The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way the world works. From social distancing to working from home, major shifts have been brought on by the pandemic. The travel industry, which is a major need of revival, has seen a sudden jump in consumer demand. However, the new wave of travel demand has brought some radical changes along with it, changing the face of the travel sector for some time.
Tour operators, hospitality ventures and airline companies have had to improvise in the present scenario. Operating in the post-pandemic world has required these sectors to be highly adaptive to changes in travel. It includes providing a sanitised environment, following COVID-related protocols, and fulfilling high consumer demand at once.
Coming out of the lockdown period has also meant that most individuals want to make up for the time lost sitting indoors. This has created a sudden surge in travellers across major destination spots. Although the tourism industry is busy meeting consumers’ demands, it is also battling inflation-related costs.
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Against this backdrop, let us discuss some changes awaiting travellers in the present environment:
- More local travel: While many individuals have chosen foreign destinations as their destination of choice, many others would find it easier to travel locally. This is because local destinations might not have strict COVID-related regulations and restrictions in place. Additionally, many countries are not allowing foreign tourists into their country.
- Increased focus on individual experiences: Those with a will to travel can easily embark on a solo expedition, with a large number of resources available on the internet to take help from. An increase in solo travel has also been visible in the post-pandemic world as travellers can now take along their work through the provision of working-from-home.
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- Luxurious travel: Most individuals have been able to save enough during the lockdown phase that they can go the extra mile when it comes to planning an extravagant vacation. Individuals are now choosing luxurious, customised vacationing experiences more than what was previously seen. The pandemic savings buffer has allowed many travellers to exceed their travel budget beyond usual.
- Personal development retreats: What may appear as a fad to some can be a sense of luxury to others. Going on a self-journey while being on vacation can help rejuvenate the mind. Many individuals have quit their jobs only to seek a sense of purpose and go on a soothing journey by travelling across beautiful locations.
- Human-oriented travel: The lifting of pandemic restrictions has allowed many individuals to meet their families and loved ones for a long time. Thus, travel has become a means of finding comfort in individuals’ loved ones and getting a chance to spend more quality time with family. Individuals who may not be fond of travelling would also embrace it as a means to bond with family and spend meaningful time with one another.
- Conscious travelling: The pandemic taught the world importance of taking precautions in a highly sensitive environment. Climate change and related issues have become increasingly pressing concerns over the last few months. Thus, many travellers are making efforts to ensure they travel consciously and responsibly.
SOURCE – KALKINE MEDIA
