Press release: Plateau of the Nature Park, Weekend of 16-17 January 2021.

A task force composed of representatives of the municipalities of , , and meets up regularly with representatives of the Public Service of , the police zones, the forestry offices and the tourism sector in order to accompany the new and repeated mass tourism in the best possible way.

After being closed to traffic for two weekends, the High Fens Plateau will be reopened to traffic this weekend.

Parking outside the national roads will be given priority. Mobile homes will still not be allowed to park there or stay overnight. They will be redirected to the mobilhome parking areas of Sourbrodt, Baugnez, Sankt Vith, Malmedy or Eupen. Snow clearance will be planned when necessary to optimise the amount of available space.

- On the High Fens plateau, the parking areas of , Mont Rigi, , Peak Brewery, ... will be accessible. Parking along the national road will only be allowed on one side and only on specific sections. The Public Service of Wallonia is the road operator and is thus responsible for installing the signage. Police forces from the respective police zones will be on the road to strictly apply the parking and traffic regulations. - In the Northern Fens, on the N67 between Eupen and the German border, the Ternell, Brackvenn and Plattevenn parking areas will be cleared and made accessible.

The East Tourist Agency (EBTA) and the Sart-Jalhay Tourist Information Office will focus their communications and information on other impressive walks and landscapes on their territory, outside the High Fens.

Special attention will also be paid to waste disposal. The litter bins will be emptied more frequently and at the same time visitors will be asked to behave respectfully, especially in the nature reserve.

After the weekend, an evaluation of the concept, the traffic flow, the parking situation and the respect for the nature reserve will be made in order to consider measures for the next weekends.

Walkers are asked to respect the nature that surrounds them by not carelessly discarding their rubbish and by staying on the designated paths. Attention, parking is limited despite the improvements and tourists are asked to consider other places that are less visited than the High Fens at the moment. Visitors from neighbouring countries are also informed through the Euregio.

Contact persons: Daniel Stoffels, Mayor of Waimes, 0475/61.11.08 Jean-Paul Bastin, Mayor of Malmedy, 0476/96.02.83 Michel Fransolet, Mayor of Jalhay, 0475/61.87.12 Claudia Niessen, Mayor of Eupen, 087/59 58 11