Real reasons why I think people should come into Travel and Tourism once more…
I have always believed in the wonders of travel. From a young age I was taken by it, filled with wanderlust, and the joy of discovering new things from different places. Growing up like that, I also learned another benefit to travel: it enriches the mind and the soul. This is the kind of enrichment that heals a person after a great tragedy, such as the pandemic. This is the kind of healing that many need right now, as people struggle to recover from the damage done by this crisis, and borders start to open once more, and travel becomes a reality again.
Looking at this thought from another perspective, most people will point out that travel and tourism is key to reviving an economy devastated by the pandemic, and while this is true, there are also quite a few other real reasons why people should look into travel and tourism once more.
- Work Anywhere Actually Works
I have to admit, I am thoroughly amused with the developments in this area, and I’m not the only one, I think. Many others share this amusement, as evidenced by the viral video someone posted showing professionals attending a video call in what appeared to be business attire, but when someone stood up, he was wearing boxer shorts, and it soon turned out another was also wearing the same. I am particularly fond of another video that depicted two people attending the same video call, and it turns out, they were also both on the same beach, but they were just using backgrounds to hide that fact. Now there’s a really nice thought: working remotely at the beach.
If anything else, the pandemic has proven that the concept of doing work remotely is actually feasible. To continue operations, most companies that still wanted to bring in revenue continued to work with people from wherever their employees could do work. In the US alone, during the months of October to December in 2020, the height of the isolation restrictions prompted by the pandemic, 22% of all work was done in a telecommute setting just so operations could continue. Of this figure, at least 15% instituted a full remote work setup while 36% opted for one full day per week of remote work.
These companies managed to survive and became the prototype of the kind of operations that would define the work scenario of the year to follow. Today, at least 6 out of 10 workers in the US, or 59% of all those whose work could be done remotely continue to do so, and business continue to thrive. The vast majority of these workers have been working in this scenario even before the spread of the omicron variant of the virus, accounting for the low number of cases involving workers.
This scenario is not isolated to the US. In the Asia Pacific region, a survey conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC) revealed that more than 70% of employees in various countries in Asia admitted their productivity was far greater or at the very least comparable to their output compared to pre-pandemic levels. This fact is, of course, something that micromanagers frown upon, but in the face of empirical evidence in the form of company revenue during the period of restrictions, it cannot truly be contested.
Asian governments and members of the workforce all agree that health and safety are paramount concerns for a possible return to the office scenario, as the threat of massive infection is still very real, making vaccination a mandate in all regions. Vaccination alone, however, is not being seen as the sole “silver bullet” solution for the work consideration, which brings me to my second point…
2. Most Public Locations are Infection-Conscious
Offices and work areas that are issuing a return-to-the-office policy are being guided by members of the government in charge of ensuring infection does not blow up once more. In many cases, smart technology has been implemented to ensure that the possibility of infection due to contact or proximity is kept to a minimum, including:
- Upgraded ventilation, circulating fresh air in and out while maintaining a workable atmosphere
- Contactless sensors that not only detect the temperature of the employees but also provide enhance office entry automation even further
- Touchless fixtures such as doors, elevators, and access ways so that passage and foot traffic could be done without impediment and will not require touching buttons to open doors
- Smart meeting room management systems that combine technology and strategic planning so that the time spent inside a closed area with a number of people is limited
These adjustments are currently being seen as sufficient in ensuring that infection is kept to a minimum or even zero in the workplace, and is mirrored in many popular commercial establishments as well. Sanitation measures such as regular cleaning continue to be practiced, as evidenced by the upsurge in employment in the sanitation and maintenance industry. One of the most common sights today is that of people being conscientious about personal sanitation, as many still take to wearing facemasks, regardless of the country’s policy on them (restricted or relaxed) and the use of personal disinfectants such as small bottles of rubbing alcohol. And this brings me to my next point…
3. Development of Infection-Conscious Behavior Everywhere
Despite the various opinions of others, human beings continue to prove that adaptation is one of the best traits of people. The use of personal anti-infection measures such as face masks, face shields, personal protective equipment (PPEs), safe distancing, and carrying of disinfectants were initially met with great resistance in many countries. However, many have come to realize that any kind of social activity, or even going out into the public, for that matter, will continue to be severely limited unless these measures are adhered to.
As people continue to go about their lives, these anti-infection measures have slowly been co-opted into the collective unconscious behavior of people everywhere. Even in areas where tourism is involved, people have maintained the mindset that personal safety is top priority, now more than ever. Truth be told, apart from the business sector, the tourism sector has seen the most by way of adjustments and safety measures put into place, as the world begins to look into travel and tourism once more.
If anything else, the level of sanitation and cleanliness efforts today are unprecedented. This is particularly true with the hospitality sector, with industry professionals continually conducting trainings and seminars to ensure that personnel and staff working in their niche are aware and trained in the needed measures and practices to maintain an infection-free environment. Compared to at least five years ago, travelers and tourists will definitely see more hotel and commercial area workers that put sanitation and safety first before anything else. This is, in my opinion, a fantastic way to win the confidence of travelers everywhere, and put their mind at ease that they are not in any immediate danger of infection.
These are just a few points why more people should really consider getting back into travel and tourism, but more than any of these, it bears remembering that seeing and meeting other people is a great way to heal the soul, and if anything else, people need this kind of healing. The hard lessons learned during this pandemic also brought with it fear, uncertainty, and paranoia, and these things could only be fixed by healing. Travel is one of the best ways in which people heal themselves, and the best evidence for this is the fact that travelers are among the happiest people in the world.
I’d say it’s worth reminding everyone that LIFE IS SHORT. We should savor each and every moment we are awake, alive, and able, and what better way to do that than by traveling? You don’t need to go everywhere at once, since not everywhere is safe yet, but there are a lot of places you can go to that will allow you to experience the glory and wonders of different cultures and fantastic places. I know because I have. You should too.
Travel safely and be happy once more.
