Ahhh… the buzzwords of 2020: Covid-19, c*********s, social distancing, #flattenthecurve #stopthespread, global pandemic… you name it.
We can argue on who knew what when, but one thing we all agree on is how Covid-19 is completely disrupting businesses, sectors, governments and personal lives.
Whether a travel blogger, content creator or none of the above, travel is a huge part of our lives involving transport, accommodation, and businesses that depend on people buying tickets, boarding planes, renting cars, and purchasing activities.
So, I gather eight of my travel blogger pals to hear what they think travel will look like post Covid-19 pandemic.
Caroline, London
IG: @traveleatslay
If Brits are concerned about travel, life and business in general after Brexit, we have a bigger hurdle with post Covid-19 challenges as 2020 was “supposed” to be our adjustment period before we could stand without EU backing.
Many Brits take advantage of travel privileges to travel Europe, with stag and hen parties in Amsterdam, birthday weekends in Spain, destination weddings in the French Riviera, and a train ride to Paris for the day.
All this changes with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Post Covid-19, travel experiences will change immensely: longer queues, intrusive checks, less frequent services to certain destinations and tighter procedures.
However, the focus going forward is for nations and leaders to unite and implement procedures that will serve everyone.
Arunima, India
FB: Namaste, SoloTravel
As a solo female traveller from India, one of the things I constantly talk about is the difficulty of obtaining tourist visas as processes for Indians are intentionally long-drawn, expensive and difficult.
I feel that international travel for Indians is going to get more difficult post Covid-19. I am almost certain that the next time I apply for a visa, I will waste time procuring some health certificate stating that I do not have Covid-19.
The discrimination against Indians has already begun: Qatar banned Indians from entering the country when the number of cases in India was less than a hundred, while they still had not imposed a similar travel ban on Italy, where the situation had escalated.
Given that India is nowhere close to capable of controlling the pandemic if it spreads like wildfire, I will not be surprised if Indians face a travel ban imposed by other countries lasting up to a year.
As a solo, brown, female backpacker, I have experienced racism, sexism, and mansplaining, and in a post Covid-19 world of travel, I doubt things will ease for Indian travellers.
Even though the virus did not originate in India nor has it spread at an alarming rate (yet) nationally, many countries will use it as an excuse to discourage Indian travellers from visiting. Georgia has a history of declining entry to Indian travellers and this might increase in a post Covid-19 travel future.
Mazuba, Zambia
IG: @mwendebwinopodcast
African countries depend primarily on international tourists so most marketing dollars are spent advertising to this demographic.
However, post Covid-19, the prediction by travel and tourism experts is that domestic tourism will increase as international tourists may be uncomfortable with long distance flights for a while.
This means destination management organizations in Africa will focus their attention on attracting locals. South Africa and Kenya tourism are leading the way in finding post Covid-19 recovery solutions.
Personally, I will do my part as a traveller to invest in tourism in Zambia. I plan on visiting national parks – South Luangwa, Kafue, Lower Zambezi – exploring the Northern circuit of Zambia which includes beautiful waterfalls, lakes and hiking spots, and of course, returning to Victoria Falls.
Travel Experiences Post Covid-19
So, this is what I *think* travel will look like post Covid-19 pandemic.
a) People will be too jittery for pleasure travel by air but will satisfy their wanderlust travel experiences via local day trips, weekend getaways and microcations. I love exploring NYC generally and I see myself having local travel experiences in New York State and nearby cities as I watch to see if a second wave of infections occurs from people rushing to travel.
b) Those who resume air travel will do so with new hygiene habits. Naomi Campbell went viral in 2019 for her airport routine of sanitizing airplane seat, tray table & head rests, and people mocked her. The Queen was ahead of the curve long before we got hip!
c) Locations and events that rely on crowds & travel experiences i.e. festivals and fairs, will be slow to re-open because of social distancing rules & fear of Covid-19 re-occurrence.
d) Residents in major Covid-19 hot spots like Italy, Spain, NYC etc may impose temporary travel restrictions and/or have temporary travel restrictions imposed upon them, to comply with social distancing rules and prevent Covid-19 re-occurrence.
e) There are talks of immunity certificates for people that recover from Covid-19, permitting them to mingle in polite society by showing this certificate at every turn. Certain countries begin antibody testing to determine if immunity is possible, and this test might be the basis for immunity certificates.
If this isn’t dystopia in the making, I don’t know what is, but there are a myriad of ethical issues with this that governments are considering.
Will immunity certificates be the norm for post Covid-19 travel experiences?
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Irine, Seattle
IG & Twitter: @travelwithirine
From a hiker’s and nature enthusiast perspective, I think now more than ever, people are appreciative of outdoors and being able to travel to places that fill their cup of joy and curiosity. Being stuck indoors is driving some of us nuts!
I think people will be hiking & doing more adventure trips post Covid-19 because current limitations show us how important & fundamental movement is.
Some of the changes I foresee are tourism boards and agencies shifting their marketing campaign to fit specific markets that they might have overlooked in the past.
Though life may never go back to being what we call “normal”, this will pass and we will rise again.
Brian, Pennsylvania
IG: @brianmayroam
I don’t expect travel to return to pre COVID-19 levels for at least a year or two as people who were on the fence to begin with will likely stay home for a while.
Like visiting an unexplored country, the adventurous few will do it first and if they return unscathed, others will follow. I expect social distancing to stick around for at least a few months after this nightmare is over.
What I am most curious about is the impact that COVID-19 will have on the insurance industry.
Personally, I plan to explore my own country more and I think others will do that as well.
Nicolette, NYC
Twitter: @Nicolette_O (#culturetrav Twitter chat)
Given the state of our world with Covid-19, we’re going to see a deeper appreciation for travel once again as people will not take for granted the possibility to travel – no matter how far or how long.
We may see an uptick in weekend travels or day trips as people start to explore locally and (re)discover things close to home.
While we’re lucky to connect with family, friends and coworkers via virtual hangouts, calls and text messages, people miss out on the social connectivity that everyday “normal” life and travels allow us experience.
Post Covid-19, travel experiences will continue to emphasize feelings of human connection and gratitude to be able to wander around as we did before.
Travel & Cruise Vlogger
IG: @alannazingano
The cruise industry is being hit hard by COVID-19 and there is speculation on whether cruise lines can weather this storm. Yes, they can, and here’s why.
The CDC announces an extension of a No Sail Order for cruise ships meaning that cruises may not run with passengers for the next 100 days.
With this restriction, cruising will look different upon reopening. Some of these changes include:
- Improvements to make cruising as safe as possible, i.e. monitoring passengers and crew
- Training crew on COVID-19 prevention
- Learning how to manage and respond to an outbreak on board
All of these enhancements will be submitted in a plan to the United States Coast Guard and CDC for review.
Post Covid-19 Cruising Predictions
- Upon check-in, guests will have a mandatory temperature check
- Sanitization increase by cruise lines wiping everything down and thoroughly
- Cleaning ships plus ensuring passengers do their part with hand washing
- Additional hand washing stations and sanitizers all over the vessel
- Buffets will not have utensils for guests, rather, a crew member will scoop and plate food
The cost of cruising is likely to change as supply and demand may play a role in steep discounts upon reopening. One of the best parts of cruising are the destinations, and ports of call have been heavily affected by COVID-19.
We may see ports with limited availability for ships to dock in and others may have restrictions in place by the local government deeming them unready to welcome ships into port.
These possible changes are for our safety to ensure that cruisers have a healthy vacation upon reopening. I agree with the CEO of Carnival Corporation, Arnold Donald, in Axios:
I think cruises will ultimately be even better than what they were before … even up until the day we paused, people wanted to cruise.”
Cruise lovers long for the day that we can safely return to the high seas.
Maggie, Washington D.C.
IG: @pinkcaddytravelogue
The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing the world to hit a giant pause on everything and there’s no question that when life resumes, “normal” won’t be what it was.
But just how different will travel be?
I don’t believe things will change as drastically as people think.
It will take time for the industry to return to full operating status and recovery will look drastically different than it did pre Covid-19.
There will be less international travel due to fear of Covid-19 re-occurrence and economic limitations; many small tour companies and travel agencies won’t survive this pandemic or have permanently shuttered operations.
But in a few years, new companies will take their place once people begin to travel. This is just a temporary setback.
People aren’t cruising presently, but is this the death of the cruise industry? I don’t think so.
There are people who prefer this travel type despite sanitary risks and as long as there is a demand for it, there will be companies that supply. Nevertheless, cruising may shift to preference for smaller, river-based cruises instead of mega ships.
There might be a shift away from over-tourism as we see positive effects lack of human interference has on the environment. We can’t live without cars and planes, but a general mindset shift towards sustainable travel practices may result from this.
Lastly, travel prices may be cheaper post Covid-19 as hotels and airlines try to attract new business to make up for lost revenue.
Give it a few years and we may see a new great age of travel.
I hope you all enjoy reading post Covid-19 travel experiences upon the resumption of society.
No one knows what this world will resemble but there are similar thoughts of international travel being slow to recover as people act cautiously against Covid-19 re-occurrence.
Thank you immensely to my lovely ladies (and Brian) for sharing their travel thoughts.
Don’t forget to click blog links and follow us all on channels if you aren’t. Lemme know what you think in comments and see you on the social streets! xxx
66 Comments
Joan
April 14, 2020 at 7:38 amI had to cancel planned trips because you just never know when all this is going to end or at least just subside for a while. Post covid will definitely be a whole other ball game.
admin
April 14, 2020 at 10:42 amRight?? We’re still not out of the woods yet and some states in U.S. are locked down till June! We in NYC are locked down till Apr 30…tentatively. I’ve no international travel planned for this year. It’s a waiting game.
Steph
May 11, 2020 at 6:42 amEveryone will definitely start traveling.
Covid 19 is teaching people to live life to the fullest
Lyosha
April 14, 2020 at 9:19 amI do hope to travel this year and travel a lot more. I keep on hanging onto this thought
Tayo
April 14, 2020 at 12:00 pmGreat array of comments/thoughts on how travel will be affected, all from different viewpoints. I do worry as Arunima pointed out that those who were already discriminated against will be discriminated further and the travelling privileges that have been held so long by Causcians, those with powerful Western passports and/or the rich will just continue and the divide deepens significantly. What I have found so sad that even during this pandemic people still have time for xenophobia rather than remembering we are ALL in this together
admin
April 14, 2020 at 1:46 pmTayo, you’re so right! Arunima’s predictions will certainly come true for non-white and citizens of developing countries and I’m already tired. Those of us with passport privilege will not suffer it but we have friends and family with weak passports who will have extra restrictions put upon them. Sigh.
Steph
April 21, 2020 at 5:21 pmMy family and I had to cancel our trip because of the virus.when things get back to normal, everyone will be flying out of their countries to their dream destination.
admin
April 23, 2020 at 5:23 pmNot so fast. Some low infection rate countries might still limit international travel into their countries and might impose quarantine measures too.
Anirban Panda
April 14, 2020 at 7:09 pmLoved the blog. Hopefully the quarantine period will end soon. I think we’ll get a clear environment in the tourist-spots due to less number of footfalls. But at the same time, Government won’t allot funds for the development of the areas as most of them will be used in the field of medical science.
admin
April 14, 2020 at 7:30 pmYou believe tourist spots will be used in medical science? In what way? The space??
Clarice
April 14, 2020 at 7:34 pmI haven’t really thought about it but I am 100% postponing all travel plans within the year. No cruises too for my family like forever. With all the stories recently, it’s just like a trap and wouldn’t want to take the risk.
admin
April 14, 2020 at 9:08 pmDo you know that there are still cruises that have been sailing for months because no country wants to permit them to dock? How crazy is that…and scary!
Lori Bosworth
April 14, 2020 at 7:53 pmI agree with some of these travel bloggers that domestic travel will be on the rise since many people will feel too nervous about international travel. I think that the cruise ship industry will face the most radical changes.
Charlotte
April 15, 2020 at 1:42 amVery interesting post indeed. I live in LA, but I am from France. I was supposed to travel to France in August, but I don’t know anymore. It really feels scary. I feel nervous, even more now that I am a mom.
admin
April 15, 2020 at 4:45 pmIt’s crazy, Charlotte, and France has extended its lock down till May 11. Everyone is doing their best to not be exposed or spread the virus. Take heart and stay calm. xx
Sara
April 15, 2020 at 3:58 pmKemi, your photo on the bio is gorgeous! Sorry, I had to say it!
Regardless Covid-19 is discouraging! I’m Italian and live in London, I was meant to fly back home last week. Now, I have no idea when it will be possible for me to see my family! It’s sad!
Travelling won’t be the same anymore.
admin
April 15, 2020 at 4:43 pmThank you, Sara! You’re a gem xxxxx. I’m so, so sorry about not seeing your family through all this. Many families have been separated and it’s just been upsetting. Hope you get to see them in a couple of weeks.
Melanie williams
April 15, 2020 at 7:17 pmThings will deffo change, but all will come good in the end. We need extra checks and it is all to make sure people stay safe…that is the most important thing x
Ewa
April 16, 2020 at 9:49 pmI just hope that the Cowid-19 case will quickly become just a memory. It is also difficult for me to imagine social distance when traveling in highly populated countries such as India and I am also curious how all this will affect the insurance.
admin
April 19, 2020 at 9:42 pmAlas! Covid-19 will always be with us and never be a memory. In fact, 2020 is one for the history books just like 1918 flu pandemic was. With high density countries, everyone will have to wear masks and gloves as daily attire henceforth.
John Quinn
April 17, 2020 at 7:57 amI think I side with Maggie, that’s how I see things post c virus. Lots of companies will fail. I didn’t want to get on a cruise before and now I certainly don’t want. The mumblings of negligence and class action lawsuits may determine where that industry goes as well. Very interesting takes on the future. We shall see.
admin
April 19, 2020 at 9:40 pmSo true, John. I’m with you regarding cruising. I was never keen on it pre-corona, especially with how they fly under a different country’s flag and the issues that come with that should anything happen at sea *shudder*. We’re literally watching the future of travel post-covid unfold daily in real time.
Sarmistha Goswami
April 20, 2020 at 7:01 pmEnjoyed the blog post and the thoughts of different bloggers on travel. While the fear will continue, let’ just hope it doesn’t become too difficult to get around because that is one thing I plan on doing after the lock down ends!
admin
April 23, 2020 at 5:42 pmIt will be awkward to get around for a couple of months because of social distancing but once some rules are established and we accustom to them, it should be a breeze. Hopefully…
Viano Dee
April 20, 2020 at 10:35 pmPersonally, I think traveling will change drastically post-covid and this is why:
The rate at which surveillance is going will make people limit their movements, especially outside their countries. This type of surveillance is able to read people’s temperatures from a distance. If the person’s temperature is higher than normal for whatever reason, such a person will be identified along with everyone that person has come in contact with and be quarantined for as long as that government deems fit. In this case, there is no privacy or right. The person/ people involved either submit willingly or will be compelled to.
As Albert Fox CahnExecutive director, Surveillance Technology Oversight Project says: “We have absolutely no reason to believe that the government agencies that are eager to expand their power in response to COVID-19 will be willing to see those authorities lapse once the virus is eradicated.”
I just feel that being watched closely will make people not travel as they would like to.
admin
April 23, 2020 at 5:41 pmChina started doing this when the virus hit initially and are still continuing it. They might never stop. I believe Hong Kong & even Singapore are monitoring temperatures and even putting signs on your door or compound to let people know if anyone in there is infected/under quarantine, and for how long. One of these countries have sensors on doors (under quarantine) that alerts neighbourhood police when the door opens. The police then texts to ask if everything is ok and you have to respond. Yeah. Surveillance is gonna expand globally.
Michael
April 20, 2020 at 11:26 pmHitting them on point. Well, its just upping the game really. better for everyone so why not. Prevention is better than cure, always.
Irine
April 21, 2020 at 1:44 amGreat read Kemi! It’s nice to hear other people perspective on what they foresee post Covid-19 pandemic. And I agree, most companies will struggle getting back on their feet. Hope government agencies such as Small Business Administration (SBA) assists those businesses
admin
April 23, 2020 at 5:28 pmThanks Irine! xx I hope the SBA loans get to actual small businesses and not large corps as we’ve been reading.
Yemi King
April 21, 2020 at 1:51 pmThings will probably be how they are now with social distancing to a degree. Being more aware of space and cleanliness. I haven’t travelled by plane or train or boat for a long time. Most of my trips are by cars. But it will be interesting to see what happens.
admin
April 23, 2020 at 5:27 pmYeah. Everything is already changing: reduced occupancy in high occupancy areas like clubs, concerts etc, and what of flying and all the touching that goes with it? These are rapidly changing times…
DRIS
April 24, 2020 at 6:13 amVery curious on this topic as well!! We will pray all good things come from this!
Michael
April 24, 2020 at 1:43 pmYes. It’ll take time but changes will happen.. More cautious than before but It will eventually go back to usual but hopefully with better results in terms of cleanliness and more
admin
April 30, 2020 at 7:45 pmI do hope the cleanliness will improve especially on airplanes and cruise ships.
Khushboo
April 25, 2020 at 7:16 pmYes I agree with your points traveling will be very difficult after covid 19. It won’t be same like before.
Khushboo
April 25, 2020 at 7:18 pmYes everything will be changed. I agree with you traveling will be very difficult after covid.
Kristine Nicole Alessandra
April 25, 2020 at 7:56 pmI think it will take quite some time for the travel industry to go back to normal. My family will probably only be traveling by car to nearby resort parks. I would let go of our overseas travel for now. Better to be safe than sorry. And one more reason we are not traveling abroad after this pandemic is over is because I fear we will be discriminated against. I am Asian, and I have read about how some Asians are being discriminated against in other parts of the world during this time.
admin
April 30, 2020 at 7:44 pmOh dear, Kristine! That’s a worry for you to have for sure. Yes, local travel will be the winner in all of this because of a lack of confidence of travellers. Fear of being stranded, fear of losing money and insurance not paying and a psooibility of 2 wks quarantine in a foreign country essentially taking up all of your vacation days.
Monidipa
April 25, 2020 at 9:59 pmI really loved how you had included everyone in here. At first, travel will commence slowly. Individuals with plans to go on big international trips may rethink their getaways in lieu of going somewhere closer to home. This is mainly an issue of consumer confidence. Travelers who have been stranded will be apprehensive of being stuck in similar situations again, and rightfully so. Hundreds of thousands of tourists have been stranded across the globe during the coronavirus outbreak, many with the knowledge that travel insurance companies aren’t paying out for costs accrued due to the pandemic. It is unlikely that anyone would want to repeat that experience.
admin
April 30, 2020 at 7:42 pmThanks! No doubt those who were stuck months ago will not be getting on planes to foreign countries soon and everyone else doesn’t want the same experience so local travel will be the winner here.
Nina
April 25, 2020 at 11:46 pmDefinitely need more check to ensure safety. It is for the greater good for sure.
Autumn
April 26, 2020 at 1:56 pm“The focus going forward is for nations and leaders to unite and implement procedures that will serve everyone.” I certainly hope so. I doubt that the president of the USA is taking this as seriously as other leaders. Praying and hoping we get through this together.
admin
April 30, 2020 at 7:40 pmHah, Autumn! That’s a whole other conversation! Lol. We have a long year ahead of us Stateside.
bethan taylor-swaine
May 7, 2020 at 10:08 amWith a couple of trips booked for later in the year (although luckily nothing too big or too expensive!) I’m definitely curious about what travel will look like in this ‘new normal’, although I honestly think it’s a bit too early to speculate too much. I do think temperature checks are likely to become a normal part of the routine, and Naomi Campbell’s sanitising rituals will be shown instead of an inflight safety video!
admin
May 8, 2020 at 3:55 amLmao Bethan!! In-flight safety videos of Naomi in her hazmat suit and thorough wipe downs. I’m only confident about local travel because international travel wont return for a bit especially as airlines are struggling and countries might demand a 2 week quarantine for all incoming travellers. Let’s see how it all pans out…
Renee C.
May 8, 2020 at 3:15 amI had to postpone a trip because of Covid and it’s hard to try and plan again with so much unknown. But, really interesting to hear all these perspectives!
admin
May 8, 2020 at 3:52 amHope you got your refunds. Don’t accept vouchers!
Melanie williams
May 8, 2020 at 11:59 amIt will change for sure, as travel needs to be safe. however in time it will become much better I am sure x
Nina
May 8, 2020 at 12:29 pmeverything will have an impact due to this current pandemic. No travels plans internationally anyways, maybe domestic ones are likely.
LenLen de Dios
May 9, 2020 at 4:38 amThis pandemic has created a huge impact in our lives. Hopefully, soon we can still travel anywhere we want without fear and apprehension.
Lyosha
July 27, 2020 at 3:12 pmI understand that we need to be extra careful. The pandemic made a huge impact on almost everyone. I will be making my first small trip within my country in two weeks and I am super excited. the boarders are slowly starting to open I can only hope to travel abroad this fall
Sammbith
July 28, 2020 at 3:09 amMany countries restrict tourists from certain countries to protect the entry of epidemics
Aditi
July 28, 2020 at 3:22 amThis pandemic has definitely affected so many aspects of our lives and travel seems to be the hardest hit – be it local or state/nation wide. I hope it doesn’t take too long to get over this loss and we can travel in a safe and healthy world soon. x
Amalia Silva
July 28, 2020 at 9:38 amThis is great to hear as I set to go on my first trip since this all started, I’m scared but excited at the same time, I guess i’m not alone!
Kristine Nicole Alessandra
July 28, 2020 at 1:10 pmThere will be so many changes that we need to get used to, even after the pandemic is over. I am sure many will still be anxious because of the virus. My youngest son who works in the hotel industry said business is very slow and he fears he might lose his job. I pray that this crisis will be over soon so the world can get back on their feet and revive the travel, hotel and restaurant industries.
Indya | The Small Adventurer
July 28, 2020 at 1:20 pmHonestly, my heart crumbles whenever I think about travel now! I’m almost 24 and have never traveled before (I’ve only been out of the state I live in once) and doubt I will get the chance to anytime soon now – and there’s so many places I want to visit! The world is so beautiful and I want to see it all 😩
admin
July 30, 2020 at 11:21 pmAwww honey! You WILL travel soon, don’t fret. Hopefully this all blows over, or significantly reduces, by next year and you can take a well deserved break abroad. xxx
Kiara Williams
July 28, 2020 at 6:56 pmI appreciate that the viewpoints come from people all over the world. It’s a reminder that everyone will have an adjustment period when everything settles.
admin
July 30, 2020 at 11:20 pmAbsolutely! We are all adjusting to travel and even each other. Still a long way to go…
Viano
July 28, 2020 at 9:55 pmThese are nice perspectives but no one really knows for sure how post-covid will be. We can only watch and see.
admin
July 30, 2020 at 11:17 pmOnly speculations, true, but we can already see in the West that airlines are requiring masks on planes and even security is permitting sanitizer bottles onboard. Also, we’re already seeing countries requiring negative covid tests within 5 days of entering their countries and for us here in U.S. most countries have banned us from entering their countries. We’re already seeing covid travel in play here.
Clarice
July 29, 2020 at 5:27 pmThis question has been bugging me for the past few weeks as I am not sure how travel would be in the future. Thank you for sharing insights on this. I agree with you that international travel will be hard for us Asians in the future.
admin
July 30, 2020 at 11:11 pmSadly so. People using any excuse for their bigotry.
Di Hickman
August 31, 2020 at 4:57 pmThis is something I’ve been thinking about a lot as we usually travel 4+ times a year. Personally this has impacted us a lot and will continue in future. Until there is a vaccine we aren’t traveling, and are avoiding large crowds
Stefan (Berkeley Square Barbarian)
March 31, 2021 at 9:18 amAwesome collaboration. It’s amazing how you managed to get this wrapped up just a month or so into the pandemic, and to see how the comments change over time.
admin
April 1, 2021 at 10:32 pmThanks Stefan. Interesting to see changes in just 1 year!