What will tourism and travel industries need to stay afloat amid COVID-19?

2020 became an unlucky year, especially in the tourism industry. Hotels, airlines, and other travel-oriented businesses brace for a dramatic drop in visitors and tourists, causing their profit to tumble. Government restrictions remain designed to curb the coronavirus pandemic keeping billions of people at home. Of course, this brings international travel and tourism at a halt.

What will tourism and travel industries need to stay afloat amid COVID-19?

The tourism sector became the heaviest to be affected, suffering the consequences of the crisis. Aside from that, they could also be the last one to recover. Although crucial for the global economy, kickstarting tourism in any part of the world could remain essentially complex. Travelling has yet to become risk-free while the deadly virus continues to circulate.

Although we have yet to answer the question, airports could hold the key to solving this problem. With travel bans and restrictions in place, tourism sectors remain at a standstill. Airlines have already downsized. Expecting people will fly less than they used to, they have already trimmed fleets and slashed thousands of jobs.

Health checks and enhanced cleaning protocols

Airports and hotels are trying to lure tourists back with health checks and enhanced cleaning protocols. As much as officials want to push through this, this move will add layers of cost a time when the industry’s finances remain in tatters due to travel collapse. However, such measures will become necessary to restore travelers’ confidence even before a vaccine against COVID-19 is even widely available.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveils Safe Travel global protocols

WTTC remains the representative body for the global travel and tourism industry. They have unveiled their list of protocols to help restart the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry, as well as prepare it for future crises. They dubbed it Safe Travel Protocols, drafting it with health and safety at the forefront.

Meanwhile, it also leverages guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We have learned from the past, especially after the tragedy of 9/11, where the lack of coordination among governments and with the private sector caused long-lasting travel disruption, higher costs, and longer recovery time.”

“Coordination and alignment within the travel & tourism sector are vital to ensure that robust global measures are put in place to help rebuild confidence and which are jointly embraced by governments and the private sector.”