By Romaisa Hussain – Art in Tanzania internship
Coronavirus (COVID-19), identified in 2019 as a deadly respiratory illness that spreads through droplets in the environment when an infected person breathes, has caused a global pandemic. It has collectively affected the entire world, and amongst many other sectors, tourism and travelling remain one of the most affected zones.
Due to the pandemic, travelling has been restricted to contain the spread of the disease. Due to the travel ban, the tourism sector has a long way to go before it recovers to its original state. This means that the tourism economy and travel restrictions have led to a global recession.
However, it is hoped that tourism will soon resume as significant measures, such as the gradual opening of air corridors and thorough COVID-19 testing, are being taken to make it safer to travel again. Due to the pandemic, we are well familiar with the quarantine and COVID-19 tests that were made mandatory. This had a significant impact on tourism in 2020, which carried over into 2021.
Statistics showed an 85% decrease in tourism at the beginning of 2021 in Europe. For the past year or two, people have been quarantining their homes by the safety protocols. This is why it can be said that as soon as the restrictions lift, they will be more eager to go out on trips and adventures as a means of ‘escape’. As reported by Euro News, global research showed that 70% of people in 2021 had made arrangements to travel on trips or take a break.
If people were encouraged to plan a road trip in 2020, 2021 would be the year they travelled overseas. However, there are still certain apprehensions regarding the restrictions. With the vaccination criteria and roadblocks still in place and the rise in the number of infected people in populated areas like Europe, these can significantly contribute to the difficulty of crossing borders.
Therefore, it cannot be said whether tourism will restart anytime soon and recover to how it once was in 2019, as only 46% of the total amount in 2019 is expected to travel in 2021. By the Swiss Economic Institute, it is assumed that a complete recovery will not be possible until at least 2024. However, there is still hope.
Europe is attempting to control the pandemic and accelerate vaccination programs that might enable people to travel in the summer of 2021. The European Tourism Trends and Prospects report by the European Tourism Commission (ETC) highlighted that, although some hindrances related to vaccination, these programmes were still essential for continued travel. The ETC calculated that 56% of the European population was willing to travel from August 2021.
Policies regarding tourism and travelling
The European Union’s Digital Green Certificate is expected to take effect before summer 2021, enabling travel and tourism to resume.
This program aims to establish safer travel procedures for citizens, incorporating data on whether the person has been vaccinated, has a negative test result, or has recovered from COVID-19. Eduardo Santander, Executive of ETC, stated that despite the distressing 12 months preceding the vaccines, it can be optimistically said that, although the vaccination programme went through some ups and downs, it is now functioning with much more stability. It has been proven to be effective. He continues that it gives people hope for the summer of 2021.
Moreover, he also discussed how the EU Digital Green Certificate would enable the resumption of travel for EU citizens and international travellers sooner than expected, provided there is better communication between those implementing the travel rules and the rapid distribution of travel certificates.
European Destinations saw major decline in 2021
The latest statistics indicate a significant decline in tourism in Europe during the first quarter of 2021, estimated to be as high as 90%. One of the countries that was deeply affected was Austria, which experienced a 99% decline, with strict travel restrictions placed on those who planned to enter. Iceland experienced a 97% decline, whereas only vaccinated individuals were allowed to travel. Additionally, Cyprus, Slovenia, and Finland experienced an average decrease of 93%.
The only place that didn’t drop below 50% was Monaco. Most areas increasingly affected by lockdowns and travel restrictions were in the southern and Mediterranean parts of Europe, which were highly dependent on international travellers. In contrast, the Central and Eastern parts got by with domestic travellers.
Prospects for Travelling
Despite all the complications caused by COVID-19, there are still prospects to restore travel. The British Government arranged to lift travel restrictions on May 17, 2021, which immediately led to an increase in travel as people began planning their trips to European destinations, such as Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. As more American citizens get vaccinated (though gradually, but increasing nonetheless), it gives hope to the European tourism economy.
As travellers seek to minimise contact with the population, the Government plans to work towards alternative accommodations that reduce public contact.
These alternatives replace more prominent hotels in popular destinations such as Italy and Croatia with agriturismos, farmhouses that cater to travellers and guests.
Other alternatives include sleeping on boats or yachts during a sailing trip to avoid contact in populated areas. In 2021, it is also anticipated that travellers will aim to stay on holiday for longer periods to enjoy the maximum experience of their chosen destination.
Moreover, hotel prices are expected to decrease, and mountain railway fares may increase depending on the number of passengers. Statistics also showed that 9 out of 10 Europeans chose to travel within Europe in the summer of 2020, and this trend continued in 2021, with 60% of bookings remaining within Europe.
Abiding by the rules
Understandably, travellers nowadays are more cautious about travelling, and they usually expect assurance from the governments before setting out to travel in the current year.
People rely heavily on the reviews and experiences of other people who have travelled as a means of research to establish whether their destinations are safe before travelling. People will approach restaurants that take restrictive measures, and in the travel sector, measures are being implemented at airports. COVID testing and quarantining for 2 weeks before entering the premises will provide a sense of safety assurance among people, hopefully boosting tourism back up this year.
Due to the restrictions and limited travel destinations, it can be established that the rate of tourism will not skyrocket back to its original state as it once was. However, it is understood by the majority that there is no need to hurry, as the mandatory requirement right now appears to be the health and safety of the people. Moreover, people who travel nowadays aim to stay in a place for longer as they can efficiently work digitally due to the pandemic and enjoy their holidays simultaneously.
COVID-19 has significantly impacted the global economy, but this does not mean the current population will cease travelling. People will continue to plan holidays, only this time with more safety precautions. Currently, most European destinations feature tourist spots that are either safe to visit or have recovered from the impact of COVID-19. We may also witness a change in the trend of more extended vacations being replaced with shorter trips, but travelling will always remain the norm.
Sources
Euronews Travel Trend Report. (2020). travel after 2020, what will tourism look like in our new reality? Retrieved from https://static.euronews.com/website/pdf/euronews-trend-report-travel-after-Oct-2020.pdf?utm_source=euronews%26utm_medium=organic%26utm_campaign=whitepaper
European Travel Commission. (2021, May 6). MIXED PROSPECTS FOR SUMMER 2021 AS EUROPE WORKS TO OVERCOME VACCINE HURDLES. Retrieved from https://etc-corporate.org/news/mixed-prospects-for-summer-2021-as-europe-works-to-overcome-vaccine-hurdles/
Lauren M. Sauer, M. (2021, May 21). What Is Coronavirus? Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus
OECD Better Policies For Better Lives. (2020, December 14). Rebuilding tourism for the future: COVID-19 policy responses and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/rebuilding-tourism-for-the-future-covid-19-policy-responses-and-recovery-bced9859/
Southan, J. (2021, May 14). Travel industry experts weigh-in on post-COVID trends. Retrieved from euro news travel: https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/05/14/what-will-travel-look-like-in-a-post-covid-world
The New York Times. (2021, April 16). Gauging the Prospects for International Travel. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/16/travel/international-summer-travel-coronavirus.html
