When the Travel Stopped
At the beginning of 2020, I had a few trips planned for the year and was working with great clients planning wonderful vacations. Since the Covid-19 virus took over in March, I have spent time reworking clients’ travel plans, getting them refunds or credit vouchers for their cancelled bookings. I still have clients that are rescheduling and figuring out when they will be able to take their heirloom-worthy vacations. All my own trips for the year cancelled as well.
It would be nice to say that no one really saw this coming, except for some epidemiologists and maybe Stephen King, but it has become clear that quite a few people did see this coming and some people let us down. The people whom we thought would take this seriously and take proper steps to protect our collective health have not done so, while the ones who tried to sound warnings were not heard. And so here we are, wondering when we will be able to safely get back into society and out into the world. I am so grateful for the people in the thick of taking care of loved ones and trying to make things better for all of us.
The travel business ground to a halt. With a lot more time in my office, I’ve been taking webinars on unfamiliar destinations and catching up on what’s new in favorite ones. I reorganized my office and caught up on all those shows I always meant to watch. I am fortunate to have a safe and healthy family. But staying home is taking its toll. I think even the introverts are getting anxious to get out of the house!
We are experiencing something that has never happened before on this scale. The events of 9/11 changed the world and travel changed then, too. That should have been the major travel adjustment for my lifetime. Eventually we got used to the new airport security lines and quart-sized bags and wearing socks through magnetometers. Those procedures did make us feel safer to fly and so we complied with the regulations. We didn’t like the inconveniences but we kept going.
How Will We Travel Again?
We won’t be able to travel the same way for a long time. It was fairly easy and economical to get on a plane, watch a few movies and step into the other side world. I could find great accommodations and touring options in whatever place I landed. Last year I traveled over 90,000 miles, experiencing adventures on 4 continents. I don’t see that happening for me perhaps ever again, at least at the pace I was traveling before.
I never imagined that this pandemic would cause another complete shift in how we will travel across the country and around the world. (And even to the grocery store.)
I have been incredibly sad about everything that’s happened since March. The illnesses, the deaths, the closing down of the world, the unrest and uncertainty. But I am starting to see glimmers of hope. Travel companies continue to send out messages detailing what is special about their corner of the world and why you will want to go there when you can. The wonderful sights you always wanted to see: the Grand Canyon, the Pyramids of Giza, the Roman Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, are all still there.
I get emails daily from hotels and tour operators worldwide who are working diligently to get policies and procedures in place in order to welcome visitors. They want to operate safely, sustainably and profitably.
Things will not go back to normal. We will feel the discomfort as we adapt to new travel regulations, much like we did after 9/11. It will take months, perhaps years, before people feel safe enough to travel again. I am hopeful that we will adjust and follow new travel guidelines because we want to get out there!
Why Travel Again
I do know that being able to travel and meet people all over the world is something that we need. We yearn to connect as humans and we grow as we get insights into different cultures and histories. As Matthew Upchurch, CEO and Chairman of the Virtuoso Travel Network (of which I am a member) has said very eloquently, “Travel lifts so many people economically and connects us so deeply. Travel embraces all races, colors, cultures and celebrates what humankind shares in common as well as the beauty of our differences. In a world that can feel deeply divided, travel unites.” He’s also said that there can be no economic recovery until there is a travel recovery. With almost one in ten jobs worldwide in the tourism industry, until people can safely go back to work in the hotels, restaurants, and run their tours, and public transportation, people cannot travel and economies cannot recover.
I know I have been fortunate to walk through bustling outdoor markets in Hanoi, swim with whale sharks in Australia, marvel at stunning architecture in Italy, feel the cobblestones under my feet in Paris, meet wonderful guides in so many places. Wanting to assist others in having those experiences was a big part of starting my travel business in 2008. The world is huge, but when we travel we make it smaller, more accessible. I have learned so much about the world and I know there is much more to experience.
Mark Twain made a lot of observations of people in his varied travels around the world. On of my favorites is, “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Not only do we get broader views of people from different cultures, but we learn more about ourselves and how we fit into the world. I certainly feel as if I have been “vegetating in my own little corner” for too long.
I am impatient to get out there again and I hope you are too. If necessary, I will wear a mask and gloves on a plane and carry disinfecting supplies. I know there will be a vaccine and all the new cleaning and distancing procedures will make me feel safe to travel again.
In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy and give support to causes that are important to you. Remember, it’s never too early to start dreaming of where you will go when you can.
