The Pandemic’s Impact on Travel and Looking Forward

Susan Bruce
Agency Owner at Susan Bruce Travel
Denver, CO

Here we are — one surreal year out.

Indeed, the pandemic has put us through the ringe, impacting every aspect of our lives. My industry, Travel and Tourism (T&T), has been one of the worst hit. But we are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel, even with the variants nipping at our progress.

So let’s look back and forward:

Travel Stats

In 2019, T&T, also known as Leisure Travel, accounted for $7.92 B of US Travel Spending, more than double Business Travel ($3.34 B).

In the U.S 2020 domestic travel spending was down 47%, car travel down 20%, and international visitor spending declined an unprecedented 69.4%.

U.S. airlines carried 63% fewer passengers in January 2021 than January 2020.

In 2020, tourism globally fell around 80%.

Travel constitutes a large part of GDP around the world – an average of 10.4% in 2019.  It fell by more than half in 2020. There’s an interlinked nature, a boomerang effect, between travel and the wider economy–when one is down or up the other follows.

The entire industry has been hit, particularly smaller enterprises. Of the American jobs lost to the pandemic’s economic fallout, a whopping 65% have been travel-supported jobs.

Sources: UNWTO, USTravel.org, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

During the pandemic most leisure travel for Americans was domestic, especially road trips. International travel comprised mostly short flights to beach destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. 

Looking Ahead

As more people become vaccinated, they are ready to venture forth. Leisure travel will lead the industry recovery. As an example, my business has popped in the past 2 weeks. Families, couples, solo, across the board.

Close to nine in 10 (87%) of American travelers now have travel plans in the next six months.

Cruises are starting again, so far primarily within country waters, such as US or Bahamas. Some cruise lines are requiring guests and staff to be fully vaccinated to board, a move seeing push back in some circles; others saying it will encourage them to cruise.

Of course, it’s a very personal decision when and where to travel, but Dr. Fauci and the CDC have deemed air travel to be low risk, especially for the vaccinated while still taking precautions.

So what are some future trends?

For many popular destinations, the pandemic brought respite from a crush of visitors. Stakeholders there are working now — before travel resumes in earnest — to decide what kind of tourism they want going forward.

Slow Tourism - Instead of trying to cover many destinations in a few days, we’ll be seeing longer stays in fewer destinations. This not only reduces medical risk and climate change stressors but enables you to fully explore where you are and have more meaningful experiences…depth not breadth. 

Sustainability - I’m seeing a growing trend of clients being more sensitive to the health of the planet and how travel can be a positive rather than negative force. I work with them in choosing properties and companies that go the extra mile to minimize their footprint and support local communities, wildlife and the environment. This move to slow, experiential travel and sustainability will also hopefully drive travelers to more off-the-beaten-track destinations, taking the strain off those places that are being “loved to death.” And research shows spending time in nature is restorative in multiple ways.

Flexible Terms and Conditions - We’ve seen the travel industry bend over backwards to accommodate these uncertain times: airlines, hotels, tour operators, cruise lines waiving change fees; offering refunds and generous vouchers for future travel; some airlines still blocking seats; and virtually every aspect of travel seeing reduced capacity from hotels to shuttles to tours to minimize COVID transmission. The norm is enhanced hygiene all around.

Travel Insurance - More of my clients are purchasing travel insurance to protect against unforeseen cancellations and interruptions in their travel. Insurance facilitates peace of mind, ease and comfort of travel, protecting your financial investment including medical and safety coverage.

Value of Travel Agent - As conditions remain fluid during the pandemic, I’m hearing more appreciation from travelers that they are working with an experienced, discerning travel agent. We keep up with the ever-changing landscape of country and hotel closures and openings, cruise cancellations and COVID requirements. We can seek creative options to help you through your travel decisions. And most importantly are there for you from initial planning through whatever may transpire.  

I think we all have cabin fever, myself included.  I’m very excited about a trip to Rwanda and Kenya departing end of this April, to see gorillas, chimps and other wildlife.  I’ll be fully vaccinated.

Susan Bruce is a Denver-based luxury leisure travel specialist.  She has lived, worked and traveled throughout the world and is proficient in several languages.  She is an affiliate of Tafari Travel and member of the prestigious Virtuoso travel consortium.

Contact her at                       susan@susanbrucetravel.com

Read more blogs at             http://susanbrucetravel.com/travel-blog/