CHANGING TRAVEL NORMS IN POST COVID WORLD

 

 

It is a new world out there and I am dying to explore it. During the lockdown the air was fresher. The Year Earth Changed, a documentary narrated by David Attenborough, reported that people in the northern Indian city of Jalandhar caught sight of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, more than 150 kilometres away, for the first time in decades. According to climate research data, global carbon dioxide emissions fell by seven per cent as a result of lockdowns and the slowdown in business and leisure travel. Fewer travellers, cruises and flights gave mother nature a time out in 2020, and wildlife was quick to take advantage. Wild goats strolled through a quietened village in North Wales, pumas haunted the streets of Chile's capital, Santiago, and wild boars turned dumpster divers in Israel's Haifa. After an absence of decades, sea turtles returned to some beaches in Thailand and Malaysia to lay their eggs in sand burrows. Fewer cruises along Canada's western seaboard meant less propeller noise to interfere with whale communications, and marine scientists picked up whale songs they'd never heard before.

 

The world is slowly opening up as most of us agree that the worst of the COVID 19 pandemic is behind us. We went through enough of lockdowns and self isolation and we have just started breathing easy. Optimism is returning as more and more people and more and more countries are getting vaccinated. But it is not sugar and spice and everything nice yet. But travel in 2021 and 2022 is still not going to be “normal.”

 

Though some countries are still closed and some insisting on negative RT-PCR Covid test reports and then putting travelers through quarantine, others have identified the COVID hot spots of the world and not allowing entry to travelers from these regions. Some have created specific bio-bubble of countries and allowing travel within the bubble only. Let us hope that all this will change as more people get vaccinated, but for tourists from India the world is not exactly welcoming us with open arms yet.

 

The mass rollout of vaccines in the western world has changed the picture: many countries are now opening their doors to travelers and allowing immediate entry for individuals who were vaccinated against the novel corona virus. As long as you have a vaccination passport, the countries of the European Union, Canada, and many island nations are now allowing entry for tourists without a test. 

 

So how has travel changed and how will it change further, and what is expected of habitual tourists? Let me enumerate a few things:

Knowledge of your destination: Still, there are some countries that require a PCR test at points of entry or a period of quarantine, so it’s important to double-check all this information before you travel. It’s crucial to stay up-to-date with current travel guidelines and required documentation to make sure that you will be allowed into your destination and back. Be sure about the travel restrictions and bans prevailing in the countries you choose to visit as it cannot be fun spending your hard earned money for incarceration in a quarantine facility.

Prepare well and plan to perfection: Booking accommodation, getting travel insurance, stocking up on hand sanitizer, bringing plenty of snacks, and keeping all the required documentation near you at all times are just a few examples of things you should think about before your trip. If you’re required to take a PCR test at any point of your journey, know exactly where it can be done and how long it will take. It’s also a good idea to research and make a list of destinations, such as restaurants, museums, national parks, and beaches that will be open and fit all of your standards. After all, the last thing you’d want is to find yourself in a place where you don’t feel safe as you’re trying to relax and enjoy your vacation. Or worse, find out that all the places on your list are still closed.

Face masks: Whether you like them or not face masks are still mandatory on most flights. Another reason to check the guidelines before your departure is related to the sanitary requirements in your destination. Your airline or travel destination may still have a mandate on masks to keep everyone safe and at ease, even if you’re vaccinated. Moreover, certain airlines could ask travelers to wear a specific kind of mask, like the N95, and even a face shield onboard. There’s a chance that you will need to wear a mask if you’re planning to visit any public spaces too – museum, theatre, sports arena. For all of these reasons, make sure to read the airline’s and destination’s mask requirements before you travel and stock up on comfortable face masks.

Be patient and tolerant with airlines staff and fellow travellers: You might think air travellers would be grateful and compliant now that they can again flay, but not everyone feels that way. Instead, the pandemic has added yet another source of grievance to flyers with an elevated sense of entitlement. Some folks object to having their civil rights violated by being told they have to wear a mask when they fly, and they're prepared to go a few rounds with anyone who tells them otherwise. Russian carrier Aeroflot now has a dedicated section at the back of the aircraft for passengers who decline to mask up.

At the other end of the scale, some ultra-cautious travellers insist on flying wearing head-to-toe PPE gear. One germophobe attempting to board an United Airlines flight wearing a Narwall Mask, an airtight full-face covering with a snorkel type air filter.Though such company may not be very enjoyable but respect their choices and bear with them.

Travel by car whenever possible: Traveling long distances by train or by plane isn’t the safest choice. After all, new COVID-19 cases still appear worldwide daily, even in countries in which the majority of people are vaccinated. Public transportation often makes social distancing difficult or impossible, so minimizing its use is good practice. Traveling by car, be it your personal vehicle when you are in India or a rented one when you are overseas. This is still the safest choice.

Prefer nature trips and great outdoors: It is common knowledge that viral particles are prone to disperse more outdoors, which reduces the likelihood of you inhaling or coming into contact with them. So instead of closed spaces like museums, shopping malls and theatres this time enjoy the nature. A walking trail, a biking experience along the mountainside or a day out in the beach should be your choice this time.Taking a relaxed hike in nature, walking in a new city, or basking in the sun away from crowds are all excellent ways to maintain a safe distance from others while also enjoying the change of scenery at the same time. Avoid traveling in peak hours and miss out on the tourist hotspots in your destination to avoid crowds or visit them at night when there aren’t many tourists around.

Avoid city hopping: Slow down; let this be a relaxed vacation. The fewer places every traveler visits, the lesser their chances of getting infected and spreading the virus across country lines. So, it’s best to stay in one place and enjoy what it has to offer. This is the perfect time for you and your travel companions to unwind, connect, and really immerse yourselves in local culture and life. So a 14 day conducted tour of Europe is not the type of travel plan you need this time.

Choose your accommodation wisely: While the luxury of a cruise or a five star hotel is always irresistible during a vacation, but now is not the time for such indulgence. These facilities are packed with people from all over the world that come and go every day, so it’s probably not the best idea to stay at these places just yet. Small guesthouses, secluded cottages, and small rental apartments are a much safer choice this year.If you insist on booking a hotel, it’s important to inquire if they are accepting foreign tourists or business travel only. You can also ask the hotel what efforts they are taking to keep their guests safe. If their standards don’t match yours, it’s best to find out before you book a room rather than when it’s too late.

 

So yes, we, the vaccinated ones,  are ready for travel and tourism but we have to be careful and not let our guards fall at any time. After all what is the fun of coming back with a nasty infection and feel sorry later?