How COVID-19 Could Shape the Future of Travel

The COVID-19 pandemic has cancelled travel plans for millions globally. Borders are closed worldwide as countries try to control the spread of the virus. Tourism, the lifeline for millions of families all over the world have overnight lost their only source of income. If and when the travel industry will recover is a question not only the people who work in tourism would like an answer to, but also travelers themselves. Let’s take a look at how the future of travel could look once this crisis is over:

Goodbye Popular Package Deals, Hello Build Your Own Experience

One of the biggest impacts to our lives and lessons we have learned is of the importance of social distancing. The way we lived our day to day lives pre pandemic only served to accelerate the spread of the virus. Packed trains and buses, thousands of staff in open plan offices with recirculating air. Travel was also hit by a need to increase capacities over the years. Planes with ever smaller seats to fit more people per flight. Super resorts with thousands of rooms, beaches overflowing with loungers and guests mere centimeters apart as they soaked up the sun.

Now, people are ordered to stay at home, and only if it is absolutely necessary to leave, to maintain distance between them and others. How could this impact travel?

Travelers may rethink their vacations and opt to select more private experiences. Perhaps opting to travel more during typically off peak times, or renting an apartment or villa instead of a hotel room. Instead of large tour groups, travelers will likely opt for tours with smaller capacities, and look for experiences that offer the opportunity to explore, while maintaining a safe distance from other guests.

Eco Friendly and Sustainable Tourism

Hidden amongst reports of the devastating human impact of COVID-19, is some good news. Our planet is healing. Pollution and greenhouse gases have fallen globally. The air is becoming cleaner because we are not moving. It is not known if these effects will last once life returns to normal. However, let’s not forget that climate change was a huge topic before the pandemic. Perhaps seeing how quickly the planet can recover will make us rethink how we travel in the future.

Eco friendly and sustainable tourism was already becoming more popular as travelers became more aware of their carbon footprint and impact on the climate. It would be a good idea for tour operators and excursion companies to review their operations and see if there is room for improvement. During the lockdown it is a great opportunity to look for more nature friendly options for travelers to showcase the natural beauty of their destinations. Educational tours offering visits to beauty spots with activities that ‘give back’ to the Earth could prove popular, as well as ‘wilderness’ adventures offering a vacation in harmony with nature.

‘Staycations’ and Local Tourism

The ‘cabin fever’ of lockdowns may mean that people are eager to leave the confinement of their homes, and look to escape and explore. However, travelers may feel safer staying closer to home for vacations for the foreseeable future. Focusing on local tourism may be the answer to getting things back up and running. Amending tour programs to cater for local people instead of solely international visitors could be a lifeline for tour operators. Travelers may look for new ways to explore their local area, enjoying vacations in a completely different way. Often we haven’t felt that we’ve had a vacation unless we’ve gone to a completely new country, but maybe this mindset will change.

Whatever happens, our love of travel will return. No one knows if it will ever be the same again, but slowly we will go back to enjoying our vacations. For sure with even more appreciation for the possibilities we have in our modern world.

What are your plans for travel once the quarantine lifts? Have you already rescheduled a cancelled trip? Join our discussion at Join our group!