Where is the Travel Industry now?
There can be no denying the devastating impact the pandemic had on the travel industry, with hundreds of thousands of jobs lost and businesses closed. Over a million planned trips were canceled due to COVID. The surprise of this caught many off guard, and they wondered: “How long would this go on? Will things go back to the way they were?”
Luckily, as the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 have passed, the tourism industry has been able to bounce back. It took some time for the industry to come up with sustainable strategies that would keep itself afloat and adhere to the multitude of travel trends that have surfaced due to the pandemic.
Now, as we have completed the first quarter of 2023, we can safely say that the tourism industry is up and running like it used to, but of course, with several modifications.
What has changed in the travel industry since 2022?
The travel industry is in a far better position now than it was this time last year, which is evident in the number of forward bookings. Representatives from Scenic Luxury Cruises, Globus family of brands, Emerald Waterways, and Bahia Principe all spoke about robust bookings for 2022 and even into 2023, particularly following the announcement of Canada’s newly relaxed travel rules.
The most evident change that has taken over the travel industry is the ongoing mutation of travel trends. These trends change in accordance with what is happening all over the world. Of course, the pandemic has been the biggest factor with regard to the drastic changes in travel trends.
COVID-19
During the rampant stages of the virus, where it has been plaguing people from left and right, travel restrictions were nothing but strict, and a majority of countries closed their borders to tourists to prevent the spread of the virus. This drastic move had never been done before, especially during the pre-pandemic days, so this is something that truly threw people off their guard, and of course, a lot of people had no other choice but to comply.
The year 2022 was when travel restrictions were starting to loosen, given that vaccines had started to be deployed in various countries. This has paved the way for travelers to go wherever they please, be it domestically or internationally.
Today, as of 2023, wherever travelers and tourists look, it seems like everything is back to normal. They do not have to worry about cumbersome requirements such as proof of vaccination, getting PCR tests, wearing face masks in public spaces, and the like. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not the only threat to tourists at the moment. As we all know, news from all over the world has broadcast the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine
When the news broke out in February 2022, it caused widespread panic. This event was truly unexpected because people believe wars are a thing of the past. However, when the war waging between Ukraine and Russia was forecast, it upset millions. Let alone the civilians who are living in the countries aforementioned.
The war between the two countries stretches beyond causing a major upset among tourists. The war has been one of the primary causes of the surge in airline fuel costs. Not to mention, the travel industry in Russia still hasn’t recovered to this day. During the pre-conflict days, Russia was a strong contender in the travel industry.
However due to the conflict brought upon by Russia, countries like the United States, Canada, and nations in Europe have decided to keep their airspace off limits to Russian planes. In turn, this has caused Russia’s travel performance to plummet.
To make matters worse, major travel brands decided to flee Russia to escape the devastating events unfolding there. Western travel companies like Marriott, Airbnb, and Alaska Airlines have suspended their bookings, aircraft leasing, and partnerships with Russia.
And of course, one of the most obvious results of the war between Ukraine and Russia would be the impossible feat of having tourists visit Ukraine. Although the country in question is starting to rebuild its domestic tourism sector, the State Agency for Tourism and Development of Ukraine still advises foreign tourists to refrain from visiting the country until the war has passed.
Ukraine is not fully confident in guaranteeing the safety of travelers, so they deemed it best to discourage foreigners from traveling to the country.
