1. When can tourism start again?
“Most experts who track the travel market predict that business travel could pick up early in the summer and leisure travel in the fall,” says Karl Minges, PhD, chair of health policy and management at the University of New Haven. However, things may be a little more delayed than initially anticipated, as vaccine preparations are slower than expected.
Currently, many international flights are temporarily "frozen", it is expected that business flights will reopen early this year (around summer) and tourist flights will open in the fall.
2. Can vaccinated travelers spread Covid-19?
This is still a mystery. It is unclear how long the protection lasts and how well it prevents transmission, Wu explains. “We hope that the vaccine will prevent transmission, but we really don’t have enough data at this point to be sure.” Of course, no vaccine is 100% effective. Several studies in the coming months will hopefully answer questions around transmission and even help develop more vaccines.
3. What precautions will we need to take when traveling and for how long?
Until Covid-19 is almost eradicated with vaccination rates reaching each country's threshold, wear masks, limit large gatherings, and use disinfectants/hand sanitizers.
Some airlines, like United, are already offering free Covid-19 tests, and the CDC is expected to soon require incoming travelers to present a negative Covid-19 test before arriving at US destinations, while Bermuda has introduced strict testing and quarantine procedures. Other countries in Europe are also closing their borders.
Stay safe at the airport, even if you are in a (supposedly) safe area.
At some point, in addition to mass vaccination, experts hope for a highly reliable, extremely sensitive and specific test that could vaccinate travelers right before boarding a plane.
4. Are there any other ways to travel without getting vaccinated against Covid-19?
In the near term, it’s possible that hotels, airlines and immigration services will require proof of vaccination before allowing you to travel. “This may be especially true for countries with near-zero transmission rates – like New Zealand or parts of Australia – that are waiting for nationwide vaccination,” Minges says.
Vaccination certificates are required upon entry into many countries.
The trouble is, so far, Covid-19 vaccines aren’t “officially” licensed for widespread use, Carrico explains—they’re currently only for emergency use. It will take time to get a vaccine that’s officially licensed and effective enough to be accepted as a passport for international travel.
Furthermore, in the future, in a post-pandemic time, it is possible that vaccine-preventable infectious diseases may also require a similar certificate.
