As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into the fall, one thing is becoming clear: 2020 has become a lost year for travel.

I have personally cancelled group trips to Egypt and Ghana in May, South Africa in August, Paris in September, Morocco in October, and countless other individual and personal trips. I think you can join me and many other travelers and friends who have echoed the words many times "staying home is no fun. "  

It's hard to imagine an industry more impacted by COVID-19 than travel. No matter how you look at it, travel has taken a plunge in 2020. The few people who dared to travel did so cautiously, if not fearfully. Those people have taken advantage of the bargains available to those who are willing to take the risks. Which leads me to the inevitable question: When is it safe to travel again?

It's nearly impossible to quantify how significantly the pandemic has impacted the tourism industry, but there is little question that the impact has devastated the travel industry in many ways. Revenue and job losses have been incredible, and countless businesses in the hospitality industry have closed or will eventually be forced to close before the pandemic is over.

Air travel is recovering slowly. Air travel is recovering slower than expected. Borders have been closed and other restrictions have been put into place. It has also been reported that recovery will first be seen with flights to domestic locations, opposed to long international flights.  

Hotels are only half-full. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the hotel industry particularly hard and has turned many hotel businesses upside down. Whether you prefer a big-city hotel run by a global chain, a lodge at a ski resort, or a quiet bed-and-breakfast, people will always want to “get away”. To make travelers feel safe again, hotels will have to focus on cleanliness and safety certifications. Technology will play a big part of how this will be achieved. Making the guests feel safe and comfortable, no matter what the situation, is and will always be the goal of the hotel and its staff.

Cruising is pretty much dead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently extended its “No Sail Order” for cruise ships through November. Some cruise lines, such as Viking, have suspended their operations until the end of the year.  

People are skeptical to travel. People are aware that travel increases their chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is still the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Reports show that 70% of those surveyed feels that travel will not return to normal for more than a year.

With so many things still unknown, we know that COVID-19 will dramatically shape the future of travel. Things from how we book travel, to where we go, to why we travel, to our seats on the plane, will all be things to consider. We will also evaluate what financial and safety risks we’re willing to assume. One thing for sure, we will emerge from this worldwide crisis different travelers than before the pandemic began.

We will no longer wait to take that dream trip. We will spend more time planning our trips and our trips will be more meaningful. We will be more inclined to travel responsibly and consider the impact on a destination before booking a trip. While the world continues to battle COVID-19 and scramble for an effective vaccine, we will continue to anticipate traveling around the world again. We all theoretically know now that if we wait too long to take our dream trip, that day may never come. That lesson is now crystal clear.

So, whether you want to take an epic trip that needs to be booked a year in advance, fly around the world in first class, go on a safari, see the northern lights, visit the country’s national parks or find out for yourself just how special Hawaii is, the flip side of COVID-19 will be the motivation to finally take those dream trips we’ve all been putting off.

Call Colesville Travel today for a free 15-minute consultation. We can help you decide where you want to go. We will take care of all the details so that you will have a memorable vacation experience that you will never forget.  

When you are ready, so are we.  

Stay inspired, 

Cindy