When the industry was nearly devoid of travellers amid the on and off travel relaxations, the bumpy journey of tourism providers has become a paradigm of resilience.
The impromptu border closures undertook last year was highly unlikely to extend for months, let alone for over a year. Yet, here we are, considering international travel in 2021 a challenging task. Nevertheless, during the period what many labels the ‘grim season of tourism’, the industry saw many constructive adaptations and impressive progress.
Aristotle Onassis quotes, “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
It seems like the Australian travel sector has done just the same or even better. Australia-New Zealand two-way travel bubble that started on 19 April signals how much the travel industry has advanced from the initial dire strait.
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It took not just a single shot, but the amalgamation of small and large efforts taken in every direction to put the travel sector on the road to recovery.
Let us look at some key initiatives that helped the travel businesses hang on despite the challenging scenario.
Adopting Cost-Cutting Measures
When the going got tough for the travel sector, costs were slashed to offset the severe cash burn in a bid to avoid bankruptcies. While many travel firms collapsed, numerous other troubled businesses such as Virgin Australia found their new owners. Significantly, to tackle massive corporate casualty, travel players adopted a flurry of measures from reducing operation and winding down non-profitable divisions to laying off employees.
Undoubtedly, not every action placed the business owners in a good light. Nevertheless, firms caught between a rock and a hard place had to take early and complex efforts to ensure survival.
Testing The Waters With Limited Safe Travel Option
The continuous scanning for alternative travel options not only unveiled possibilities to ensure cash flow but also bought to light several roads that could prosper in the coming times. Ideas and concepts from staycations, remote camping and private rentals gained grounds during the restriction phase.
With the remote work trend looking to be the next big corporate transition permanently, long rentals can be a widely embraced concept for people planning to enjoy a vacation without breaking off from work simultaneously.
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Moreover, the new safety and hygiene practices taken seriously in the wake of the pandemic allowed the customers to see a new side of the business that integrates health considerations and fun aspects. As we advance, such areas, including health insurance, can be an integral component of travel itineraries.
Embracing Innovative Technological Assistance
The pandemic led many businesses shy of innovative technologies to take the big step, integrating varying tech-based solutions to run their businesses smoothly. Of course, the year 2020 was fueled by a consumer shift to the online platform and brought transitions worth a decade in a matter of months.
