Travel with a twist: How the pandemic is transforming travel?

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We only realize the importance of light when we are left in the dark. As dark as the pandemic might have turned out to be for many, it left us wondering about some important life lessons. Coronavirus got us to question insane spending on luxury and the bubble of fame that every one of us had been living in. Not to mention the every weekend getaways that had become a means to escape the hectic workweek. Travel is a way to explore the hidden treasures and a quest to be-friend the differently colored and cultured. Only when restrictions on movement had to be put for survival, did we realize how travel is not a necessity but a luxury that so many of us had taken for granted.

While a trip to a nearby park had been dubbed as dull, a trekking trip in a far-away place had always been Instagram worthy. The virus changed this perspective – roads trips were back on our bucket lists as we longed to be closer to home.

The new era of conscious travel

Undoubtedly, there is going to be a colossal craving to step out of homes. But travel reporters are hoping that unnecessary and repeated travel will come to an end. There are several reasons behind this changing trend. Firstly, the pandemic affected business on a never-seen-before scale. Companies that had been profitable for hundreds of years, having withheld stressful times like the 9/11 and the 2008 crisis, suffered losses due to business closure for the first time when the virus emerged. Business owners and salary-earners have become more financially cautious and prefer keeping travel spends out of their budgets for now.

For those staying in Mumbai, trips to nearby places like Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar are becoming increasingly common. Similarly, it is reported that out of the top 10 destinations for Europeans in the coming year, 60% are within Europe itself.

People are the most significant worry of people

The second reason contributing to a behavioral change in the travel industry is the fear of getting close to others, thanks to the virus. Even if the coronavirus does vanish altogether someday, the trauma of our experiences will always remain with us. We would be more vigilant during future travels, maybe even willing to spend a little extra to ensure safety. Customer reviews and word of mouth would regain immense importance. Those who have always chosen to stay at 3-star properties might want to upgrade to 4 or 5-star hotels just for the added mental peace that it would bring. Trusted brands and those implementing safety protocols to a T would be the major gainers. Travel would become a sign of opulence rather than a must-have, which is good because then we would start valuing our experiences. And that is what we call Conscious travel – traveling less frequently, giving a lot of thought in deciding the right picnic spot, and most importantly, doing everything to make the experience worth it. Because who knows if we were to get another chance?

Workations: A brilliant opportunity to explore

A combination of the words ‘work’ and ‘vacation,’ shifting online got with it some benefits as well. The internet has made everything so convenient today that you can attend a work video call sitting on the beach of your favorite getaway location. You can trek in the morning and party in the evening, of course, having worked throughout the day. You will need to plan well in advance and need a stable internet connection to get you going.

Slow is the new normal

Having stayed indoors for so long now, people have become used to the slow pace of life. Getting back to the usual of a fast-paced workday would be difficult or even impossible. And hence, slow travel could become the new normal. Even though the number of trips would be less, the duration could increase. People would prefer visiting multiple locations as a part of the same trip over getting out of the house multiple times. It is expected that people would be taking fewer risks, visiting less crowded and less explored places. Visiting a nearby attraction would become the new cool. Travel insurance could become a must, and people would depend highly on the services of travel agents.

Final Takeaways

The pandemic cost the World Tourism industry $935 billion just in the first ten months. Many countries are dependent on revenue from tourism; imagine the volume of GDP loss. It will take time for travel restrictions to ease out completely, but we hope that it brings people joy and mental peace no matter how often they travel.

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This post was written in collaboration with Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP. Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. With a presence in the USA, India and the MENA region, they ensure that all of your financial decisions are made carefully and with your best interests in mind. They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies.

You can also reach out to them on info@aysasia.com

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