Post-COVID 19 Travellers Insights
Wearing a mask and sanitisation has become a part of our everyday lives, but we all know there’ll be many more changes to our overall lifestyle. There are still a lot of questions that the world hasn’t quite figured out yet, like when will things get back to normal? And when can we travel freely again?
Some of the most hard-hit industries due to the COVID-19 outbreak, are the hospitality and aviation industries amongst many others. Now, try telling an avid traveller that they can’t travel anytime soon, and you can bet they’ll have a hysterical outbreak!
While most countries are imposing lockdowns, closing their borders and implementing strict travel restrictions, many airlines have gone bankrupt and hotels and hostels are being used as hospitals. So how does this impact the travellers who are willing to travel during the outbreak and the many other’s who are waiting for the first opportunity to do so? And what does it mean for the hostels that can’t wait to host them?
Although international travel will resume somewhere in the future, one would be naïve not to expect political, economical, social, technological and of course environmental changes all over the world. Like more people will opt for contactless transactions while travelling. Passports will not be enough to travel unless accompanied by medical certificates and other documents that would be deemed mandatory by respective countries. Aircrafts will not carry passengers to its full capacities, as they will have to practise social distancing and ensure the passengers feel safe(ticket price-hike is a different nightmare altogether). And if security-check queues at the airport are not long enough, now there will be long queues for temperature checks and screening as well!
But let’s get to the more interesting stuff! Travel enthusiasts around the world can’t wait to get back in the game. In fact, there are some who have been keeping their travelling spirit up even during the pandemic outbreak (of course, they’ve been following every hygiene measure and complying with all the travel regulations). So, while we won’t be able to predict ‘when’ all international borders will open, we do know that we can certainly expect some major changes in travel behaviour worldwide. Let’s dive right into them and understand what this could mean for the hostel industry.
- Domestic, domestic, domestic — By now a lot of travellers like Mariana, who is also a content creator, have taken this time to explore hidden gems in their own backyard until the world gets back to normal. And other neighbouring countries that are less panic-stricken and have opened their border. For hostels, this means being more dynamic in catering to the limited domestic market post-COVID-19. Although local tourists might not spend as much as international tourists on cultural tours and activities, there is a high demand for accommodation that’s good for weekend get-aways. Local tourists either seek to explore lesser-known corners of their destination or a more relaxed atmosphere to enjoy leisure activities.
“In Europe we’ve had the freedom to travel within the EU and certain other countries (like Tunisia). As you know I’ve mainly focused on my country, which has amazing treasures.”
2. Technology Dependent Travel — As per Booking.com’s 2020 travel trend predictions, travel decisions will be highly dependent on technology, which will play a major role in choosing their next travel destination. In the coming years, we can expect inventive tech that is dedicated to making the overall travel experience more efficient. “Smart trusted tech-led recommendations will connect us to a myriad of new experiences that might not otherwise have crossed our path, while also saving time (as well as screen-time) and enabling us to max out every minute of ‘now’ while on vacation.”
Being self-informed and adopting the latest technology trends like offering contactless transactions, check-ins and check-outs, would help establish trust and assure your potential guests. Also, investing in the right Property Management System would empower you to focus on more meaningful guest interactions and experiences.
Elona who is a travel vlogger and philanthropist shares how it can be overwhelming to book flights. What used to be an easy process is now a painful one. She is one of the many travellers who have resorted to using an inventive app that would help make the process more efficient and helpful. We can expect many such apps when it comes to booking hostels and hotels too in the future too.
“It seems as if for every one click on a booking site, there are 20 more clicks on embassy websites, news articles and IATA to find out more information about restrictions, regulations and other important health procedures. It’s discouraging even for me — and I consider booking flights like a sport.”
“One of my favourite apps, @appintheair, recently added travel regulations country-to-country, airline restrictions such as mask requirements and middle seat block offs, and other health tools to its FREE app & online portal.”
4. Car Hires and Road Trips —
Alvaro Rojas is the youngest Spaniard to have travelled to all the countries in the world and the author of the book, Stories. He has been travelling through Turkey and Mexico in the past month, and he believes that the tourism industry has undergone a huge transformation, and made big sacrifices: even Cappadocia didn’t have its famous hot air balloons flying! However, having his own rental car made sense while travelling in times like this and made his travel experience a lot smoother. It would be advisable to offer car or bike rentals if possible and also being well informed of the nearby road trip travel routes and attraction for your potential guests.
“Roadtrips have been my go-to way of traveling during Covid-19! Pick a huge country with lots to see, rent your own car to get around safely and just explore the unbeaten path! A blessing in disguise!”
4. Adventure Travelling — Traveltomtom is a full-time traveller/ influencer and in the past 2 months, he has been travelling through Europe, visiting countries like Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Turkey, Bulgaria and is now in Mexico. During his travels, he observes that adventure travelling and lesser touristy places are more sought after and booking a cab directly from the airport is what most travellers prefer rather than using any kind of public transport. Also, travellers are choosing countries that aren’t high on panic and who are happily welcoming tourists.
“Being outdoors is the best place to be right now and hiking through the mountains I’m pretty sure you won’t catch any Corona. I’m not a specialist but you hardly come across any other people so there is a very slim chance, anyway. Being active outdoors is not only healthy but also resets your mind!”
5. Long Staycations over Short Vacations — Owning to the current pandemic outbreak, travellers prefer staying in one place for a longer time rather than a quick weekend getaway. The love for constant travelling will be overshadowed by the fear of contracting the virus due to constant exposure to other people. Also, the increasingly popular “work from home” allows people to opt for staycations closer to their homes. It’s important to recognise and support these needs. By practising all the hygiene measures and providing long-term stay packages or discounts, travellers would feel safer and experience better guest satisfaction.
Although Singapore only just opened its borders to other COVID-free countries like New Zealand, a 14-days quarantine is still mandatory which is enough to put a dent in anybody’s travel plans. As a result, hostels and hotels in Singapore have quickly adopted this trend. They are offering great staycation deals including one-night free stay, vouchers and massive discounts in an attempt to promote local tourism while acknowledging the local people’s desire to escape.
Roz who is from Ireland, is a renowned influencer, entrepreneurs, author of a best-selling cookery book. She also unquestionably loves to travel. But while the tourism industry heals, she has opted for staycations in her home country and explains why she prefers staycations.
“ THIS.IS.IRELAND & a very well timed staycation with the sun. Can’t believe we got 10 days of back-to-back sunshine. It was up there with one of the best holidays I’ve ever had- staycations are class, no airport stress, everything is nearby & you can’t get better hospitality.”
#staycation2020
2020 has certainly been the year for major changes across all aspects of our lives. Be it work, travel or leisure, the way we do things has certainly been redefined. We can choose to continue being anxious and stay skeptical, or we can take the time to learn, adapt and thrive in times like this (yes, you actually can!). Keeping yourself informed and updated about industry trends and understanding the changing needs of travellers are very crucial in determining the future of your hostel business. And of course, not every trend will relate to your business. But incorporating the ones that do will help strengthen relationships with your guest and add value to their stay with you. Besides, as a guest, it’s always nice to know that businesses actually care and are listening!
