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MEDIA ROOM

PRESS RELEASE

OKLAHOMA TOURISM & RECREATION DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO RAPIDLY CHANGING CORONAVIRUS SITUATION

 

As COVID-19 forces Americans indoors on what was for many expected to be a week of travel, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department is focused on helping keep its staff and fellow Oklahomans safe while also providing the latest information on temporary business closings and rescheduled events around the state.

Oklahoma Tourism Information Centers are temporarily closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, although exterior restrooms at the Blackwell, Sallisaw and Erick centers will remain open for travelers. A wide selection of Oklahoma travel brochures remains available for order free at TravelOK.com/Brochures, and PDF versions of all Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department guides can be viewed and downloaded from the site. The Department’s warehouse will continue to ship brochure orders as long as it is safe for the staff to do so, but customers should allow a few days longer for delivery than usual.

The TravelOK staff is working to update TravelOK.com with the most timely and accurate information about attraction and event closings while also assisting users with their travel questions and concerns via email and the Department’s social media channels. The staff is editing TravelOK.com’s event listings when warranted because of cancellation or postponement. They are also placing notices on attraction, restaurant and lodging pages whenever closures or limited availability or hours are announced.

The Department encourages all business owners, managers and event organizers who have a presence on TravelOK to contact the team at Update@TravelOK.com with any updates on their business. In the coming days, TravelOK.com social media pages will be sharing content that will not only keep travelers informed but inspired for future adventures in Oklahoma.

Other news from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department

  • The Department has temporarily suspended its Oklahoma Road Trip project, a 52-week video series that follows the travels of a film crew from Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films on short trips around the state. In the meantime, the first 32 episodes of the series are available for viewing at RoadTripOK.com and on the TravelOK.com YouTube page at YouTube.com/TravelOK.
  • Customers can still order from the new ShopTravelOK.com store, although availability of some items might be limited because of supply chain issues caused by the coronavirus.
  • Oklahoma State Park lodges, nature centers, group camps/dining halls and community buildings are closed to future visits through April 15. Park cabins, campgrounds and RV sites, as well as outdoor public spaces and restrooms, will remain open at this time. Cave Tours at Alabaster Caverns will also be suspended through April 15. Park staff has been working to continuously clean throughout the day, focusing on high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces.
  • “Discover Oklahoma,” the state’s official tourism and travel television show, is expected to air at its normal time of 6:30 p.m. Saturday on KFOR, “Oklahoma’s News Channel 4” in Oklahoma City; KTUL, “Oklahoma’s Channel 8” in Tulsa; KSWO, “7 News in Lawton” and on KTEN (channel 10.3) in Sherman/Dennison and Ardmore/Ada. To view previous episodes of the show, visit DiscoverOklahomaTV.com or YouTube.com/DiscoverOklahoma.

For the latest information on the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and tourism attractions and events around the state, visit TravelOK.com or follow the Department’s social media accounts.

Follow the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department on social media

Twitter: Twitter.com/TravelOK

Facebook: Facebook.com/TravelOK

Instagram: Instagram.com/TravelOK

Pinterest: Pinterest.com/TravelOK

YouTube: YouTube.com/TravelOK

About the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department works to preserve, maintain and promote the state’s natural assets and cultural richness through tourism. The Department’s Travel Promotions division administers programs designed to build awareness of the state as a destination and educates on the economic importance of the Oklahoma travel and tourism industry. The staff also oversees the agency’s marketing and promotions efforts along with operating Tourism Information Centers located at major entry points around the state. To learn more about the Department, visit TravelOK.com.