Coronavirus: How can travel be more sustainable post-pandemic?

"The coronavirus pandemic has been a global shock moment that has led to a rethink in the tourism industry, which is so accustomed to success," said Martin Balas of the Center for Sustainable Tourism (ZENAT) at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.

‘Issues such as climate protection and overtourism, which were already major challenges for tourism before COVID, have now come into even sharper focus, Balas told DW. The German Travel Association (DRV) also sees the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity for more sustainability in the industry.

"Sustainable travel is a trend that has been around for years, and the travel industry has already responded to it and will continue to do so in the future," said Ellen Madeker of DRV. Several large travel companies are preparing awareness campaigns designed to increase travelers' awareness of the impacts of travel.’

Read here (DW, Mar 9, 2021)

Singapore, Hong Kong agree to set up air travel bubble for leisure travel without need for quarantine: Ong Ye Kung

‘Singapore has announced its first two-way air travel bubble with Hong Kong, paving the way for leisure and other forms of travel between both places. This means that people will be able to travel between the two locations without the need to be quarantine, subject to conditions, including testing negative for Covid-19. Details are still being worked out, but people could be travelling between both places in several weeks.’

Read here (Straits Times, Oct 16, 2020)

Battered travel industry will take years to recover even after coronavirus vaccines are rolled out, says Booking.com

“We believe that a vaccine and/or proven treatment is critical for people to feel safe to travel again, and even then, it will be years – not quarters – before travel returns to 2019 pre-pandemic levels,” said Angel Llull Mancas, vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific, at the online travel service provider. If and when a successful vaccine programme is rolled out globally, the travel industry’s recovery will also be dependent on the world economy and consumers’ willingness to spend money on leisure amid a downturn that has decimated corporate revenues and triggered salary cuts and even redundancies for many workers.

Read here (South China Morning Post, Sept 11, 2020)

Bali's move to shut out foreign tourists during coronavirus pandemic sparks 'cultural shift'

"Tourism is the backbone of Bali and the economy has fallen because we rely too much on it," said Gede Robi Supriyanto, a musician and environmental activist in Bali. He said the problem had sparked a "cultural shift", with people who had lost their jobs in tourism moving back to their home villages. "We see an increase of employment in the agricultural sector, more people doing farm work."

Read here (ABC News, August 27, 2020)

Malaysia likely to remain closed to tourists into 2021: Minister

‘Wary of recurring coronavirus waves, Malaysia may keep its borders closed to international tourists until the second quarter of next year, the minister responsible for the travel sector said in a recent interview. Nancy Shukri, the minister of tourism, arts and culture, said the government is now re-drafting a "green" list of countries deemed safe from the virus, as a first step. "We initially had a list of countries to be allowed in, but then we saw the second and third waves of coronavirus in some of these countries," she told the Nikkei Asian Review. "So we have to restrategize our plan."

Read here (Nikkei, August 26, 2020)

Will medical tourism survive Covid-19?

‘Treatment in Asia is up to 90% cheaper than private healthcare in the US. According to the MHTC [Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council], a coronary artery bypass graft that would cost $92 000 in the US, costs less than $10 000 in India, for example. Coupled with a steep reduction in the cost of long haul air travel, the region has successfully broadened the appeal of medical tourism beyond just the most affluent customers.

‘But all that was before the pandemic. The uncertainty of covid-19, lockdowns, border restrictions, and social distancing has stalled international travel. The UN World Tourism Organisation estimates that the travel industry could decline by 60% to 80% by the end of 2020, calling it the “worst crisis that international tourism has faced since records began.” It says Asia and the Pacific have been the regions hardest hit, with a loss of 33 million tourists.’

Read here (BMJ, July 10, 2020)

The end of tourism?

‘Coronavirus has also revealed the danger of overreliance on tourism, demonstrating in brutal fashion what happens when the industry supporting an entire community, at the expense of any other more sustainable activity, collapses. On 7 May, the UN World Tourism Organisation estimated that earnings from international tourism might be down 80% this year against last year’s figure of $1.7tn, and that 120m jobs could be lost. Since tourism relies on the same human mobility that spreads disease, and will be subject to the most stringent and lasting restrictions, it is likely to suffer more than almost any other economic activity.’

Read here (Guardian, June 18, 2020)