Post-Pandemic Travel: What Will Travel Look Like In 2022?
The COVID-19 pandemic inadvertently changed the way we live and more notably, the way we travel. As the world prepares for what is to come after the pandemic, travel destinations have begun opening up again. This is seen in efforts such as the Phuket Sandbox, Koh Samui Plus and others. It is expected that by 2022, traveling for vacations could be back in the norm again. But will it be the same again? Surely not! But this should not dampen your hopes and plans to travel again although you might want to take some factors into consideration.
Will traveling overseas become more expensive?
One thing is for sure, ticket prices for air travel will increase. This is expected after so many of the planes have been left dormant for more than a year while others have been used for cargo shipping. You should know by now that more than 40 commercial airlines have since suspended or stopped operating. This means that there will eventually be more demand than supply which will drive ticket prices up. Meanwhile, the rising price of fuel will also increase which will directly contribute to the cost of operations.
Should I be concerned with Workation?
Workation is a combination of work and vacation. With working from home becoming a norm for most people because of the pandemic, worktations have become more possible. This could well be in your plans if you like to travel in the near future where you can have meetings wherever you may be. Studies have shown that more than 50% of business travel will no longer exist after the pandemic. This simply means that the way you plan your vacation will totally change because you can be anywhere, working and then vacationing at the same time.
Will I need new travelling accessories?
Face masks will surely be in your travel bag. Like it or hate it, they are going to be around for the years to come. It has become a major accessory for everyone in the world to a point that it becomes weird not wearing one. So, if you are planning to travel, you will have your face masks packed as well as any other protective gear that you might need and that will be practiced across the world.
Do I need to pay more for insurance?
You definitely will need to show that you are fully vaccinated. This is the first and most important element in your health report. Most countries will require you to show your digital vaccine certificate. Others require you to have special travel and medical insurance that covers medical costs for COVID-19. This means additional costs for sure.
So, what does it all mean?
Putting it all together, this simply means that you will need to plan better and spend more. Given time, the cost might reduce but the planning will only need to improve. It might be challenging to just get away for a weekend like how you used to do in the past. So planning ahead is necessary. But you can always bring your work with you and that is a good way forward.
