what will it be like to travel after the coronavirus?

Christmas is made to be enjoyed with the people you love and to feel more tender ... or quite the opposite! The Christmas holidays are also the perfect excuse to make year-round wishes come true and allow the whim of traveling to more exotic and isolated destinations, far away from endless family dinners.

How many of you should be traveling for the Christmas holidays right now? How many should have left for northern countries to discover the magic of Christmas? It is undeniable that the pandemic has changed various aspects of our life, both work and social, and in particular it has affected those unnecessary but highly significant activities for our psychophysical well-being, such as hobbies, passions, physical activity, and travel. The creativity, curiosity, and fame of content that has been limited during these months of lockdown will increase exponentially during the next few months of the year in which they will find expression.

Below is the data that booking, a leader in the travel sector, has analyzed using research conducted on over 20 thousand people and 28 different countries. To deal with the boredom of the lockdown, 95% of travelers spent their time looking for inspiration for the next trip. The travel and tourism sector has been hit hard and this implies a necessary adaptation of this sector to the needs of travelers to meet their expectations.

In fact, 79% of travelers around the world will take greater precautions to combat the Coronavirus, and in this regard, they will expect help from the travel industry to prepare for this new normal.

Safety

Governments, traveler associations, and suppliers will have to work together to create consistent standards that can guarantee the safety of travelers. Safety and cleanliness are two key elements considered by most travelers. 59% of travelers will avoid specific destinations.

The coronavirus is particularly affecting those countries that, unable to guarantee health security measures, even if they have reopened their borders, have seen a collapse in travelers. From Laos to Bolivia, from Kenya to Peru, according to the UNWTO, the UN tourism organization, over 55 million jobs are at risk (and many have already been lost).

At the same time, 70% will book a specific facility only if they can find clear information on the health and hygiene measures they have adopted, and 75% will prefer facilities that have disinfectant and sanitizing products.

Economy

The economic consequences of Coronavirus will inevitably lead to greater attention to prices: 55% are more likely to look for offers and opportunities to save. Moreover, 70% of travelers want to support the travel industry's recovery, and 67% would like the bookings they will make in the future to help local communities around the world get back on their feet. Indigenous tourism is privileged, enhancing proximity trips, that is, those trips organized on the national territory, consequently travelers will feel like the inhabitants of the place rather than tourists.

The pandemic experience was an opportunity for reflection, but above all, it gave man more awareness of the impact that each of us has on the environment, especially in terms of travel. More than two-thirds of people (69%) expect the travel industry to offer more sustainable options that can contain pollution levels, but mostly to avoid overcrowding. Furthermore, always with regards to holidays, since with the pandemic smart working has become an integral part of our daily life, remote work could represent a valid solution to be able to extend the holidays and therefore combine work and leisure without sacrificing either of them.

For now

In the meantime, while the situation does not improve and until you can return to travel, an excellent antidote to boredom is to travel with the imagination thanks to the numerous TV series and films, Christmas themed (then) there are many.