It’s no secret that the travel and tourism sectors were dealt an unprecedented blow during the COVID-19 crisis. All across the globe, planes were grounded and resorts were deserted as holiday plans were put on hold. In fact, recent figures have highlighted just how damaging the pandemic has been to the travel and tourism industry, with losses in revenue totalling €3.8 trillion.
Now, with the world slowly recovering from the effects of the pandemic, the travel industry is starting to recover. Holidaymakers are being encouraged to rediscover their wanderlust, as countries steadily begin to reopen borders.
However, whilst travel companies and travellers alike are desperate for the passports and floral shirts to be dusted off, post-pandemic travel comes with many obligations for both parties. Airports and holiday companies are doing their bit to facilitate the mass movement of people in as safe a way as possible, but the onus is placed largely on the travellers themselves to act responsibly.
The health concerns linked with post-pandemic travel aren’t the only factor to consider when it comes to responsible tourism. As climate change continues to rapidly affect our planet, holidaymakers are becoming increasingly conscious about reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of travel on the environment.
In this article, we will explore how you can get back to travelling in a responsible way, in light of both the pandemic and the ongoing battle against climate change.
By Geoff Aldis, Freelance Content Producer and Researcher