It is still challenging to picture the world after the pandemic. Once the most severe stage of the coronavirus is over, and there are no more limitations, some measures will still be compulsory: ​​use of masks, social distancing, or prohibition of large crowds.

It seems clear that forms of work, social relations, and leisure will take a turn throughout 2020, and many of these changes will likely continue to be implemented for longer, perhaps until a vaccine appears.

With countries’ borders closed, planes on the ground, ships anchored in ports, and international and national railway and bus lines canceled, tourism has been one of the first victims of COVID-19. 

The travel industry can already imagine what the day will be like after lifting of the restrictions. But the changes will be greater than expected.

Not surprisingly, much of the world’s population is in quarantine, so the outlook for the fall in travel in the world is expected bleak for the sector.

The big question every agent asks is how COVID-19 will change the way we travel. To give us a minor hint of ​​the magnitude of the changes caused by the pandemic, only in air travel, there was a drop of 100,000 flights a day in the first moments. Of course, the day after, what they have called “the new normal” will also affect how we travel. 

Although we will only be able to see the real change when tourism reactivates, experts in the field already notice some modifications after the contingency. Here is an account of some of the changes that we will see in tourism.

1. Health security will be an important issue.

If the world puts a before and after in airport security, the same will happen with coronavirus and healthcare. In Asian countries, health checks are already very common for travelers: taking temperature and questionnaires. However, this is a new reality in countries in America and Europe. From now on, it will be important to take extra hygiene measures in these places where millions of people transit day by day.

2. It will be necessary to prepare more to travel.

Also as travelers, we will have to improve our habits: always travel with our own antibacterial gel, clean the airplane screen before using it and perhaps even travel with our own blanket to avoid using the airplane’s, which, on many occasions, has been detected as not it changes on each flight.

3. The reopening will be in phases.

It is probable that, like the rest of the restrictions, the trips will be allowed in phases. For example, several countries are proposing to allow international travel by groups of countries in similar conditions; for example, travel could only be allowed between Australia and New Zealand, or between some European countries.

Domestic travel.

  • Due to the fear of traveling and exposing health, the first trips to be made, even for connectivity, will be the domestic ones. 
  • While security returns to the population and travel regulations are back to normal, the option for those who want to move will be to nearby communities or destinations within their country.
  • For economic reasons, travel after Covid-19 on the road will see an upturn in both private cars and ground transportation. 
  • Added to that, the trend (which was already growing) of sustainable travel will return with more force. 

Awareness about supporting local communities and reducing the ecological footprint caused by travel will be a constant that forces both the industry to be more sustainable and travelers to be more aware.

Traveling by plane will not be the same.

Air travel is going to change from now on. The recovery of aviation will be gradual. Tourists will seek more direct flights or routes that avoid them crossing multiple borders so that in the trip, they do not need to deal with many people.

Airlines must leave the middle seat free. In addition to this, it would be just that the flight attendants use gloves and face masks to assist passengers.

Airports will also be different. 

There will be protective screens at the check-in counters. Physical distance indicators will be placed on the ground so that travelers know where to stand while respecting the safety distance. The installation of thermal temperature scanners is very likely to control anyone who crosses the doors of the terminals.

Cruise ships in the eye of the cyclone.

In addition to being one of the most affected, the cruise industry will have to apply more and better sanitary rules both in the cleaning of its facilities and in the entry and exit of its passengers for trips after Covid-19. 

Cruises must apply new regulations to contain illnesses onboard, in the same way, it will be necessary to reinforce their medical team and dedicate complete spaces to the containment of sick people. 

In this sense, the ships will have to reach new agreements with the landing ports when a passenger contracts a contagious disease.

4. There will be more requirements to travel.

Travel certificates, quarantine, PCR tests… are new requirements that we will have to add to the passport and other documents as proof of accommodation. Although all nations will request not everything, nor permanently, if we will have to add more requirements for our trips.

5. Restrictions to enter attractions.

It begins to speak of the opening of the great tourist attractions of the world. However, these will be with great restrictions:

  • Visitor limit
  • Temperature checks
  • Controlled space between visitors
  • Use of face masks
  • Strict hygiene measures

6. Previous reservations.

How to guarantee the flow of visitors to the main attractions? With prior reservations to visit tourist sites. In this way, many museums, amusement parks, and even archaeological sites will request that you buy your tickets previously online to guarantee your place.

7. Travel to closer destinations.

Since the pandemic began, the percentage of reservations for accommodation in surrounding areas has dropped from 13% to 30%. And this mania is likely to continue if we consider that many people will prefer to make short trips to reach their destinations.

8. More last-minute trips.

Travel planning left many in a delicate situation: with problems of refunds, cancellations, and loss of money. It is why many are expected to stop organizing their routes with so much time and start traveling on closing dates.

9. Many offers on hotels and tours.

Among rumors and statements by leaders in the tourism industry, they have already begun to talk about great offers to travel again.

10. Very variable prices on airlines.

Unlike tours and hotels that are already starting to offer great deals, flights will have a different dynamic. At first, they will be offering great deals to revive and encourage travelers, but as the industry stabilizes, they will start to raise their fares, and flying will be more expensive.

Many companies around the world are already considering what this return to normal will be like protection methods for workers and clients, constant supply of masks, gloves, and thermometers, or barriers that help maintain social distance in certain situations. All this is intended to encourage people to make trips but with full safety and surety. 

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