necessary distance and maintain good hygiene.
For events held at a dining location, the requirements for events given in the COVID-19 regulations apply.
- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health's infection control advice for events, gatherings and summer activities
- Norwegian Directorate of Health's recommendations about events (in Norwegian)
It is important to avoid crowding between people at the entrance, cloakroom, the toilets, at the tables, the bar and elsewhere on the premises. Buffets are not allowed. It must be possible to perform hand hygiene as required. Meanwhile, it is important to have good cleaning routines with regular cleaning of frequently used contact points.
Campsites, holiday centres and rental cabins
Campsites, holiday centres, rental cabins etc., can stay open. It is important to follow the necessary infection control measures to ensure safe operation. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that sanitation facilities at campsites and similar places should be kept open to avoid pressure on outdoor areas without sanitation facilities. Ensure that people operating the sites and those using the facilities can keep the necessary physical distance from each other and make it possible to perform good hand hygiene. Meanwhile, it is important that cleaning routines are enhanced, with more frequent cleaning than normal if necessary. Restaurants and cafes at campsites and holiday centres should follow the requirements for locations that serve food and drink. Other premises such as kiosks, common rooms and communal kitchens can be kept open and organised so that the general infection control advice is followed.
Hotels
Hotels can stay open. It is important to implement the necessary infection control measures to ensure safe operation. Restaurants and dining rooms in hotels should follow the requirements for locations that serve food and drink.
Fitness rooms and hotel pools can open from 15th June and follow the advice for training centres, see Sport and organised leisure activities. Pools can open from the 15th June (see advice under "Spa and hotel pools" below).
One-to-one treatment in spas etc., in hotels follow the requirements for one-to-one businesses such as hairdressers, beauty salons, etc.
- Operations in companies with one-to-one contact such as hairdressers, beauty salons, etc. (in Norwegian)
- For events at the hotel, the requirements for events apply, see Directorate of Health's recommendations on events (in Norwegian)
It is important to avoid crowding at the entrance, in the reception, toilets and elsewhere in the hotel and that it is possible to perform hand hygiene. Meanwhile, it is important to have good cleaning routines with regular cleaning of frequently used contact points.
Activities and equipment rental
Companies that offer activities must implement the necessary infection control measures to ensure safe operation. It is important to avoid crowding and to make it possible to perform hand hygiene. Meanwhile, it is important to have good cleaning routines with regular cleaning of frequently used contact points.
For rental equipment, follow the advice on cleaning and disinfection for sectors outside the healthcare service. Clean contact points on equipment such as bicycles, oars, climbing equipment, etc. with ordinary detergents. Disinfectants can be used as an alternative to washing contact points. For textiles used close to the face (dry suits, survival suits, etc.) you can wash hoods, collars etc., and use them immediately. Alternatively, leave the equipment unused for at least 24 hours.
Amusement parks
Amusement parks can open from 1st June if necessary infection control measures are in place to ensure safe operation. Amusement parks include everything from large family parks to travelling fairgrounds and smaller indoor play areas.
The park manager should carry out a risk assessment before deciding to re-open, to ensure that the infection control advice can be followed.
It is important to tailor the necessary infection control measures to each activity. The requirements for responsible operation may mean that some activities / equipment cannot be used because it will not be possible to maintain sufficient hygiene.
Restaurants and cafes in the parks should follow the requirements for locations that serve food and drinks. Individual events (such as birthdays, concerts and plays) should follow the current requirements for events. Opening of pools, water parks or public swimming pools in parks must follow the applicable rules for opening that apply to the rest of society.
It is important to avoid crowding at the entrance, in the toilets, at the activities and throughout the park. Appropriate measures may include buying tickets online in advance, digital queues and limiting the number of guests per activity, e.g., by closing every second carriage in the roller coaster and encouraging people to sit with those they usually have close contact with. It must be possible to perform hand hygiene on demand, e.g., before and after each activity. Meanwhile, it is important to have good cleaning routines, with regular cleaning of frequently touched contact points.
Water parks
Water park / public swimming baths can open from 15th June if necessary infection control measures are taken to ensure their safe operation. The infection control rules set for organised swimming also apply to water parks / public swimming baths, see Sport and organised leisure activities
In addition, water parks may face greater challenges in maintaining the 1 metre distance limits, and the following recommendations apply:
- Practical solutions should be arranged to ensure that family groups are adequately spaced. Areas can be divided so that people / families / groups are spread out over the capacity of the facility.
- Management should prepare an overview of how many people may be present in the facility at any one time, based on the size of the facility, capacity of wardrobes, toilets and shared showers.
- Enhanced cleaning and having guards at slides and other likely queueing areas.
- Distance marking before slides and diving boards etc.
- Consider a short-term visit system (1 hour / 1.5 hour / 2 hours).
Dining / cafe areas
Facilities that have food service, cafés and kiosks must comply with the rules on distance limitation of at least 1 metre at all times, as well as having enhanced hygiene.
Spa and hotel pools
Pools in spas and hotel pools may open from 15th June if necessary infection control measures are taken to ensure their safe operation. Infection control rules set for organised swimming also apply to spa facilities and hotel pools, see Sport and organised leisure activities.
For spa and hotel pools, the following recommendations are also given:
- Find practical solutions to avoid congestion and to maintain the 1 metre rule (e.g., by accepting bookings in advance, as well as time-limited visits).
- Signs with a maximum number at the individual "pool" / sauna.
- Ensure that the swimming facility is staffed at all times to meet minimum distance requirements and good hygiene.
Museums
Museum can remain open. It is important to implement necessary infection control measures to ensure responsible operation. Normal museum operation, where visitors explore the exhibits on their own, is not considered to be an event. For guided tours, lectures etc., the requirements for events apply.
It is important to avoid crowding at the entrance, cloakroom, in the toilets and elsewhere in the premises, and that it is possible to perform good hand hygiene. Meanwhile, it is important to have good cleaning routines, with regular cleaning of frequently used contact points.