Restrictions on international travel will start to ease from 1 October. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that while the country is in lockdown level 1, any visitors to South Africa will need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours. Those who don’t will have to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost. Travellers will be screened on arrival and those who display symptoms will need to go into quarantine. These are just a few ways in which travel will change for the foreseeable future. But what happens beyond level 1? This piece from the Wall Street Journal looks at how travelling will alter in years to come – how hotels, flights, airports and even luggage will adapt after Covid. –Â Claire BadenhorstÂ
How travel will change post-pandemic: 10 expert predictions
ByÂ
1. We’ll rethink Europe
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Expect a cooling of the romance with Europe’s capitals and new affection for less-crowded cities with strong cultural offerings. “I’d keep an eye on Lyon and Hamburg,” said UK-based travel writer Annie Fitzsimmons, who also predicts a rediscovery of less populated European islands. Among them: Germany’s 24-mile-long island of Sylt, a Teutonic Nantucket.
2. Alaska will beckon
The pandemic’s searing impact will add a FOMO-like urgency to personal bucket lists. The fresh air appeal of Alaska and Montana will propel them into top spots, thinks Erin Francis-Cummings, CEO of travel data company Destination Analysts.
3. As will esoteric food
Legions more food travellers will seek out the Faroe Islands, predicts TV producer Irene Wong, who travels the globe filming cooking shows. A windy island chain between Scotland and Iceland, it offers a unique cuisine centered on seafood, dairy and hardy root vegetables. “Any place that’s far and hard to get to is what gets people the most excited,” said Ms Wong.
Read also:Â Life under lockdown level 1: In a nutshell
4. We’ll eye quick check-in
“In 10 years your face could be your airplane ticket,” said Andrew O’Connor, vice president, airports and borders, at SITA, a Swiss-based information technology provider. Biometric software installed in terminal video cameras will recognise and match your features to your flight while assessing your security and health risks, allowing most travelers to stroll unimpeded from check-in to gate.
5. We’ll pay for hygiene
Germophobic fliers might have the option to pay extra for “Hygiene Class,” a premium cabin that comes with a higher standard of cleanliness, according to Christopher Schaberg, author of “Airportness,” and, coming later this fall, “Grounded: Perpetual Flight…and Then the Pandemic.” Though the air filters shared equally with economy will still do the real work to prevent illness, these higher-priced seats will come with more frequent sanitisation and scented sprays.
6. We’ll cruise the Arctic
As pleasure ships steam past the pandemic and implement new health protocols, expect to see new destinations. Cruise industry specialist Clare Weeden sees massive growth in trips through Canada’s Northwest Passage from passengers eager to view polar bears and other Arctic species before they vanish.
7. Alterna-tours will rule
City tour offerings with minority perspectives will flourish, predicts cultural travel consultant Norie Quintos. Black Panther Party tours in Oakland and explorations of Brooklyn’s Hasidic Jewish neighborhoods will increase in number. “Tours that make people think will only grow in popularity,” said Ms Quintos.
Read also: SA virologist says Covid-19 type disease was found a few years ago – but world didn’t prepare
8. We’ll tip robot-maids
Hotels will become airy places with AI behind the scenes, said Professor Stephani Robson of Cornell School of Hotel Administration. Open lobbies and guest rooms that allow the outside in will be the blueprint, with frump and fuss banished. Also booted: coffee makers and minibars. Anything hard to clean will be suspect in a post-pandemic-era room. Robots will be present but discreet, vacuuming hallways at 2 a.m.
9. Hover-bags will take off
Roam Luggage CEO Larry Lein imagines jets of air replacing the wheels on roller bags. Built-in tracking systems would pair the bag with your phone so the hovering luggage would tail you as you walked.
10. Leopards will matter even more
Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, a nonprofit that manages 18 national parks and reserves, said countries combining good governance with conservation will become tomorrow’s stars. Two Mr Fearnhead singles out: Benin and Malawi. The former, in West Africa, is developing Pendjari and W National Parks that feature elephants and lions, while Malawi, in southeastern Africa, is priming reserves with rhinos and leopards.
