Summary
- Joe Biden has reinstated travel restrictions on several European countries while also adding South Africa to the embargo list.
- Travel safety has assumed key priority in Biden’s era.
- The US Government policies would be critical in shaping the recovery of the global tourism industry.
The United States, after tons of pandemonium, installed Joe Biden as the 46th President of the world’s largest economy. It could mean a sea change in policies at both the national and international front, especially when the approaches of Donald Trump and Biden appear to be like chalk and cheese.
Meanwhile, economic pundits have kept their fingers crossed as the proposed measures under the new political regime could prove to be a tipping point for the pandemic-battered global travel industry. Significantly, the US is the worldwide leader in terms of international travel and tourism exports, and its attitude towards travel is expected to shape the direction of global tourism recovery.
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The time and pace for travel to rebound to the pre-pandemic levels hinges upon the evolving situation and government backing to the distressed sector. In this backdrop, let us look at the emerging trends in the tourism industry stimulated by the change in powers in the US Capitol.
Ramped up travel safety
When mask became the symbol of Biden’s election campaign, it was a signal that Democrats taking office would level up preventive measures against coronavirus. The US government’s recent stances have confirmed those expectations indicating that the country by no means would brush aside necessary precautionary measures.
President Joe Biden has signed the mask mandate that extends masking requirements on various public transportation modes like trains, buses, and planes. The Association of Flight Attendants- CWA welcomed Biden’s policy as the federal backing and is expected to alleviate troubles of flight attendants and front-line workers in implementing safety regulations.
Besides the mask, testing and quarantine measures have been made compulsory for international arrivers travelling to the US. Everyone flying to the US from another country would be required to undergo COVID-19 test before their departure and have to quarantine on their arrival.
More travel bans
The international travel recovery appears to be a tall order at this stage when many countries including the US are reeling from rising coronavirus infections. On account of rising cases, Joe Biden has reversed Donald Trump’s order to lift travel bans from 26 January and will not be relaxing travels restrictions to European countries.
It would mean that non-US citizens arriving from Brazil, South Africa and several European countries including the United Kingdom, will not be allowed entry into the US. Meanwhile, the US State Department has advised its citizens to rethink non-essential travel abroad and focus on factors such as testing availability in the foreign country, healthcare facilities and lodging costs.
At the same time, Biden has also revoked Trump’s travel ban travelers from many Muslim-majority nations, which is expected to alter the country’s travel setting.
Government relief measures
The ongoing public health cataclysm is not going to disappear at the blink of an eye, indicating that travel players have a long and challenging journey ahead of them. Nevertheless, the relief measures that came with Biden’s USD 1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan can of great value for the travel providers, struggling to stay afloat in times of crisis.
©Kalkine Group 2021
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Tourism and hospitality industry, which saw massive layoffs amid the pandemic stands to benefit from an additional USD 400 per week in federal unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, Paycheck Protection Program could prove to be a lifesaver to a plethora of small travel-related businesses that can avail much-needed loans in critical times.
Bottomline
With accelerated mass vaccination program already underway and ecotravel boom on the cards, the tourism industry could see significant developments. American Hotel & Lodging Association CEO Chip Rogers indicated that the hotel industry is looking forward to work with the Biden Administration and eyeing policies that would drive travel demand, restore jobs, and expand investments in the sector.
While no one expects the tourism sector to turn over a new leaf in a jiffy, it is needless to say that gradual improvements through right measures can take the edge off the aching losses. Only time would tell how the travel scenario will turn out in the US as Biden’s term has just begun, leaving ample room for speculations.
Source: Kalkine Media
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