Let’s reflect on our travel habits. Let’s figure out what we might leave in the pre-COVID world, and what we bring with us moving forward.
Love it - Ecotourism
Ecotourism has made its mark on the 21st century so far. As a lower-impact alternative, it’s touted as the option for responsible travellers looking to experience nature-based destinations without leaving a mark. In urban regions, it’s designed to track keen visitors away from overcrowded hotspots and into hopeful tourist regions who need the support most. Moving forward, we hope to see a greater focus on ecotourism initiatives if it means supporting local businesses and continuing to enable worldwide travel experiences for all.
Leave it behind - Overtourism
Speaking of overtouristed hotspots- we might see some changes around them in the post-COVID world! If you’ve been keeping up with social media, you might have learned that the famous Venice canals are clearer than they have been in the last quarter century.
As formerly-overstuffed tourist regions begin to breathe for the first time in decades during international lockdown, it’s likely we might see greater restrictions facing hot-spot visitation moving forward. But don’t worry - that could open up a whole range of new possibilities off the beaten track!
Love it - Domestic travel
As we see COVID-19 lockdown restrictions repealed, there’s a very strong chance international travel will continue to be off-limits for some time. Enter: the humble domestic holiday. It can be hard to get psyched about a trip to outback Australia when you can hop on a plane after breakfast and be dining on Malaysian satay and ice cold Tiger Beer by nightfall. But once you start exploring the possibilities in your own backyard, you’ll be as excited as any luxury jetsetter. Think tropical Far North Queensland, rugged Tasmania and pristine Rottnest Island - bring on the backyard in 2020 and beyond!
Leave it behind - Reliance on a single mode of transport
As carbon emissions have plummeted with reduced air travel over the global quarantine period, there have been calls to avoid returning to a frequent-flyer society. We might begin to see more technological travel innovation aimed at changing the way we get from A to B moving forward: think high speed trains, self-driving cars and innovative ‘green’ sailing methods. These could become the focal point of travel in and of itself moving forward, and could mean we can reach overland destinations much faster.
