Thanks to the Coronavirus, the travel industry has taken a nosedive and even as the world is gradually starting to reopen, travel rates are still at an all time low. The questions everyone is asking, “will it be safe to travel?” and “How will COVID-19 affect travel?,” are inconclusive as no one knows whether there will be a vaccine or if cases will increase or decrease. Travelling may start to become less appealing because of social distancing, and many hope that it will only be temporary... but would it be so bad if these new protocols become our new normal? As you read through this, pretend that we are months in the future from now and that there is still no known vaccine (knock on wood). The following is what businesses predict will happen post quarantine, and it doesn’t look good for international travelling.
When we all rejoin the world, expect distancing, dividers, and wearing masks on bikes to planes, expect regular closures of museums, events, and expect small, controlled crowds that will increase wait times. Regarding travelling abroad, Rick Steves, a European travel expert, brings to light that; “If the airlines can only put half as many people on the plane, it’s going to cost a whole double” (“In Ways the Pandemic Will Change Travel”). Flying will become an activity for the wealthy, along with cruises and even dine in restaurants. Also, Iconic destinations may be harder to see up close without months of pre-planning, so reserving any spur of the moment trips will be hectic. Mainly, travelers go abroad to experience the “culture” and the “people”, but considering this new era of pandemics, it will put a stop to socializing with strangers and trying authentic foods/customs.
Despite the negative aspects, the virus may be changing international trips for the better. An article, “10 ways Coronavirus could forever change the future of travel” states that, “Hotels show their guests that they are doing all they can to raise sanitation standards and maintain social-distancing protocols... Airlines have also already made significant shifts to promote cleanliness, hygiene and safety”. Travelling will demand mandatory bag and passenger sanitation, touchless check ins and even spacious seating on flights. To guarantee the safety of customers, all airlines and hotels have modernized their technology greatly to ensure everything is done remotely. However, as time consuming as it may sound, the health of each traveler is top priority from here on out to prevent the spread of another disease.
Ultimately, the after effects of quarantine will forever change how people travel, whether it will be safer or too restrained. Personally, these changes are unfortunately restrictive because, like most, I crave the travel experience; meeting new people, eating strange street foods, going to crowded festivals, but all are deemed too risky and are currently banned for our safety, which i'm grateful for. Do you feel that travelling will change for the better or for the worse? How do you think international travel will be affected post quarantine? Would you rather have the full immersion experience when travelling? Or do you like the seclusion and social-distancing?
Many people enjoy traveling for personal satisfaction, explaining why the travel industry has gotten so big in recent years. I personally enjoy traveling to different places in order to experience different cultures, something that personal seclusion and social distancing does not allow. However, I don't look at the restrictions as a bad thing because the current situation has brought to light the many things that need to be changed about the way we live, including the way we travel. Travel industries will likely and should be encouraged to make improvements to hygiene, safety, and sustainability rather than limiting their industry to only serve the rich. At the end of the day, travel industries are looking to make the highest profit possible and do not care about any one person nor their will to travel, but only offering services to a small number of people would be less profitable than investing in improvements to be able to serve a wider scope of people. This gives consumers the upper hand to encourage change once social distancing restrictions are lifted. The corporation owners certainly have the means by which to invest in safer travel, as the travel industry brings in over one trillion dollars each year, so although it may cause temporary inconvenience, people should not look down on change because it would end up benefiting society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteGlobal interconnectedness comes with a certain responsibility, which can shown by the scale to which disease can now spread. We are lucky that the mortality rate of this virus in particular is not very high, but who is to say that another pandemic will not occur and wipe out most of the population? Also, not to mention how harmful the travel industry is to the environment. People are beyond capable of sacrificing a bit of their personal freedom temporarily so that changes can be made to the travel industry to ensure its longevity and the wellbeing of our people.
I don’t think travelling will change that much besides the regulations we now need to follow in order for us to stay safe. I, as well as many others, enjoy travelling; not only as a great way to get out of the house but a way of therapy as well. All corona has done has made the population needing to sanitize more than usual. I personally get anxiety when it comes to flying and as long as I’m near someone I know then it doesn’t matter if we’re social distancing or not. I don’t think a lot of people will mind the new social distancing rules because it’s not about new people, it’s about looking out the window and finding a sense of peace (hopefully) and eagerness as you travel to another state/country. I believe people will still gain their full flying experience despite the new regulations that are needed due to Covid-19.
ReplyDeleteAt this point I believe people are starting to adapt to the changes made in the communities. I don’t believe traveling will change so tremendously because for many, traveling is apart of regular routine whether it be for work or any other reason. Now, I believe people are just going to continue to bring a mask with them along with sanitation just to take extra precaution in order for them to continue with their lives as they were before the pandemic. I think international travel post quarantine will still be as active as it was before, but of course with new regulations and precautions to maintain the safety of travelers. Personally, it would be great to be able to have the full immersion experience in traveling. But, as months have gone by I have gotten used to the new rules, understand the situation, and adapted to the guidelines which I can say is now included in my everyday life being, wearing a mask and making sure I keep sanitation supplies with me at all times .
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