WHAT WILL TRAVEL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE?
If you are reading this – travel is an integral part of your life. You cherish the opportunity to explore new worlds, meet new people, and learn more about yourself along the way.
Our lives have quickly and dramatically changed because of COVID-19. While we know we can protect ourselves and others by frequently washing our hands, wearing a mask indoors, and sitting six feet apart on restaurant patios – there is still no clear view of how we can safely travel in the next few years.
News reports range from the optimistic, with airlines and hotels trying to allay fears with increased cleaning procedures, to others saying the cost of travel will go up substantially, and we will be greeted with long line-ups at airports for health screening.
This pandemic has also been a wake-up call about the impact of pollution caused by travel. We all heard about dolphins being spotted swimming in the suddenly clear canals of Venice and tourist destinations getting the chance to rejuvenate. Could we have the chance to help nurse our planet back to health by creating less pollution when we travel?
“I’m ashamed to say that I have had my head in the sand about how air travel contributed to climate change,” says Allison Frame, co-founder of The Divine Destination Collection. “This pandemic has given us the opportunity to take a step back and see how travelling has affected our world.”
A CLEANER FUTURE
Some companies are already taking steps to address the impact of flying on the environment. For example, Air Transat is looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by exploring the possibility of using kerosene to make synthetic jet fuel. It is estimated that this would have an 80 per cent lower carbon footprint than conventional jet fuel.
We are also rethinking why we fly. During the lockdown, companies found that using Zoom and other online meeting platforms could be as effective as meeting in person to do business. Zoom won’t eliminate the need for face-to-face encounters, but it looks like it might permanently decrease the amount of business travel companies do in the future.
“I think travel is going to become more meaningful – in the sense that we will think more carefully about where we are going and why,” says Allison. “I hope we will be more mindful of what we do when we visit, and try to make more meaningful connections.
“We also may have to travel in a different way, at least for the foreseeable future. As humans we love to travel, and we will adapt.”
That could mean travelling in smaller groups, and choosing private rental properties or small boutique hotels instead of crowded resorts & hotels. Multi-generational family trips may also become more popular as family members weren’t able to see each other during the lockdown.
LUXURY TRAVEL 2.0
Our priorities while travelling will also shift. “The new luxury travel will focus on safety, hygiene and off the beaten path experiences instead of five star amenities,” says Allison. “It will be about making memories and connections with local cultures and communities, instead of elegant lounges and fully stocked mini-bars.”
In fact, Emirates airlines, which is known for such over-the-top luxuries as fully enclosed first class suites complete with moisturizing pajamas to keep passengers’ skin hydrated, now boasts of being the first airline in the world to cover medical and quarantine expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling.
And while we will look to technology to help us keep safe by using tools like the Government of Canada’s COVID Alert app, which lets you know if you may have been exposed to COVID-19, the use of travel agents may also be on the rise, as people decide they want to interact with a real person to receive informed advice and expertise, instead of booking all their travel plans online.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
But perhaps the biggest change in the immediate future will be a switch to travelling closer to home. In fact, there has already been a boom in RV sales due to the pandemic.
“We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful and diverse country. Researching our Divine Live and Online virtual travel adventures really reawakened my desire to see all these magnificent jewels we have in Canada. It’s also important to support our local economy during these uncertain times,” says Allison.
“These past months have given us time to think about what is important. As we stayed inside, we had the chance to really look inside ourselves. We’re protesting injustices we should have been protesting before, and looking ahead to the kind of world we want to live in.
“It’s also been a time of great creativity, imagination and innovation, as we found new ways to connect to each other, new ways of doing business and more satisfying ways to spend our time. We don’t just want to get through this – we want be able to thrive during these uncertain times!”
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
Fulfill your need to travel by embarking on an exclusive wilderness experience to Nimmo Bay with Finding Nimmo! our next Divine Live and Online adventure on August 26.
You’ll join an expert wilderness guide on a boat ride to explore this amazing part of B.C.’s Pacific coast for some whale watching and an up-close exploration of the abundant plant and animal life in the area. You’ll see the beautiful rainforest and then experience its healing benefits with a mindful and nurturing guided meditation of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Click here to learn more and to register!
