THEME park staff are being verbally abused, coughed on and even spat by by guests who refuse to follow coronavirus guidelines, according to a theme park boss.
Ross Snipp, the boss of Flamingo Land theme park in North Yorkshire, has slammed guests for failing to adhere to the safety restrictions at the attraction.
He told Teesside Live that they were following the government’s advice to “remind and encourage” guests.
The park reopened on July 4, with new guidelines including social distancing markings on the floor and additional hand washing stations.
He explained, in relation to the 2m rule for queueing for rides: “We could reduce it to one metre – but at the moment standing a metre away from a stranger feels very unnatural and uncomfortable.
“People aren’t ready for that change. Our staff have had verbal and physical abuse, they have been spat at and coughed at.”
However, Mr Snipp added: “The vast majority of people are very respectful and understanding of the social distancing guidelines.
“I know our staff aren’t alone in dealing with this, and it’s a minority – less than 1%.”
There have been rising cases of people refusing to follow guidelines such as social distancing or wearing masks.
Earlier this week, an easyJet passenger was hauled off a flight for refusing to wear a face covering, while two drunk Brits were removed from the plane cabin after ignoring the pilot’s request they wear face masks.
Theme parks also have different rules in place – Gulliver’s Valley requires all guests over the age of three to wear face masks.
Guests are advised to check before travelling to the parks about the rules, including mandatory pre-booking and temperature checks enforced, to avoid being turned away at the gates.
We’ve explained the rules for many of the UK’s most popular theme parks, including Alton Towers and Gulliver’s Valley.
Abandoned theme park Pleasure Island, located in Cleethorpes, could soon become a new holiday park after closing back in 2016.
If you can wait until 2024, the ‘UK’s Disneyland’ will open in Kent, called the London Resort.
