Buzzing atmosphere, happy people exchanging hugs and kisses, chilled nights out at the bars with friends… That is what traveling looked like before the pandemic. Currently, it all just feels like a distant memory. Now, you can’t almost even approach people without thinking: “Am I standing too close?” while taking that automated step back. Yes, the world has changed since the beginning of 2020, and yes, the future of travel will look a lot different. We’ve learned a lot from the previous year and hopefully will use this as an opportunity to create even more possibilities than before. I see the travel industry evolving a lot, and here’s my take on what will be more focused on in the future.
The new travel norm
The previous year has had such a profound effect on the travel industry, among others, that there will be a new form of the previous travel norm. We have to adapt to new technology taking over and travel and border restrictions changing. Some countries are taking the vaccination as part of their entry measures, making it easier for people who have had the vaccination to travel. Also, some countries are taking into use the CoronaPass during this summer. We’ve seen from the past how certain global situations have changed the travel industry a lot, and this pandemic won’t be any exception. The world keeps changing, and the only way to adapt to new situations is to reconsider your perspective and simply accept the change. I believe that many good things will come out of this situation in the future, but it’s also important to be critical and open-minded.
International flights
Most airlines estimate that their flights will go back to the rates previous to the pandemic by 2023. The recovery also depends on many factors such as how the vaccinations are proceeding, how the economy will bounce back, and what is the overall attitude towards international traveling. I am being optimistic and have my hopes up, but needless to say that the pandemic will have long-term effects on traveling. As there are fewer international flights than before, it will also affect the pricing. You may need to pay more for tickets than usual, and you may need to book multiple flights instead of direct flights. There might be an even higher demand for business and first-class passengers, especially when flying for work purposes.
Domestic tourism and staycations
Domestic tourism has increased a lot since 2020 in many countries. It will most likely continue to be popular for some time until the situation gets better. I have to say that I explored quite a bit within my home country, and I got to visit many places that I have never visited bef0re. The word ‘staycation’ became known last year when traveling abroad was not advised and was challenging. For many people staying home provided an opportunity to explore places nearby. Of course, many countries still depend on tourism solely, so domestic travel hasn’t offered them much, if any, comfort economically. The best staycation ideas could be visiting another city in your country, renting a holiday cottage with friends, or having a romantic getaway in a spa with your partner. There are plenty of options when you start to look more into them!
Digital Nomads
Some people have been the early adopters of digital nomad living, but now a growing number of people see this potential, including me. The ability to work from anywhere opens up a whole new world, but this pandemic has just been speeding things up. Many companies are now allowing their employers to work remotely if they didn’t before. This will bring a whole new norm and culture to our working environments in the future when companies are adding more options to the workspace instead of typical offices. There are already some under-the-radar spots for digital nomads. Bali is known for being the hub for travelers, but now many more countries provide digital nomads and entrepreneurs options, inviting them to stay longer.
Customized tours
Things that people will definitely want from their trips are flexibility and the ability to customize tours. These kinds of personalized tours have been used before only with a selected group of people, but they might become more popular. Many travelers are starting to value more of the customized experiences instead of package tours. You can, for example, book a private tour for only your travel group. Why not also have the possibility to add on things that you like to do and see? This trend also shows in airline packages as well, where you can more and more customize your trip. With social distancing and limitations, customized tours are an excellent option for people who value their privacy.
Eco travel
The pandemic will have many new improvements when it comes to sustainability and responsibility while traveling. We know how much of a positive impact it has had on nature and the environment. Sustainability has been a hot topic in the past few years, but now, it’s expanding its ways into future tourism and air travel. There’s no room anymore to take this precious planet for granted. We need to focus on global issues and make sustainable solutions and knowledge accessible to everyone. Many hotels and airlines see this opportunity, too, contributing to making travel and different options more sustainable. Many people are passionate about this as well, opting for more eco-friendly options.
I believe that excellent outcomes will arise, and the future world will show itself to us the way we way to see it. The crucial part is not only to focus solely on the existing problems but also to learn from others simultaneously and together work towards a better future. It takes time and effort to make a change. The future of travel will look different in many ways, but I think it will bring us new incredible aspects. I can say for sure that I am much more appreciative of certain matters than I was before. An important question to ask yourself is: how do you choose to look at your life and future after all?
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