The CDC released updated guidelines in April saying that vaccinated people can begin national and international travel again without concerns about testing or quarantining, according to Louisiana-based WAFB. Officials from Visit Baton Rouge say this will have a significant impact on the tourism industry.

“Corporate travel will certainly be affected because so many organizations, so many corporations, have limited travel or even eliminated travel,” said Paul Arrigo, CDME, President & CEO of Visit Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge, like many cities across the country, has struggled without conferences or conventions, major economic drivers in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Warm winters in New England are challenging outdoor tourism in New Hampshire as seasons become less reliable, said to the Valley News. Business owners have a financial stake in protecting cold weather tourism, as less snow means fewer skiers.

New Hampshire’s outdoor businesses make up 3.2% of the state’s economy, according to Tyler Ray, founder of Granite Outdoor Alliance, a company that advocates for responsible outdoor planning and use. Experts say that environmental preservation efforts and a decline of costs with renewable energy offer hope in light of the uncertainty in the industry.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the outdoor industry,” Ray said. “There’s a lot of potential for growth and to continue to have success and preserve, protect, what keeps us all happy.”

In early April, more than two-thirds of Americans said they were ready to travel, according to a weekly Destination Analysis survey. Combined with the scheduled reopening of museums, venues, and state parks, it’s time to maximize opportunities to invite guests to enjoy the education and experience of heritage tourism sites, no matter what the weather holds.

While everyone markets outdoor sites during summer and fall, they should be paired with great indoor venues that provide tourists something to experience when they can’t enjoy the weather. Rainstorms, oppressive heat, snowstorms and Mother Nature’s surprises can’t sabotage a great vacation if you offer alternatives.

The pandemic has changed the way we look at economic development for rural communities. A rise in remote work and an increasing desire for rural areas means communities may need to ditch the typical for a new approach to development, according to Broadband Communities, an offshoot of the BBC.

The disruptive influence of the pandemic has rapidly forced remote work into the mainstream, changing the way towns and cities are looking at future economic development efforts. Traditional tools of economic development have been highways, public utilities like water and electricity, and industrial parks.

In order to attract residents benefiting from remote work culture, rather than employers, communities are shifting focuses to broadband, schools, and quality of life.

A bill led by several Florida Congressmen designed to help preserve historical sites in Florida met bipartisan support. If passed, the bill will help preserve underwater historical sites, such as shipwrecks, among other sites, said the Ponte Vedra Recorder.

The bill would also designate large areas of Northeast Florida as a National Heritage Area to promote “federal support for historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, and heritage tourism,” said Rutherford to those assembled for the announcement at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

Currently, there are 55 National Heritage Areas in the U.S., and are eligible for up to $10 million in federal matching grants for the first 15 years of designation.

“The goal of the National Heritage Area is to celebrate the unique heritage and natural resources of the region and to recognize this area as a special place in the history of Florida, as well as the United States,” said Bob Buehn, museum board of trustees chair.