The Future of Holidays: Do We Need to Go Back to ‘Normal’?

by James P. Outreach & PR Executive

Slowly but surely the world is waking up from the coronavirus pandemic. We’re all getting used to wearing masks, using hand sanitiser, and ensuring we’re at least one metre away from people we’re not familiar with. One industry that is hoping the new normal breathes life back into their livelihoods is the world of travel.

Staycations have grown in popularity overnight, which is great for the UK economy. But with tourism worth billions for countries across the globe, it’s important that people still see travelling abroad as a viable and safe option during unpredictable times.

In this article, we’re going to discuss what the future of holidays may look like today, tomorrow, and in a post-pandemic world, as global economies get to grips with recovering from nearly half a year of lockdowns and closures.

Pre-travel testing and post-travel quarantines

The safety of people is paramount when you consider how wildly the virus can spread. We’ve already seen the devastation it can cause without the correct measures in place.

As things stand now, we know the ability to travel abroad hinges on the health of the passenger and also the health of the country when it comes to infection rates, especially spikes that raise alarm bells for governments and medical professionals.

With the UK’s travel corridors now a way of working out which countries are deemed safe to travel to, we’re in a situation where you could be in a country one night and everything is okay, to waking up and finding out you’ll need to quarantine for 14-days on your return.

It’s the world we live in right now. Economies need to support each other, but at the same time, it has to be a case of common sense over “cash is king”. We’re likely to be in a position for quite some time where the rules change overnight, but hopefully it doesn’t completely deter people from booking holidays and visiting new places—albeit by respecting social distancing and other measures put in place by the country you call your own for a week or two.

Socially distanced accommodation

Choosing where to stay when you go on holiday isn’t just about the room you’ll sleep in. Food, drink, entertainment, and the fact it’s going to be full can play on your mind more than the thickness of the duvet.

But during the global pandemic, a secluded area could be the ideal way to avoid busy pool areas and hungry holiday goers at the buffet. Villas and private apartments can offer luxury, sun, and the all-important peace of mind that you’re able to spend time in a family bubble while socially distancing in the more vibrant areas of popular destinations.

Wellness retreats to rise in popularity

Lockdown has given people more time to think and more opportunity to realise what is important for them, from both a physical and mental health point of view. We’ve seen the rise of home workouts with the likes of Joe Wicks, and now we’re potentially heading for a rise in wellness retreats, where seclusion and safety is the order of the day. Bali and China are home to some of the most beautiful wellness retreats in the world—with the Sangha Retreat in Yangcheng Island, Suzhou the perfect place to seek self-clarity and serenity. Such is the beauty of this retreat especially that you’ll be Googling how to complete a Chinese visa application once you check out the website.

Any future is a good future for the industry

It’s easy to speculate about the future of travelling abroad and what a post-pandemic—or even a current pandemic holiday—looks like. But it’s important to remember that the travel, tourism, and cultural tourism industries have been hit hard by the virus. The fact a future can even be talked about is a positive, but the hope is that it doesn’t just remain talk and that we continue to move forward with the new normal and the new way to go on holiday.

Sources

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/inclusive-hotel-closes-after-coronavirus-22465355

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyaklich/2020/08/14/luxury-wellness-and-fitness-retreats-launching-in-2020-with-seclusion-and-safety-in-mind/

https://www.visagenie.co.uk/china-visa