After a year of stay-at-home orders and pining for normalcy, there's hope on the horizon. According to President Biden, we will have enough vaccines for every US adult by this May. Worldwide romantic destinations are cautiously reopening. And after cutting routes last spring, airlines are now adding them back to their schedule. We're on the verge of being able to travel! And people are dying to hit the beach this summer: a survey by luxury travel company Virtuoso found that 60% of us hoped to take a trip by Labor Day. Meanwhile, the TSA is prepping for the expected boom. Recently, they announced a nationwide recruitment effort for 6,000 new employees.
But what will vacation travel look like post-pandemic? Will everything be normal? I don't think so. Don't expect things to reset back to 2019. In reality, September 11 forever changed the way we travel, so will COVID-19. Here's how the COVID Vaccines will affect your travel.
Masks
Facial masks are here to stay. Why? Wealthy countries will innoculate about 75% of their population by the end of 2021, but it'll take developing countries years to reach that target. Even when second and third-world nations build herd immunity, the virus will still lurk in corners of the globe. COVID-19 will be with us forever. So facial coverings will be required to stop the spread and protect the most defenseless among us.
Social Distancing
You can expect to remain six feet apart will continue to be necessary. Hotels that pride themselves on lovely public spaces will encourage social distancing by limiting the seating options and opportunities for people to dally. You will also find that restaurants have reduced capacity. And buffets won't be operating.
Health Passports
Get used to needing to carry extra travel documents. The US will require most travelers to have health passports as well as negative PCR tests to travel. Multiple destinations have already announced that vaccines will be required to enter if you don't want to quarantine. You will need a record showing that you have received the entire course of whatever COVID vaccine you received. Meanwhile, luxury cruise lines like Crystal Cruises ask all guests onboard to be fully inoculated. That rule is most likely valid for airlines also.
Where to Travel
It's not only how we travel that's changing but where we travel. I see a strong interest in remote regions rather than urban ones, as many are crowd-averse. As countries open up, safety is a top concern most people want to get outside and explore. Clients are also looking towards far-flung destinations after a year of being homebound. Post-pandemic travel will likewise be a time of significant travel. People want to make their trips remarkable—visiting less-known countries, finding ways to make memories with loved ones.
Travel has and will change, but I choose to be grateful for the opportunity to discover the world again. If there's an upside to the pandemic in travel, it's that travel will be more purposeful and impactful. We didn't know what we had until it was gone. Now it's time to get out there and explore the globe. Soon you will be able to head to any of the incredible destinations pictured in this blog (Italy, Australia, the Bahamas, and Scotland) or any country that appeals to you.