I have been avoiding writing about this topic explicitly, but it would be insincere to not address the pandemic in the room. I believe that as a travel writer that I have a responsibility to share not only the best travel tips and destinations but to inform my readers about current policies, trends, or world events that influence travel.
Let me be very clear, I am not advocating for international travel at this time. If anything I am advocating for the exact opposite.
It is best practice to receive your information about the current travel policies of your locale via official sources. If where you live is not allowing any non-essential movement then do please respect these restrictions. Also, be mindful to comply with keeping distance between non-household members and wearing the necessary protective equipment.
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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Tourism Industry
It is no secret that the travel industry has been hit, and hit hard. I have seen friends and colleagues lose their businesses overnight. Many of my projects scheduled for this year are indefinitely postponed, and I lost my office space in the center of Ljubljana.
It isn’t just the small businesses that are suffering. Some of the biggest names in travel have been hit, too. Lonely Planet closed offices in Melbourne and London, Flybe went bankrupt in March, TripAdvisor laid off 25% of workers last week, and Airbnb laid off 25% of staff just this week and
According to the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), 100% of destinations now have restrictions in place. Whether you realize it or not, that is significant. Tourism accounts for 10% of the global GDP. In the US, tourism generates $2.6 trillion in economic output and supports 15.8 million jobs. When faced with unemployment numbers over 30 million, you can’t help but assume half of those jobs also support tourism.
The UNWTO estimates that global international tourists’ arrivals will decrease 20-30% in 2020 for a potential loss of $30-50 billion (USD). It is estimated that over 75 million jobs in tourism are at risk, the highest risk being in Asia. The numbers are not comforting. Jobs continue to be lost, travel remains to be suspended, and trips left untraveled.
Forecasting the Future of Travel
With grim data being broadcasted every day there are spaces where some of us are having discussions about the future of travel. There are discussions about what travel will look like in the immediate future through to a post-COVID-19 world.
Some experts are claiming that at the beginning people will choose road trips over plane travel. I can tell you that I have no plans to jump on a plane or train at the moment. When we begin to use these modes of transportation again there will be a shift to using disinfectants, limiting the number of passengers, or even be required to wear a mask.
Active and adventure-style travel will probably play a major role in the coming months as most activities are outside in nature. But on the other hand, doing activities like canyoning or wall climbing or anything that requires shared or rented equipment will need protocols for disinfecting and minimizing the risk of spreading diseases.
There are also discussions about intentional and sustainable travel. It makes sense because these conversations had already begun prior, but you see a global shift and desire for more immersive and meaningful experiences. People want their money to go to the right place and their time to be spent well.
In the meantime, some of us in the industry are attempting to adapt. You might have noticed a few hashtags popping up across social media such as #TravelTomorrow or #ThankstoTravel. As tourism boards are encouraging travelers “Don’t cancel, postpone!” or “Visit Later” in an attempt to encourage those travelers to keep their planned trips, just postponed to a safer date. I think this is a great option if you have the possibility. Some airlines and hotels are accommodating the situation, while others have not.
Travel bloggers are attempting to salvage their views shifting content from itineraries to virtual tourism. Some companies are offering virtual degustations or even at-home virtual travel experiences.
The truth? We have no idea what will happen.
Before this pandemic, the travel industry was concerned with over-tourism. The industry was ready for a shift and it needed it. Travel was quickly becoming very unsustainable as dirt-cheap flights could transport you across Europe for a few days. Cities like Venice and Barcelona were becoming unlivable for locals. In Slovenia, some days locals in Bled were asked not to drive because there were too many tourists.
Read | How To Travel More Sustainably?
We know that travel is forever changed.
Now we are presented with a moment to do things better.
Is Local Tourism the Answer?
That depends on who you ask. Some countries completely rely on foreign visitors to sustain their livelihoods. In the Maldives, tourism accounts for 28% of their GDP, in Slovenia, it is around 10%, but in the US it is only around 2.4%. That is a huge difference between countries.
If we might not be able to travel internationally until 2021 or later then what is the solution?
Travel local. Support local tourism so that they will be there when the flights take off again. These are the people who will (for some) represent your home and culture. Supporting local travel – wherever you go – is sustainable travel. If you are passionate about locations abroad check to see if you can buy any products, food, or gift vouchers to continue to support those businesses.
So maybe I should be shouting “Support Local!” rather than “Travel Local!” but I feel like travel gets left out of the former’s rhetoric. It is hard to imagine local travel but I want to reiterate that I am referring to either traveling locally or supporting local businesses while you travel.
Supporting local businesses helps with something called leakage. This refers to the revenue that is lost once it goes to a foreign-owned business. This can be a hotel, restaurant, or even a tour company. If the company is foreign-based that directly influences where the revenue and taxes of that company go.
In some places, this is a very serious issue that is negatively affecting local populations who are being used to support these businesses. I have good news though! There is something amazing that happens when you decide to support local businesses.