COVID19 IMPACT ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

The Indian tourism industry is headed towards pan India bankruptcies, closure of businesses and mass unemployment. Almost 3.8 crore people are about to become jobless, which is around 70 per cent of the total workforce in the tourism and hospitality sector. Despite the steep downfall, Indians are optimistic about the future. A fact reflected in the latest Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) survey done by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – from a messy score of 53.8 points in the current fiscal year the CCI jumped to 105.4 points for a year ahead. While Indians will spend cautiously for the next one year, the situation might change after a year depending on the economic measures taken by the government, business functioning and the COVID19 vaccine availability.

After months of lockdown, travellers are showing signs of revival. They have started looking for safe places to visit post lockdown. Unsurprisingly Indians are the most confident in the world about resuming their international adventures once our COVID19 cases come under control, and we are allowed to travel abroad. This is not a hyperbole statement by Modi Sarkar but findings of a recent global research study called, “Unravel Travel: Fears & Possibilities in a Post Coronavirus (COVID-19) World.” It examined the sentiments, preferences, and expectations of 10,195 people across 17 countries regarding travel in a post-COVID-19 world. As per the study, most Indians top the list of people most eager to travel internationally in the next 12 months with 77 per cent saying they are keen to travel. The “Unravel Travel” study revealed that contactless travel would be a top priority for travellers once they can resume travelling. Seventy-six per cent of respondents indicated that their preferred destinations would be countries that offer more reliable contactless experiences.

HOW WILL TRAVEL CHANGE IN THE POST COVID WORLD?

• Health, hygiene and sanitisation will be the new de rigueur- If there’s anything that would be the most sought after factor post-pandemic travel – it would be sanitisation and social distancing. People will only travel to places which are clean and less travelled by. Hotels will be thoroughly checked before choosing the one which they’re confident is extremely clean and hygienic.
• Incredible India will become more incredible- People will most likely choose passport-free holidays to destinations close to home so that they can rush back if necessary. Thus, domestic travel will see a surge in demand over foreign travel for at least coming six months. Instead of clamouring to popular destinations, people would prefer green, clean and safe places where social distancing can be practised
• Personal trips over group tours- The fear of catching the virus in crowded places will keep the people away from significant group travel such as coach holidays, cruise travel at least until the vaccine arrives. Travel will become personal again with families and small groups of friends seeking a retreat for mind, body and soul from the pandemic stress.
• Nature thrives, regenerative travel arrives- One good thing that happened during the lockdown is that it gave a much-needed break to nature and wildlife – the sky is blue again, the air is crisp, rivers are self-cleansing, fishes have returned to the waterways, the wilderness is reclaiming its lost territory, birds are chirping and many more pleasing visuals that delighted us during the lockdown. Seeing nature heal itself, people are keener to return to nature.

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Dawor Deka