COVID19, a deadly virus, forced the entire world and the nation to stay still, about one and half years ago. The emergence of the virus brought the world under the blanket of chaos, claiming the lives of millions of people around the world every day. The nations were forced to shut down and the people around the world were forced to accept the ‘new life’. The ‘new normal’ slowly became the norm, fueled by the masks, social distancing and COVID appropriate behaviours, followed by never ending lockdowns and strict guidelines laid down by the governments around the world. As the world cocooned for safety under the lockdowns, businesses and industries around the world took a major hit. Billions were counted for the losses and people around the globe struggled to make their ends meet! The travel and tourism industry was one of the hardest hitting industries and sectors of the economy in the pandemic. Many nations around the globe rely on the income generated from travel and tourism and the sum can be considered to be a major part of their GDP. The strict COVID19 curfews, lockdowns and guidelines restrained the tourists and the travel enthusiasts all over, keeping them limited and caged to their homes. As a result of the applied lockdowns and guidelines, the travel and tourism businesses declined at a rapid rate. In the world ridden with a deadly pandemic, the lockdowns seemed to decide and define the future of the tourism industry. The travel services were only accessible to the people in case of emergency and dire situations, following the strict COVID19 rules and regulations. As the vaccines were gradually made accessible and distributed around the world, the rigid lockdowns worldwide were slowly relaxed and lifted. As the active cases slowly dropped throughout the world and the lockdowns relaxed, the travel and tourism industry began to open up again. The nations started opening up and welcoming the tourists and travelers once again. However, the travel and tourism industry went through some significant changes. It can be rightfully said, the pandemic has completely redefined the meaning of travel and tourism in the modern times and has certainly impacted and altered the future of tourism industry altogether.

The Future Of The Tourism Industry After The Pandemic

A the ‘new normal’ has finally become the norm, the tour and travel businesses and industries around the world would also have to consider and accept the new methods and ways of travelling, going forward. The good old ways of travelling have been left behind and tourism, in the next few years will not remain the same as it used to be in the pre pandemic world. In the post pandemic world, the travel and tourism industry is required to be more vigilant and cautious, as tourism gradually recovers and booms again. Masks, sanitizers and quarantines are not going to leave us behind anytime soon. Therefore, in the coming few years, the tourism industry would have to prioritize the health and the well being of the tourists and the passengers. The COVID19 rules and regulations would continue to guide the tourism industry. Bio bubbles, transportation keeping the social distance of the tourists and passengers in mind, regular checkups, vaccines and health documents would be the new travel necessities in the near future, reinventing tourism for the years to come.