In 2020, the tourism industry was put on hold. What does the future hold once borders start reopening?

The pandemic that hit the world in 2020 made us look at our community with different eyes and changed our way of consuming, working, socializing, and travelling. With countries closing their borders, air companies cancelling flights, and people being confined inside their homes, the tourism industry was highly impacted. Now that countries are seeing positive results and quarantine is being lifted in many places, tourism providers are reinventing their work and their method of attracting tourists and locals, in order to provide the same excellence of service in a safe way.

Some changes are already being put in practice, and trends in both the industry and on what travellers will expect are already being projected to happen. We’ll discuss some of the changes and expectations below as we adapt to the “new normal,” and what you, as a tourism region, an operator, or a tourism employee can do to keep providing the best experience to your visitors.

Travellers will stay closer to home

Experts believe travellers will first start venturing out closer to home. The end of quarantine restrictions coinciding with summer in the North Hemisphere showed that travellers favoured local places on their pleasure summer vacations, both for reasons of safety, budget, and incentives given by local tourism providers. The prospect of hopping on a plane and travelling to another country is not in the plans of most tourists, even though airlines are slowly adding more international flights to their schedule.

But being a local tourist doesn’t mean that they know everything about their destination. It’s a fundamental part of being an Experience Specialist to understand the visitor and show them good attractions and experiences to be lived, no matter how close they live. We believe that every region has a lot to offer, and understanding that these local visitors want a safe, but exciting summer vacation this year is important to provide an excellent experience for all.

Travellers will avoid big tourist attractions and crowds

Some travellers will not be too eager to visit crowded places where social-distancing can not be practiced, so the biggest tourist attractions might look a little more empty this season. Special measures will be taken to guarantee the safety of those who will adventure themselves to go, including temperature screenings, visitors and staff masks, and, eventually, capacity restrictions.

Attractions that can not be easily controlled, such as beaches, or outdoor parks, will rely on the visitor’s conscious and safe behaviour. A good advantage of these attractions are the large spaces usually provided, so social distancing can be put in practice more easily than in indoor spaces, such as museums or amusement parks. It is important to access the worries of the visitors while suggesting these big and known attractions.

More flexibility will be expected from operators

The times are uncertain, and travellers want flexibility when booking their vacation accommodations, activities, and experiences. Things might be looking better now, with quarantines being lifted, restaurants and attractions opening again, borders being reopen, but travellers want to be sure that they will not have more economic losses to worry about in case of a second-wave of the virus, or a travel restriction imposed again due to a surge in cases.

Hotels, rental companies, transportation, and experience providers need to be aware that more flexibility on cancelations or changes can attract the post-pandemic traveller at this moment, as well as other methods of payment–sometimes even in installments. Since all operators are searching for new clients, offering these benefits and flexibility can be a huge differential.

Private experiences will peak

The pandemic created a greater demand for experiences away from crowds, and travellers will favour private experiences and activities. According to surveys conducted by travel associations, people feel more comfortable travelling in personal vehicles and staying in vacation rentals than taking flights and cruises or staying in hotels. 

Private experiences, especially with people from the same household or a group of close friends, will peak during and after the pandemic. People will be wary of experiencing activities such as boat trips, on-hands activities, or tours with strangers, especially since the proximity in such experiences is sometimes inevitable. It’s good to consider this trend to provide a mostly safe and worry-free experience for travellers wishing to experience the local culture up-close.

Learn 4 tips to provide a great tourist experience here!

Other trends expected

Some other changes might be anticipated. For example, with working from home becoming mainstream because of the lockdown measures, companies learned productivity was possible outside of the office. It’s possible we’ll see a rise in people taking longer trips that combine work and pleasure. Providing a good space for work and strong wi-fi in accommodations and even restaurants and coffee-shops is a good method of attracting those travellers.

Strong attention to cleaning also became the routine for every space that welcomes clients. Accommodations, restaurants, and indoor attractions will need to focus on practicing an extensive cleaning process to guarantee the guests safety–and make all the process clear and evident to them. Contact-free technology will also be crucial whenever possible, such as online check-in, phones as room keys, disposable menus, and contactless payments.

We hope some of these insights into what’s going to be a “new normal” for visitors and tourism operators may help you get prepared to rebuild your region and attract tourists while still providing a safe and incredible experience. With the Experience Specialist Program, you can help your region thrive! The program will guide you step by step through creating and marketing workshops for locals and front line workers to ensure they are selling your region to its full potential. Make every visit and every dollar count!