In light of the current economic state caused by the pandemic, it’s clear that travel has been on the decline. With families wanting to stay safe from potential areas where they could contract the coronavirus, most travel plans have been pushed to the end of 2020 and beyond. This has not only affected travelers but the travel industry as a whole. Travel will eventually return, but what will travel post COVID-19 look like?
Here are some projected travel industry trends that should occur once people feel safe enough to venture out again.
Travel Post COVID-19: Travel Industry Trends
Local Travel Post Covid-19
When traveling does once again resume, many travel experts project that local trips to nearby locales will be the go-to hot spots. Think camping locations, getaway towns, or even the big city that’s only a few hours away. Essentially, any location that can be reached fairly comfortably by car will likely see an increase in traffic. Since people feel safe in their own vehicles, this makes a lot of sense. Experts project that travelers will likely opt for small vacation rentals that are secluded from other people, rather than big busy hotels or crowded resorts. For food, travelers will still prefer delivery or easy to pick up meals, such as using Doordash or making a quick stop at a drive-thru.
Activities while in the travel location might be narrowed down to outdoor activities where social distancing is easy to maintain – such as walks, hiking, biking, swimming, pickleball, tennis, and park activities. Large, indoor activities such as movie theaters, dine-in restaurants, bowling alleys, and similar locations are likely to still only see sporadic visits, at least initially.
One of the biggest trends in local travel that’s even happening now is that of RV travel and overnight camping. With RV sales increasing at an exponential rate, this doesn’t look to slow down any time soon. Campgrounds are already suffering from overcrowding and poor maintenance, and with many families making large investments into RVs, tent trailers, and motorhomes, the trend is likely to continue through the next few years. Campers will need to be prepared to reserve their spots quickly using apps or internet reservation sites to secure camping in the future.
Global Travel Post Covid-19
Global travel is likely to lag quite a ways behind local travel in part due to concern from those traveling as well as limited options offered by travel services like airports and cruise lines, due to the negative economic impact happening right now. According to digital marketing expert Larry Muller, once global travel is acceptable again, the countries with the lowest number of cases and best policies for handling it are likely to see the biggest initial boost. Cities that have been known to be too crowded with tourists may see a decline in visits for a few years.
Although the travel industry has taken quite a hit during the pandemic, it’s clear that with time it will eventually rebound. The desire for people to get away and see the world is something that is innate and hard to bury for too long. Until then, we can be hopeful and look forward to the future when we can all travel again without fear.
