TRAVEL AFTER COVID-19

Get an overview of what travel is going to be like after the pandemic.

How is the travel industry being affected? How will people's thinking process change with respect to travel? How is it any different from the pre-pandemic period?

We all can agree to the fact that a phenomenon that was least expected took over the year 2020 which we welcomed so warmly to be the end of a decade and yet another revolutionary year.

But do not get disheartened because we humans have proven through history to come out of such circumstances thriving harder and growth will show again in good time, until then trust the process, hold onto hope and practice healthy social distancing everybody.

As for us travel enthusiasts out there this whole situation could seem a bit too mind numbing I absolutely agree. The million-dollar question about when we’ll be able to go on that long awaited graduation trip to Goa, the expedition to the lap of the Spiti Valley or that vacation planned to the Bahamas. Truth be told we do not have a definite answer, but I can assure you that we WILL travel again eventually once the world reopens and the experience is going to be even more fruitful and rewarding. While the entire adventure may feel different once the world starts to revive, the positive impacts of travel and the destination are still the same and definitely going to change us for the better. Staying indoors for too long can negatively impact your mental and physical well-being. Hence it is only a matter of time in which we will come out of our shell.

As we know for a fact that international travel in 2020 is out of the question, the time has come, to start looking forward to what the future holds for us. Travelling after the coronavirus era is going to look a lot different than usual. The vulnerable groups (elderly people and families with very young children) will decide to travel less or not at all. Countries that handled and contained the virus efficiently will of course gain the attention of tourists faster and it will be a boon for the tourism industry in these safe regions, not to mention it’s also going to be used as a marketing strategy. Whereas, less fortunate countries that couldn’t deal with covid-19 so well (like India), any progress in the tourism industry will take time in order to regain the trust of its fellow backpackers.

Post pandemic travel is going to be all about domestic travel and taking that road trip that’s long forgotten, or a backpacking adventure, which in many ways is much more beneficial and satisfying. People will start exploring their neighborhoods much deeper and start staying longer at a particular place rather than covering multiple places just for the sake of crossing it off that itinerary, which will actually help them enjoy the very essence of that region. Travelers will opt to go to more isolated and offbeat places. Travelling by one’s own vehicle or a rented van would be considered much safer as well. Domestic travel will also give a boost to the country’s economy rather than giving it away to a foreign nations economy. The concept of ‘package tours’ and ‘vacations’ is going to be at halt for at least a year.

But again, smart travelers must put safety first and leisure secondary. Because a lot of small communities in the context of India, where tourism is the main source of income, for example Himachal Pradesh or Meghalaya, they do not have the resources to handle a large number of infected cases. In order to safeguard their families, we must be responsible travelers and take action accordingly. A lot of these health protocols might become permanent in the post-coronavirus travel and tourism. Change is inevitable at this point, so we might as well embrace it.

So why not start thinking about where to travel in 2021? And don’t forget to pack your masks and sanitizers too.