What will traveling look like in 2021?
One thing is for sure: travelling won’t be what it used to before the pandemic (at least for now). Since March, uncertainty has been the buzzword best describing what is happening in the world at the moment, and especially in the world of traveling. We are about to enter a new age in traveling. Open borders, plenty of locations to choose from, visa-free travel – all the things we have got used to – are now being reduced to the question if and how I can go anywhere. Although it’s true that the demand for travels is bouncing back, and that travelers are displaying careful optimism, it will all be changing gradually. After a long time of stagnation, we are thirsty for travels and adventures, aka fernweh. As soon as the good news about the vaccine was announced, some of us already started to plan their holidays. Because of our appetite for traveling, experts tend to agree that tourism (as soon as it takes off for good) will bounce back really quickly.
We want to travel – we miss adventures!
Going back to normal will take place in different ways and at a different pace depending on the country. The majority want to regain their freedom after the stressful burden of lockdowns. We deserve a break to relax and rest. People are craving some new, positive experiences for a change. After the period of stagnation and reflection, it’s high time for creativity and mobility. It wasn’t that long ago when we were swamped with warnings against mass tourism, and after a year the world turned upside down, hence nowadays it’s necessary to encourage people to come back. Will this experience result in profound changes? Or maybe it will simply be business as usual? The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlights the fact that tourism requires support even before everyone is vaccinated. Tourism is responsible for 10% of EU’s GDP and almost 2.5 million businesses (5). The sector generates 10% of workplaces, and over the past five years almost ¼ of newly created jobs were in tourism (8). The figure below shows EU countries which rely on tourism the most. We will go back to normal, but slowly – it may not be before 2024 when we bounce back to 2019 revenues. However, the number of people who put off rather than call off their holidays remains significant – very few claim that they are not planning on traveling in the foreseeable future.
EU countries whose GDP depends on tourism the most (% of GDP)
Planning
Is 2021 a good time for making plans? For now it may seem premature, but at the same time – looking at the uncertainty and changes taking place – in many ways simply beneficial. Plans and preparations for your dream holidays can ease your mind. Booking in advance allows you to have at least some control in terms of overcrowding and risk, as well as to save both time and money. Often you will have to do more extensive research paired with a serious approach and considering various option. Browsing through offers and comparing prices so that the most rational decisions can be made requires quite a lot of time. You will have to both make arrangements and make sure that everything goes accordingly on each step of planning and the trip. It will pay off with many options, availability (few places are booked well in advance), flexibility (often even last minute cancellations are possible), bonuses, extra offers, discounts, etc. In fact, it may be the perfect moment to consciously plan your dream trip! It is the time when the tourism sector is tempting us with attractive prices and flexible solutions, thus reducing the risk practically to zero. Maybe you should consider destinations which you’d normally never thought of? Admiring the Northern Lights, a trip across Patagonia or a Kenyan safari are the embodiment of experiencing – and this is what we’re missing the most right now.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the key word for the upcoming spring and summer season – weekends, holidays, the long May weekend, the Corpus Christi long weekend, and summer vacations. Restrictive policies are now being replaced with more flexible options. And it is precisely this flexibility that seems to the decisive factor in terms of our holidays. Travellers’ expectations are rather clear – we want prompt and strong reactions to our needs from governments and companies (Deloitte). Both businesses and politicians must react promptly, adjusting offers to current restrictions. Innovative solutions whose aim is to live up to gen-c’s (i.e. the post-Covid generation) expectations are being researched. More choice and flexibility are seen especially in the policy of reservation cancellations by airlines, which are offering temporarily extended rebooking or vouchers options, as well as in the client-friendly approach of hosts who are resigning from charging additional costs, which allows us to have convenient last minute trips. Perhaps some hosts will even become kinder and more hospitable, able to see people in their clients? The whole sector needs to adapt to the new reality, for travellers will pay more attention to prices, and – more aware of their own rights – will also demand more policy transparency from companies and governments, including transparent refund and insurance policies.
Safety, health and hygiene
Unique, safe travel experiences are always in demand (see here for a post on travel safety). We need to be sure that all the procedures are observed, such as masks, social distancing and disinfection. The policies set by companies and governments regulating restrictions, rules and procedures (such as hours for those in high-risk groups, crowd control in public spaces, limited number of hotel guests, fewer available plane seats, limited access to airport comfort zones, such as lounges, bars, and restaurants, safe airport transfers, etc.) are game-changers. Middle seats in planes will probably become obsolete, together with onboard magazines. We should at the same time be getting used to temperature scanners, disinfection tunnels, changes in the amount and type of luggage, or longer check-in’s. The question of hygiene will matter also in terms of food, with take-away food in single-use packages celebrating its triumph. Unfortunately, this may affect the idea of street food, but the market is already responding with initiatives such as delivering picnic baskets. In some places you can even hire a chef to cook for you in your place. So what are the immediate needs and demands of tourists? Based on the figure below, 46% will change their original holiday destination, and over 50% of them will visit a place which provides better healthcare, whereas almost 40% will pick a less crowded location where hygiene restrictions are observed. Governments need to introduce obligatory controls, and zero compromise policies in terms of hygiene. The results of the report analyzing latest trends in the preferences, attitudes and choices of travellers suggest that health and hygiene strongly impact our travel decisions. In a nutshell, there is a clear positive correlation between the level of health and hygiene concerns, and how attractive a country is for tourists. Experts predict that even with the vaccine, people will continue to travel with more awareness, including higher hygiene and health standards expectations. We will most likely pick cleaner, safer destinations, where governments are more successful in dealing with the pandemic. Not only the actual level of safety, but also observing it will be significant. Brands characterized by high quality will definitely benefit from the new reality. A good health insurance policy will do no harm – as long as you make sure what the plan covers, and whether the pandemic is included.
Change of destination - reasons. Source: Bloom Consulting and D2-Analytics
Technology in the service of travellers
Passengers expect better technologies. A close cooperation between airlines, airports and border guards has to become a reality. Creating touch-less travel spaces for passengers reduces the risk via automation. The idea of a digital health passport has even already been materialized to some extent: Emirates Airlines has launched a cooperation with International Air Transport Association (IATA) in order to test the IATA Travel Pass, i.e. a mobile app whose aim is to help organize safe trips according to any governmental regulations regarding COVID-19 tests and vaccinating. The passport allows travellers to make sure that their test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination they’re going to, as well as to easily digitally manage all the documents required during the trip. Passengers seem to be willing to undergo checks; according to Global Rescue, 90% have no problem with undergoing COVID-19 screening and testing while traveling.
A personal travel advisor
Conscious travelling, especially in the times of uncertainty, also means taking advantage of the knowledge and experience of people who are experts in the field. Communication is crucial, and transparency cannot be underestimated. Travel advisors should be patient and open to changes in order to provide you with support and boost your confidence. They will take every detail into consideration while planning, and they help with making final decisions by providing you with clear information, limiting risk, and leading you through the process step by step. They have up-to-date, confirmed information, knowledge and experience, and they can analyze broadly by conducting extensive research. Never before have we had to be so knowledgeable about rules and restrictions. How to find a place which will be 100% safe hygiene-wise? Your advisor will surely take care of that – since they are always up-to-date with the news, making sure they provide their clients with the most accurate information. This is what individual travel plans are for – tailored to your needs and limitations. They help you save time and money, as well as reduce stress. It is the perfect offer, personal recommendations, first-hand and confirmed information that make them so advantageous. Let’s travel more wisely and sensibly (taking care of health and safety, as well as comfort), yet still with a touch of spontaneity, regardless whether we plan well in advance or last minute. Since this is a completely new experience to all of us, support, a sense of control, and knowing that your trip is well-researched and organized will surely translate into your ease of mind and relief.
Travelers back in the game!
Planning and anticipating your trip is a pleasure in itself, and the past few months have shown us that holidays can boost our mental wellbeing. Many studies show that they actually make us happy, as opposed to material goods. It’s clear that people still want to travel, discover the world, experience – no change here. And perhaps our appetite is even stronger? However, the way we travel may change, as well as our needs and limitations, often quite dynamically. We will surely continue to travel, but – at least for some time – a bit differently. We will undertake a number of safety measures, often accepting compromises in the name of safety and health. After all, traveling is far more than it seems, and our memories have a positive impact on the rest of our lives. Those of us who are brave and keen enough will soon go back to traveling. On to the next adventure!
Sources:
1. https://crc.pata.org/health-hygiene-post-covid-19-destination-competitiveness/
2. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JTF-04-2020-0063/full/html
5. https://www.phocuswire.com/Coronavirus-impact-travel-industry
7. https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/25/rethinking-tourism-after-covid-19