Water parks virtually empty amid COVID-19 pandemic

Lifeguards wear face masks to prevent COVID-19 infections at Everland's Caribbean Bay in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

Everland's Caribbean Bay and other water parks across the country have recently opened their pools and slides in the summer heat, but are suffering a sharp drop in visitors due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, company officials said Thursday.

Ocean World, the water park at Vivaldi Park resort complex in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, opened its outdoor pool, May 23, while Jeju Shinhwa World opened its indoor pool May 29.

Caribbean Bay, just next to Everland amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, also opened Aquatic Center, attractions and spas, June 5.

Water parks usually open their facilities around the middle of April.

This year, the opening has been postponed to the end of May and beginning of June due to the public health crisis.

Amid the pervasive fear about potential infection clusters, Lotte Water Park in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, which was originally scheduled to open May 30, has yet to open.

A Caribbean Bay official said the water park has had about 100 to 400 visitors a day since its opening this year. The figure nosedived compared to 10,000 tallied in early June last year.

“Last year, the limit on the number of daily visitors we set was 20,000. This year, we set the limit at 1,200 amid the pandemic, but the daily figure is even falling far short of this limit,” the official said.

Operators of water parks said they have drawn up various preventive measures against the contagious disease, considering guidelines announced by the government and the World Waterpark Association.

For example, Caribbean Bay asks all visitors to fill out a health questionnaire through mobile devices at park entrances, and takes each visitor's temperature. Those with a temperature of over 37.5 degrees are disallowed to enter the facility.

The firm has also widened the distance between lockers and showers, and placed hand sanitizers from around the facilities.

“We ask all the visitors to comply with our enhanced safety guidelines,” the official said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence that the coronavirus can be spread to people through the water in pools.

“Additionally, proper operation of these aquatic venues and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus,” the CDC states in its website.

But the health authorities here warned of a risk of infections at shower stalls, locker rooms and restaurants that are used by many people.