Covid-19 has influenced every part of our lives, one of the most important changes in the travel industry. On the way from the world by hand to our homes, thousands of trips have been canceled or postponed indefinitely. With vaccination programs starting in late 2020, we can finally look forward to traveling again in 2021. However, it will still be a long time before travel returns to normal and there may be some changes that will remain here.
Workcations
Locking rules have led to widespread teleworking and many employers have recognized the benefits of working from home. This huge change in the way we work should change the future of office workers forever. Some companies already have long-term plans in place for their employees to perform their tasks from home rather than from an expensive office. It will also change the way some of us go on vacation. Once the global travel bans ease, there will be a new global trend: work-cations.
In 2021, extended statutory holidays or single-use trips known as “work cations” will increase as employees will no longer be required to be stuck in their offices five days a week and will no longer have to physically attend meetings. Teleworkers could opt for a three-month stay in Spain instead of two weeks, achieve a more fulfilled existence, and correct our long-awaited imbalance in working life. We can even observe an increase in the number of people who live a nomadic lifestyle of permanent travel while working from wherever they are.
Rural Stays
Even if we overcome Covid in 2021, it is likely that some measures of social distancing will be maintained for the remainder of the year. Travelers will also be more cautious about their vacation destinations when we attempt to temporarily regain our lifestyle.
Rural vacations will undoubtedly be much more popular, with an expected increase in self-catering cottages or isolated lodgings that favor lively hotels and inns. Since we are stuck in the house during the closing, we also expect tourists to be more inclined to go out and choose more experienced vacations, such as biking, hiking, or even extreme sports.
Domestic Travel
Traveling abroad is still very uncertain, with travel restrictions changing overnight. Some travelers are also naturally afraid to fly during or shortly after a pandemic, although we can expect airlines to do everything they can to address travelers’ security concerns.
However, domestic travel became increasingly popular in 2020 and this trend will not continue until 2021. Since we cannot know which countries will close their borders at any given time, domestic travel provides us with some security, not quarantine restrictions. More travelers are going to their vacation destinations rather than taking the risk on public transit. 2021 will be the year when you can finally discover the beauty of your home country.
Booking Your Holiday Will Change
Carefree travel days can last a while. Travel insurance has become mandatory if you wish to visit certain countries. Travelers should be aware of travel restrictions and security measures in the area they are visiting. Excursions must be planned more carefully to maintain social distancing practices and to measure risks. As a result of these additional measures, travel counselors are becoming increasingly popular, as people need competent assistance for safe travel and to manage more complex itineraries.
Before the pandemic, it was customary to find the cheapest tickets to get the best deal. But the pandemic has brought new, much more important considerations. Instead of the cheapest tickets, in 2021 we will look for airlines that promise covid precautions and strict hygiene standards. Travelers will want to protect their money in addition to their physical safety. There will be an increase in the number of airlines that offer more generous cancellation conditions or free transfers if they are affected by COVID.
Despite all this, in recent months, more trips have actually been booked at the last minute than ever before. Travelers have adopted a “now or never” attitude and are booking trips as long as they can because we don’t know if or when we will be subject to strict restrictions. More people than ever before have booked flights within a week of departure to travel as long as they can.
Travel Standards Will Be Different
Tour operators will implement strict rules and regulations that we have never experienced before. There will be strict cleaning practices and everything that can become contactless will become contactless.
We must wear masks and disinfect our hands as often as possible until we reach our goal. Social distancing measures may mean there are fewer people on your flight and it may take longer to get to the airport.
The Global Airline Trade Association has announced that it will be testing a “passport”, an application containing information about your test results and vaccination status, as well as information about travel restrictions and the information needed to travel to different countries. We have seen restrictions on who can travel and where.
