These Are The Experts’ Predictions For The Future Of Travel

Already, we’ve seen the travel industry change as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many airlines have changed their rules due to Coronavirus, while the world’s most popular destinations have become ghost towns. Keep reading to find out what experts believe will happen to travel after the pandemic.

Travel Is Likely To Return In Stages

One of the Coronavirus myths that many travelers believe is that we’ll never be able to travel again. While nothing is certain at the moment, most experts disagree (thankfully!). Travel will return eventually but it might undergo several changes.

It is widely anticipated that travel will become available again in stages. We won’t go from worldwide travel restrictions on Monday to having every country opening its borders on Tuesday. Instead, we will most likely see intrastate travel as the first form of travel that becomes available. Once people are able to travel around their own states without increasing the level of cases, state borders may open and domestic travel may become available. It is likely that international travel will be the very last form of travel to return and countries that have been hit the hardest will be the last to open their borders to foreigners.

For those with wanderlust, this means it might be worth looking at destinations close to home before planning an overseas trip. Planning a road trip or a camping trip might be more feasible at this stage than thinking about flying to another country.

International Travel May Be Correlated To A Vaccine

Some futurists predict that we’ll all be traveling a little differently in a post-pandemic world. Along with being the last form of travel to become accessible again, international travel may only return once a vaccine for Covid-19 has been created. Allowing international travel without a vaccine might be too risky and could be a catalyst for a second wave of the virus, which is something that many countries don’t want to take a chance on.

When international travel does legally become available, we might also find that travelers avoid countries that were hotspots for the virus, even if they have the all-clear to travel there. In turn, this could affect airfares to particular destinations.

Health Checks Might Become As Commonplace As Security Checks

Going through tight security measures at the airport is now a part of the travel experience that we don’t think twice about. But that wasn’t always the case—security has transformed after events such as 9/11. Similarly, the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to change our airport processing in a different way. Health checks are now likely to be a mandatory part of the travel experience.

Airlines and airports could require all travelers to carry a health certificate prior to traveling, ensuring they are healthy. They may also begin conducting temperature checks on all passengers before they are permitted into the building or onto the plane.

We Could See Huge Discounts And Budget Travel Companies Popping Up

When it comes to how the Coronavirus will affect travel going forward, some experts are predicting that airfares will become more expensive due to the lack of supply. Others believe that the discounts we’ve already seen will continue due to the lack of demand for travel. If this is the case, then budget travel companies might also pop up, offering cheap travel experiences that are too tempting to pass up.

It is possible that we’ll see new budget airlines emerge after the pandemic is over, as well as tour operators and cruises that offer their services for a fraction of the price that was once considered normal.

The Cruise Industry Will Have To Adapt

woman standing in front of a cruise ship — Pinterest

The cruise industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, leaving many wondering what will become of it. Experts believe that it will take a long time for the cruise industry to recover and rebuild faith in the market. It is possible that we will see smaller ships and river liners becoming more popular, with travelers less intimidated by the prospect of a ship with fewer passengers.

Big cruise liners might not become obsolete, but it is expected that they will be re-designed to include quarantinable spaces that will make it easier to stop the spread of a virus in the event of a future outbreak.

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