2020 was almost a “dead” year for the tourism industry worldwide, as the ghost of COVID-19 seemed to continuously break out in many countries. This year, when vaccines and many medical measures have been applied to ensure human safety, 2021 has witnessed small signs of recovery in the tourism industry.
While people are still wearing masks and are still worried about new strains of the COVID-19 virus, the tourism industry has recognized a new era - an era where pre-pandemic comforts have returned alongside measures to improve safety for tourists.
The mission of vaccines
In late 2020, COVID-19 vaccines first became available, and by June 2021 they were widely available to everyone 12 years and older and are now available to everyone 5 years and older.
With the safety of travelers in mind, many cruise lines, river cruise companies, and tour operators have begun requiring all passengers to be vaccinated when traveling with them. Many countries require imported vaccines, and it is becoming increasingly important when traveling to the United States.
Restart the cruise
While it was hoped that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would announce health and safety measures for cruise ship travelers by the end of 2020, it wasn’t until July of this year that cruise operations officially resumed. Despite only being back in operation for five months, there have already been quite a few cruises organized.
One reason cruises remain popular after the pandemic shutdown is that the experiences remain largely the same. Buffet dining has changed, and some indoor venues have mask requirements. But overall, cruise ships are still offering some of the fun that was available to travelers who want to experience pre-pandemic experiences.
Workcation
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the concept of “work from home” more popular. Now, most travelers can spend long vacations and take their work with them wherever they want. The concept of combining travel and work is defined by the noun “workcation”. This also helps many people reduce the number of vacation days in a year while ensuring work progress.
The return of international travel
After more than a year of countries closing their borders due to COVID-19, it’s starting to feel like the world will never be the same again. While Australia, New Zealand, and other popular international travel destinations still have strict restrictions on foreign visitors, many other destinations are slowly reopening, such as Mexico and the Caribbean.
Travel insurance
More people than ever are buying travel insurance because of the pandemic. Some destinations are even requiring proof of insurance to enter, and some travel companies are requiring customers to purchase it when booking their trip.
Now that there are so many directives in place for insurance due to COVID-19, people feel safer traveling knowing they are covered in case something goes wrong.
Travel restrictions
A small legacy of the pandemic is the myriad of travel restrictions travelers face. Many international destinations have reopened to visitors, but each has its own entry requirements. You can’t just grab your passport and head to the airport anymore.
Today, for many countries, travelers need to test for COVID-19 within hours of departing abroad and returning. Some destinations require quarantine upon arrival—and some don’t. Many countries require travelers to be fully vaccinated—but some only require a negative test to enter. It’s so complicated, there are now apps like Sherpa that help travelers figure out what the requirements are for the country they’re visiting.
