How much damage has the coronavirus pandemic inflicted upon the tour and travel industry? Could there be a silver lining to the pandemic as far as traveling is concerned? 2021 is the year that will answer these questions and give us a clear picture of the industry going forward. Being the pandemic’s rebound year, 2021 will be the year when travel enthusiasts make up for their 2020 missed travels.
People will be rushing to benefit from their almost-expiring travel vouchers, which might lead to a quicker rebound for travel compared to other industries. It will, however, be a rocky road for many due to the expected post-coronavirus economic depression and the added safety concerns that travelers will have to be mindful of.
Travel industry insiders have been making predictions in an attempt to paint a picture of traveling in 2021. Here are 4 notable predictions:
1. New car rental trends
Driving yourself when on vacation allows for unmatched convenience, flexibility, and freedom. But that aside, car renting in 2021 will be largely influenced by COVID-related concerns. That influence has and will continue to precipitate new car rental trends such as:
Travelers will be renting cars for longer-than-normal durations (more than the average 3-4 days). This is because cars have become a better alternative to flying for short-haul routes of 1000 miles or less.
People have started booking rental cars immediately after booking their flights and/or hotels. This is to ensure that they get their rental car as soon as they arrive at their destination so that they can drive themselves right from the airport as opposed to taking a cab. That limits their exposure to COVID.
Car rental express memberships and direct billing is also growing in popularity. Express membership helps travelers bypass routine checks and verifications at car rental counters. That is both convenient and, in regards to coronavirus, safer.
Road trips will dominate 2020 travels for many reasons. For starters, international travel restrictions might spill over to 2021, which means that travel enthusiasts will have to invest heavily in domestic tourism.
Of course, when thinking of car rentals and road-tripping abroad, you must think about additional fuel/gas, insurance, and parking costs. You must also confirm from your travel agent whether or not you are eligible to drive to your planned destination, the maximum distance or mileage car rental companies will allow you to cover, and whether you need an international driver license. The international driving permit is accepted in 150+ countries.
Note: Even if you don’t need an international driver’s license for eligibility to drive to your to-be destination, it is wise to carry one just in case something unpleasant happens to you on the road. You might, for example, be pulled over by cops for speeding- or any other infraction- or be involved in an accident. The permit will make everything so much easier for you.
2. Rampant changes in how travelers behave
Obviously, wearing masks and carrying hand sanitizers on airplanes in 2021 will be a first for many travelers. But there are more underlying behavioral changes that will transform the travel industry:
Cabin fever during the lockdown has taken a huge toll on many outdoor enthusiasts. 2021 will be the year they satisfy their hunger for nature’s wide-open spaces. Travel insiders predict that this hunger will precipitate unprecedented influxes of state and national parks’ visitors. Many travelers who would previously have opted to visit big cities and stay in upscale hotels will be spending most of their vacation time off the beaten path.
Remote working has grown tremendously during the 2020 lockdown, and there is a possibility that many remote workers will not go back to the traditional in-office working. This means a new breed of travelers has been born- travelers who have the money and the time to be away from home for as long as they wish. But then due to the financial discipline that coronavirus has taught many working citizens, 2021 travelers will be more careful with how they spend their money.
Wellness tourism will grow in popularity in the coming years. People have been anxious and depressed during the lockdown, so they will be looking for experiences that make them more hopeful and ready to rebound from the coronavirus shock.
Vaxications (vacations that are banked on COVID vaccination) will be the new normal once travel restrictions are lifted.
Group travels might drop significantly in 2021 as travelers try to keep social distance and practice safe behavior. It is hard to trust that strangers in a group tour will observe all laid out coronavirus safety precautions, after all.
3. Popular destinations might change
The lockdown season has precipitated an uptick in personal introspection for many people. People are now more determined than ever to take stock of their lives, reflect, soul-search, and find their purpose in life. This new-found motivation will lead to more travels to “spiritual” destinations such as Vatican, India, and Israel. On the flipside, trips to places like Vegas and other entertainment-centric destinations might be fewer in 2021 compared to 2019. Destination decisions will also be influenced by how effectively popular destinations handled (continues to handle) the pandemic. Travelers need to be reassured of their safety, so they will avoid coronavirus hotspots and destinations that didn’t satisfactorily handle the initial outbreak.
Business travel could be slow
That’s mainly because it may be a while before international travel picks pace, plus the continued adoption and excellence of video-conferencing as a tool for international business meetings. Businesspeople will be careful not to be quarantined abroad- and hurt their businesses in the process- so they will most likely keep relying on Zoom and other online communication tools to communicate with their international associates.
Final word
That is your picture of travel in 2021! However, because it is almost impossible to paint the whole picture in one article, it is important that you seek the advice of a travel professional before making any plans for 2021. Lastly, make your 2021 travel plans as early as now just to cushion yourself from the possible pent-up travel demand once the current restrictions are lifted
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
