What will travel look like after Covid-19? Nine travel industry insiders give us their take on the post-pandemic travel landscape
1. Wellness and holistic travel takes off
“People will want to get away from crowds and find peaceful sanctuaries more than ever… Many of our properties have put together special spa programmes and experiences in nature as we know this is what people have been longing for during this restricted time.” – Roland Fasel, Chief Operating Officer of Aman
“While we will initially see families and loved ones reconnecting within their own countries, we believe the spotlight the pandemic has brought on personal wellbeing will see an increased interest in wellness retreats. Following long periods of isolation for many, travellers will be seeking holistic solutions to regain optimal health, with a focus on physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation.” – John Reed, Chief Operating Officer of Sangha Retreat by Octave Institute
Read more: 9 luxury hotels offering free online wellness programmes
2. Customer experience gets redefined
“As the industry navigates its way towards ‘the new normal’, the face of travel will change for the overall good of the industry. Governments and industry players will band together to rebuild traveller confidence, businesses will take heightened measures to ensure visitor safety and enhance customer experience and travellers will be more discerning in their choice of destination, mode of travel and accommodation, pushing travel companies to provide greater flexibility and better support for bookings.” – Lavinia Rajaram, APAC Head of Communications, Expedia
3. We go green
“We don’t know when and if global travel will go back to pre-crisis levels. What we do know is that the quest for sustainable, green tourism will be more important than ever. People around the world are realising how fragile our planet is, in terms of ecosystem and human interrelations. Hotels and resorts emphasising a real commitment to environmental and social responsibility will be favoured by more eco-conscious travellers. Airlines also have a substantial role to play, by offering more inter-regional connectivity and reducing the carbon footprint of leisure and business travel.” – Somonea Cheng, Acting General Manager at Templation Angkor Resort, Siem Reap
4. We gain an appetite for hyperlocal travel
“As travellers balance their desire to explore with uncertainty about a post-Covid-19 world, they will be more likely to visit places easily reached by boat, car or short-haul flights. After weeks or months of lockdown, many travellers may also prefer to immerse themselves in nature, instead of crowded cities or attractions. It’s our hope that when people do travel again, they will choose to support small local tourism businesses as their travel spending will be hugely needed in helping these businesses rebuild.” – Jacinta Lim, co-founder of Seek Sophie, a platform for travellers to book unique nature trips in Asia with independent local businesses
5. “Slow” travel picks up
“We expect travel patterns and expectations may look very different after Covid. There will be a new focus on slower, more considered travel, defined by responsible values. Travellers will want to show gratitude and help local businesses such as tour guides and local corner shops get back on their feet. Tourists will also proactively want to create a positive impact on the destinations that they visit.” – Herman Hoven, CEO of Khiri Travel
“With pent-up wanderlust comes a greater appreciation of the simple pleasures – walking barefoot on sand, savouring a beautiful sunset whilst sipping on a perfectly chilled aperitivo with the juiciest olives. We are seeing lots of people posting their travel memories on Instagram and it is always the purity of the travel experiences that they remember – stunning sunsets, long and lazy breakfasts and beautiful views.” – Arnaud Champenois, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Brand of Belmond
Read more: In Phuket’s elephant sanctuaries, a big change is afoot
6. Safety and hygiene become more important than ever
“Safety, hygiene and security will likely be higher on people’s list of concerns when they start to travel again. We have always had very high cleaning and hygiene standards in place, but we are working with leading medical and health companies like Bureau Veritas to implement even more rigorous sanitation protocols on a global scale to ensure consistent application of the highest standards worldwide in all our hotels. By working with independent authorities, we can provide a level of confidence and authority to give travellers peace of mind.” – Michael Issenberg, CEO & Chairman Asia Pacific of Accor
“The hotel industry must be prepared to adapt to a new ‘normal’ and evolve its current processes and meet new guidelines for health, safety and social distancing across all touchpoints – from checking in at the front desk to its housekeeping procedures. We also need to redefine the concept of hospitality in this new era to address how hoteliers can continue to maintain a service connection with our guests.” – Joon Aun Ooi, President and Managing Director (South East Asia and Pacific Rim) of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
