This is the travel behavior in COVID Summer 2020
The world is still in a state of emergency. Nevertheless, many people travel in the summer because after the lockdown, serious escape is needed after the long stay in the Four Walls landscape. With the world at different stages of the pandemic, travel options and travel experiences are also mixed. In this article, we shine a light on where the world is today and get a taste of what current travel etiquette looks like.
AsiaChina is believed to be the country of origin of the virus and was the first country to be affected by a lockdown. In the meantime, the situation in China has changed a lot and the number of infected cases is now minimal. The Chinese tend to travel a lot, although in their own country. The Sanya area, which is located by the sea and offers several renowned luxury hotels, is famous for its fashion. But cities like Shanghai and Beijing are also popular for their so-called stays. A weekend getaway is a must for pampering. If you look at the current volume of travel around the world, the Chinese are currently in the lead.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, is cut off from the outside world. Some hotels are open here, and locals also use them to take a break and often escape from their small apartments into a large hotel suite. The situation is similar in Singapore. There is a curfew from 10 p.m., and at night the city is deserted. In both Singapore and Hong Kong, both countries can be expected to remain closed to international tourism until the end of the year.
Australia / New ZealandThe two Oceania countries subsequently closed to incoming tourists at an early stage of the pandemic. Local sources predict that the two governments plan to keep the countries closed until the second quarter of 2021. Residents travel there, but with much more caution than in China. It is also because the country offers much more space and opportunities for great experiences. Australians and New Zealanders spend their time with day trips or take longer trips with an RV.
South America The situation in South America has deteriorated considerably in recent weeks. Mexico and Brazil, in particular, currently have a high number of cases. South American countries are currently closed, but some countries insist on reopening on September 1. Tourism in South America is now inactive. Only Mexico welcomes customers from the United States, where travel is still possible. Therefore, many hotels are open in the stands of Mexico. National travel activity in the countries is rather low compared to other continents.
Africa Tanzania and Rwanda are currently the countries receiving tourists. Going on a safari in the Serengeti is truly magical, and at the moment it is a unique experience as you have all the wildlife to see almost for yourself. The only problem here is that there are still a few flight connections and mostly through countries with travel restrictions. South Africa is a country that is economically suffering from the pandemic. Therefore, South Africa is striving to open its borders to international tourism as quickly as possible. Many South Africans are dependent on tourism, and everything is done to ensure that guests can be received during the peak season in December.
North America The United States and Canada have closed their borders. United States, except that it is possible to travel to some countries like Mexico and Turkey. National tourism is dynamic in the United States. Especially in the coastal towns of San Diego and Santa Barbara, hotels are very well booked and people are enjoying the summer there. Post Ranch in Big Sur National Park was sold out for the whole summer in a matter of days, despite prices being $ 1,500 per night. Amangiri, which is located in Utah, had a similar experience. Americans want to travel and are already so excited that we can see quite a few bookings for Spring / Summer 2021 for Europe. It remains to be seen when the United States opens its borders - it is quite possible that opening the borders will also become a political game linked to the presidential elections.
Europe Europe is made up of 47 countries. And there are about as many different opinions and approaches here right now. States have their quarantine lists, which makes travel unpredictable. This is why we see a lot of local trips in Europe, and if we go further it is trips with our own car. This way you can make sure you are flexible in the event of a change and that you can get home quickly. Masking is compulsory almost everywhere in Europe. The Netherlands and Switzerland are exceptions. Especially when it comes to hotels, Switzerland is pretty much back to the norm - breakfast buffets and maskless waiters. While almost all hotels in Venice are open, many cities like Rome, Paris, Madrid and Barcelona won't follow until September.
For many hotels, the question now is whether it makes sense to open their doors. Hotels that welcome clients are far from the "normal" number of overnight stays. With their reopening, luxury hotels, in particular, are declaring that the region is once again ready for tourism. Their big problem now is that there are very few reservations currently being made and you have to prepare for last minute reservations. This raises the question of whether all staff are needed to keep things running - but can the usual quality of service be guaranteed with a small staff? Besides the question of when this pandemic will end, there are many small questions concerning the tourism industry. Here, too, travelers are challenged to make statements with reservations to help the industry recover.
Guido Graf is the founder of Privateupgrades. Privateupgrades is a global luxury travel club with over 20 years experience in luxury hotels, guaranteeing exclusive VIP privileges such as upgrades, free breakfast, free nights, rate discounts, Free airport transfers, free massages and much more. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to enhance your profile, please contact us.
