Are you thinking about travelling in a post-pandemic world? This guide will explain everything you need to know and the potential issues that you could face travelling in times of Covid-19.
Photo, Camila Perez.
Are you eager to get back to touring the world and exploring new places after being stuck in one place for months or even weeks? Well, you’re not alone. There are lots of people who are keen to get back into the sky, on planes and on trips to fascinating new destinations. But, it’s important to be aware that the world of international travel has changed. Things are not as they once were and you need to be prepared for a completely new experience. Let’s take a look at exactly what this means and what you should be aware of a traveller.
What Do You Need To Do? There’s a lot that you can do to ensure that you remain safe in this brave new world and to ensure that you don’t run into any issues. When you’re packing for your trip, do make sure that you are including masks. It’s worth pointing out that regardless of whether you are travelling to a different state in America or potentially a country in Europe, you will be required to wear a mask at some point on your trip. Travellers would benefit from investing in several masks that are highly durable. That way, they don’t have to worry about them getting damaged and becoming unusable at the most inopportune moments. Of course, if you are required to wear a mask, you will usually find that there is a supply of them somewhere close by.
Aside from wearing a mask or at least having one on your person, it’s worth being aware of local rules and regulations. Be aware that this can differ depending on a specific location. For instance, you could be state-hopping in America. Each state does have its own individual requirements in terms of social distancing. This could also change depending on the country that you are visiting in Europe.
Photo, Julie-Ann Gylaitis.
You’ll find lots of information on local requirements available online. For instance, in Scotland, you need to wear a mask if you go indoors in a shop. This is not a requirement if you are entering a shop in England. It’s just one example of how the social distancing requirements can be different depending on your exact location.
Photo, Bechir Kaddech.
You also need to make sure that it is safe for you to travel. It’s important to check that you are not feeling unwell before you board a plane and that you don’t have any issues including a temperature. Be aware that many airlines are now completing temperature checks. The aim here will be to ensure that no one is getting on the plane who could potentially be carrying the virus. Be aware that showing no symptoms will not automatically mean that you are safe to fly. You could be asymptomatic and unfortunately, right now, there is no way to deal with this potential issue.
Can You Travel? Of course, another key consideration is always going to be whether you can even get to the location that you want to visit. Countries are busy setting up air bridges to maintain the tourism industry. This means that if you are from a certain country, you will be able to visit another country with no restrictions. However, there are numerous exceptions and things are different depending on where you are located. So, if you are travelling from France, you might be able to go to Greece but perhaps not if you are travelling from England.
If there is a quarantine in place, then you will likely need to look down for at least 14 days in your chosen location. You might also need to lock down once you get back for 14 days too. Again, this is all about preventing the spread of the virus. But it also means that freelancers, who can work how and when they like are going to find it easier to travel right now compared to those on long term contracts with a certain company.
Photo, Anastasiia Chepinska.
What Can You Expect? It’s possible that if you are planning a vacation, you’ll find that many of the activities that you were eager to explore are currently not available. For instance, you might find that there are limitations to any areas that are indoors. This is due to the fact that it is believed the virus spreads more rapidly and more easily in indoor areas. As such, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to access a place like an aquarium. You might also find that museums are closed in certain locations.
Photo, Max Bender.
Furthermore, any area that requires a lot of human interaction is likely to be impacted. Indeed, theme parks have struggled to reopen specifically for this reason and it’s likely that guided tours will have the same issue. While you might be able to traverse a location it’s unlikely that you will be able to hire an expert to lead you through it.
Generally speaking, any activity that is based in an outdoor environment is currently far more likely to be running right now. There is definitely going to be a surge in interest to secluded locations such as private villas or even camping trips. Indeed, camping or even a glamping vacation could be a fantastic idea right now. Social distancing is really built into the package here.
A Rise In Prices? There has been a substantial level of suggestion that the cost of international travel is about to rise substantially. There could be a number of reasons for this. First, due to social distancing measures, airlines are not going to be able to fill planes completely. There’s going to be various empty seats and this has always cost airline money. Indeed, many big bosses in the industry have been furious with the impact that this could have on their ability to turn a profit.
Airlines were also disappointed with the quarantine plans that were almost immediately scrapped and dramatically reduced by the UK government. Will you feel the increase in costs? You might because the difference could be quite dramatic. This may also be complicated by businesses being forced to scale back the services that they are able to offer to their clients.
Of course, you might find that individual company decide to increase their prices too. This could ultimately mean that there will be issues with individual costs when you are planning a vacation. Don’t forget that businesses have gone months with absolutely no way to make a profit at all. Out of all the industries hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the travel sector is certainly the worst hit.
Photo, Kay Lau.
When Will Measures Be Lifted? Of course, you could be wondering when things are going to get back to normal. When are you going to be able to enjoy a travel adventure as you used to? Experts are suggesting that this won’t happen until there is a vaccine in place. This may not be until 2021 at the earliest. Some have suggested that it could be years and others are predicting that a vaccine will need to evolve with the virus itself. As such, we could be living with COVID-19 for quite some time.
So you could want a luxury tour of a location. But if you look at the best tours of Greece in 2021 you’ll find that right now they are operating and being advertised as though social distancing measures will still be in place. It’s also worth noting that even if a vaccine is in place some measures may remain. This may be due to the fact that customers and travellers feel safer with the restrictions, at least for a short period after the vaccine. It’s also possible that companies and governments decide to keep certain measures in place, in case there is a mutation of the virus or a similar issue in the near future.
The best way to look at this is how air travel changed forever post 9/11.
Is It Still Dangerous? Of course, one of the biggest questions for you is going to be whether it’s actually safe to travel. According to the government, it is now safe for tourists to get back into the air. Or at least, it will be by the end of July. However, you do need to remember that they have other goals and need to kick start the economy. Many experts are suggesting that it won’t be safe to travel until at least next year at the earliest.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key points that you should be aware of traveling in this new world. It’s fair to say that things aren’t quite as they once were. But it doesn’t mean that you need to stop travelling completely. You just need to be smart about where you are going and how you get there. You also need to ensure that you are taking the right precautions including wearing a mask where necessary.
