Travel to Return First with Staycations post-Covid-19

Photo source: WTTC

Travel is likely to return first to domestic markets with staycations when travel restrictions are eased, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

In its outline on what the “Travelling in the New Normal” will look like as countries begin to end their Covid-19 lockdowns and ease travel restrictions, WTTC sees people first opting for staycations (vacations in country of residence); then to a country’s nearest neighbours before expanding across regions; and then finally across continents to welcome the return of journeys to long-haul international destinations.

“Travelling in the New Normal” is part of WTTC’s plan which includes critical steps and coordinated actions, including new standards and protocols, which offer a safe and responsible road to recovery for the global Travel & Tourism sector as consumers start planning trips again.

According to the WTTC, the sector will face a gradual return to travel over the coming months as a “new normal” emerges before a vaccine becomes available on a mass scale, large enough to inoculate billions of people.

Younger travellers in the 18-35 age group, who appear to be less vulnerable to Covid-19, may also be among the first to begin travelling once again, the WTTC says.

Photo source: WTTC

The WTTC recently announced a plan called “Travelling in the New Normal”, which includes critical steps, coordinated actions and new standards that see to offer a safe and responsible road to recovery for the global Travel & Tourism sector as consumers start planning trips again.

Included in the plan are new health protocols aimed to form the travel experience and also provide people with strong reassurances when travelling in the post-coronavirus period.

The WTTC announced the new protocols on Tuesday to share them with governments globally, so there is a coordinated approach to travelling within the Covid-19 world.

As underlined by WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara, the protocols “must provide the reassurance travellers and authorities need, using new technology, to offer hassle-free, pre-vaccine ‘new normal’ travel in the short term”.