With the extension of the national lockdown until the end of April, all international and domestic passenger flights are still prohibited, irrespective of the risk category of the country of origin.
So, when will it be safe to travel again? And, even if the ban is lifted, will anyone be travelling at all?
At this point, we don’t know the answers to all of this, and we probably won’t for some time. One thing is for sure though, how people travel after the lockdown, well, that may change significantly. Chances are very good that people will travel in their own country to stay closer to the safety of home. We’re thinking coastal towns, national parks or going camping. “Staycations” and road trips will probably be favoured over flying or cruising.
Also, it is speculated that those who intend to travel internationally, might head for a country that isn’t too far from home – meaning that if the pandemic should spike again, then it should be a bit easier (and less expensive) to return home. It is also predicted that a two week holiday will be more likely to turn into a long weekend, due to the devastating blow to the economy.
That being said, travel and tourism is a highly resilient industry that has come back again and again from disease and natural disasters. However, if your honeymoon is booked for later in the year, should you cancel due to the uncertainty of the current situation? Well, there is no automatic right to a refund, and you may lose your deposit, unless off course you have travel insurance to cover it. So, those with honeymoons booked for, say September, should hold their nerves for now.
We will, with time, do the things that matter with the people we love. And that, off course, will include travel. However, one thing is for certain: Covid-19 will change the face of travel in the future.
The queue at immigration will likely be longer than ever before; swab tests may be required at the port of entry, or you could be sent directly into isolation from the airport. For most countries, you’ll probably need more than your passport to travel, depending on the country you intend to visit.
A good idea will be to visit the WHO website to learn more about health related issues before you travel. And, very important, you’ll have to make sure that your travel insurance will cover any issues that may arise.
Also, you’ll pack differently. We may very well see the relaxing of liquid carry-on restrictions as travellers would want to take more than 100ml of hand sanitizer, especially on long haul flights. People will most certainly travel with masks for quite a while; you’re most likely going to see “desirable” travel masks by Instagram influencers!
But for now - and for as long as the virus is in charge - don’t pack your bags just yet.
Stay home and stay safe everyone.
Source: travelperk.com, travelanddestinations.com, businessinsider.com, iol.co.za, bridemagazine.co.uk, phocuswire.com, home.kpmg, who.int, southafrica.net, nerdwallet.com, thesouthafrican.com, www.gov.uk, travel.gc.ca, forbes.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
