By Martin Owen | Owner, Owen Organization | https://www.owenorganization.com/
I have to confess to being completely confused about tourism at the moment. The past two years have been anything but ‘normal’ from either a local or international tourism perspective, to say the least. As someone who has in the past been a travel agent (both in the leisure field and the business travel sector), I have worked through various events that have thrown travel and tourism into crisis situations. These have involved economic downturns and booms, wars, terrorist events, weather disruptions, natural disasters and sudden changes in fashions. In other words, from the deadly serious to the almost frivolous. Though the effects on the tourism world have been largely predictable, the relatively short-lived changes have occurred throughout the industry worldwide. Since early 2020 the world has experienced a major event – COVID – yet the effects have been widely different and ever changing. They challenge the industry as to how to best advise travelers.
Many countries have effectively locked down, pretty much closing their borders. That has decimated their tourist industries and their economies. The resulting restriction in air travel has seen passenger airlines suffer and, conversely cargo carriers struggling to find enough aircraft to meet demand.
For places like the Northern Gulf Coast here in the USA, past the initial restrictions of spring 2020, we have seen a rapid growth in domestic tourism. Firstly, travelers started driving to our beaches but later domestic air travel rebounded and this brought people to our area who may previously journeyed overseas. The good thing is that our (certainly locally) hotels, vacation rental properties, attractions, restaurants etc., have experienced growing incomes. This despite struggling to find enough workers. Destinations close to us – New Orleans for example, the cruise companies and even the theme parks of central Florida have not been so lucky. The absence of international visitors and the social distancing, mask mandates outside Florida, and differing local restrictions have caused devastation.
Even flying domestically has wide variations. Despite press reports of disruption by some passengers, most flights appear to be full and generally uneventful. Of course, travel is not like it was pre COVID.
So, how does the industry advise the prospective traveler? As I said at the beginning, I’m confused. Regulations appear to change daily. Although international travel can be fraught with problems around testing and varying requirements of different governments, people I know are traveling across the world with various levels of success.
I’m writing this shortly after Thanksgiving and we are seeing to emergence of yet another strain of the virus. This has caused a new round of restrictions. How does the industry respond? I have no idea in the long term. I do know that my colleagues in the business are working tirelessly to keep travelers updated and informed – as they always have. If you are planning trips just keep informed, use a travel professional for advice and ensure that any reservations you make are flexible and refundable. Take out travel insurance. Oh, and when you are traveling keep calm, flexible and be aware that your server, hotel employees, airline crews, TSA officers and everyone else you come into contact with are going through the same uncertainty and stress that you are experiencing. Be kind!
As we approach the end of the year, let’s hope that next year will see some return of normality. Whatever holiday you’re celebrating at this time of year, may I wish you every happiness. Let us look forward to 2022 being the year we all start traveling again.