#TheNewNormal: Has The Pandemic Changed The Way We Travel?

There is no doubt that in the coming times, our travelling patterns and habits are going to witness a major overhaul. Just as we are settling into a ‘new normal’ in our daily lives, we are also gearing up to find newer and safer ways to get around and explore the world.

Sanitization Will Be the New Security

If anything, this pandemic has made all of us more aware about our surroundings and prevailing cleanliness standards. Be it flights or hotels, travellers will tend to gravitate towards services and establishments that can assure proper hygiene and sanitization. In fact, contact tracing of guests and staff might just become mandatory. If this seems ludicrous, just remember that until 9/11, we never walked through security scanners to enter hotels. Now we do so without batting an eyelid, even handing over our purses and phones as we are electronically scanned. Health, hygiene and sanitization is likely to become de rigueur, for a long time to come.

Experiences Will Trump Products

Spending more than usual time at home has put things in the right perspective for many of us. As we learnt to beat the stress of the pandemic with baking banana bread, gardening, watching movies and playing board games with our children, we were undoubtedly forced to give some thought to our lifestyles. We came to be more aware of our excesses and realized that material products are not the ultimate source of happiness. It was the time that we spent with our loved ones and things we did together that added more value to our lives. Hopefully, we will carry the same sensibility as we travel—collecting moments, experiences and memories along the way, instead of objects.

We Will (Finally) Learn to Travel Light

Packing light and right is a skill many travellers only dream of possessing. But given the baggage limitations imposed by most airlines, minimalism in packing will have to become the new norm. In the plane cargo, our suitcases would share space for hours with strangers’ suitcases and our carry-ons would run shoulders with other objects in the overhead bins. Carrying the bare minimum luggage would therefore be the best way to minimize indirect physical contact with others and be more in control of your safety. Domestic airlines have already taken measures like mandatory web check-in and printable baggage tags to minimize luggage handling.

Domestic Destinations Will Find More Favour

With the current uncertainty and apprehension around international travel, people are more likely to choose destinations closer home, especially those at a driveable distance as it would give travellers a sense of safety and control over their circumstances. Therefore, road trips, premium staycations, farm & villa stays, local activities and offbeat destinations devoid of crowds might gain popularity. This would be a rather positive trend as it would help revive local economies faster.

Travel Etiquettes Will Become Non-Negotiable

When it comes to our own safety and that of those around us, the way we conduct ourselves in public spaces can no longer be taken for granted. Be it maintaining a safe distance from our fellow travellers and following high standards of hand and respiratory hygiene, we will need to make new habits a part of our lives to ensure good health and safety for everyone.

Technology and Travel Will Be Inseparable

Starting from web check-in to printable baggage tags, travel is likely to become increasingly digitalized. Which means that regular on-ground bookings will make way for online bookings, and payments will be made online to prevent cash exchange and human contact. This only means that travellers will need to become more tech savvy and stay in tune with new developments.