bransonglobe.com LOCAL GB Tours & Travel prepares to reopen By David Stoltz, News Correspondent As the country cautiously prepares to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, local businesses are starting to carefully unlock their doors.With an uncertain future ahead, it’s one step at a time. For GB Tours and Travel of Branson, that first step will be a June 16 trip to River Bend Casino in Wyandotte, OK. The tour business’ distinctive red motor coaches normally seen along Hwy. 248 will be fired up as it joins the Branson community in gearing up for an unprecedented summer season. But it will be “safety first.” “Like always, our customers are our main concern, and their safety,” said Steve Monroe, GB Tours owner. “We’re very, very strict. We’re going to take temperatures before they get on the bus. We’re going to offer masks if they don’t have one. And we have always sanitized our buses twice a day, and of course that will continue.” Monroe said that currently GB Tours is the only bus that will be allowed at River Bend Casino. The June 16 trip was announced only two days ago and was already 30 percent full. Soon after, GB Tours will resume casino trips three times weekly. The Covid-19 pandemic hit GB Tours hard, as it did most other local businesses. Passenger count dropped by a third, and then March 17 the business closed its doors. In addition to its casino and occasional sight-seeing tours, GB Tours also leases its buses to SEE GB TOURS, PAGE 8 May 22-23, 2020 • 7 Julie Griot checks Steve Monroe’s temperature, as he prepares to put on his face mask at GB Tours & Travel. (Special to Branson Globe)
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