Changing Travel Preferences Post-COVID: The New Normal

Abstract

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Tourism, a booming industry pre-COVID has been devastated by the gradual and world wide spread of corona virus. International tourist arrivals could decline between 58-78% (UNWTO, 2020). Tourism and hospitality sector have emerged as the biggest sufferer from the lockdown, quarantine and border closures due to corona virus. The closed borders and restrictions imposed on air travel by the governments have put the travel and tourism activities on hold. Tourism scenario may appear to be grim at present but the industry is bound to bounce back once the situation begins to normalize. Whenever lockdown would be lifted, safety would be the prime concern of tourists along with the need and desire to seek refuge in the lap of nature for soothing and calming the agitated nerves after enduring months of stress induced by COVID-19 threat. Governments and tourism planners have already started to formulate strategies to resume travel and economic growth. In the wake of COVID-19, this paper is an attempt to draw attention of tourism planners and also to devise strategies to deal with the changing travel preferences post-COVID.

Keywords: Corona Virus, Lockdown, Safety, Tourism, Travel Preferences

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