It is two years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and, at the same time, two years of fundamental transformations worldwide. Among the most affected industries we have tourism, aviation, hospitality and related industries.
The tourism and travel industry generated about 10% of global GDP in 2019, the equivalent of $ 9.2 trillion according to figures provided by the WTTC. 2020 was the year in which everything collapsed, including aviation and tourism, and the decrease compared to 2019 was about 50%.
Tourism and travel generated about $ 4.5 trillion in 2020. At the same time, about 60 million jobs were lost, with people becoming unemployed or choosing to retrain in other industries.
Apparently this pandemic has only caused problems: it has caused financial losses, it has caused job losses, it has caused health problems for hundreds of millions of people, it has led to the loss of human lives due to the new coronavirus. If we draw the line, the two years of the pandemic were the darkest in the last 100 years.
But, as he says Accor study, after the pandemic we will have a new normalcy. At least from a tourism point of view, we will certainly see some notable transformations among tourists, but also in the way tourism will be done in the coming years.
We have identified five good things in tourism resulting from the pandemic
Flexibility and health
- 1 in 5 tourists say travel priorities will be different after the pandemic. Booking flexibility and high health standards top the list of things Europeans expect to have in 2022 and beyond. 1 in 3 tourists want clearer health and safety standards, and 1 in 5 tourists would be willing to pay more for a hotel room if it had a recognized cleanliness award, such as Accor's global ALLSAFE health label and hygiene.
Technologicalization of the industry
- The pandemic has led to an extensive process of technologicalization in the tourism industry, with a significant role in providing a lighter travel experience in terms of contact. 1 in 5 European tourists wants more contactless payment options, but also an increase in hotel technology, from customer service via WhatsApp to improvements in the quality and functionality of TVs in hotel rooms. People want to travel, but they also want to be safe, and now they are adapting to the fact that the two can coexist.
insurance
- Travelers have begun to pay more attention to cancellation, travel and medical insurance. Given the uncertainty of recent months, reinsurance, both in terms of safety and flexibility, is a necessity for travel in 2022 and beyond.
Tourists choose to travel less by plane, more by train and car
- The pandemic has changed the way people travel. 1 in 5 tourists anticipate fewer air travel in 2022 and expect a return of train and car travel. 1 in 10 tourists expect the planning of multiple trips in the same period to continue as standard in 2022, giving travelers the assurance that at least one of the trips should take place according to plan.
Pay attention to nature
- One positive thing about the Covid years is raising awareness of sustainability as a priority. Sustainability and the impact of travel on the climate and the planet are now a factor for 4 out of 5 people. This influences the choice of destination, how to get there, accommodation and activities that I can undertake during the trip.
Commenting on the results and the report, Karelle Lamouche, Chief Commercial Officer, Accor Northern Europe, said: "The covid did not diminish our desire to travel, but complicated the process. Even if one in five respondents had to cancel or postpone a trip because of the Omicron variant, people are still determined to travel and spend 39% more than in 2019. Last year, the trips were spontaneous, often booked and made. in a few days. Now, according to Omicron, people are already planning and booking trips for the next three years. They have much to look forward to and recover in 2022. ”
"It is clear that priorities have changed in the last two years. Sustainability matters more than ever in the decisions people make. Work-life balance is no longer just a slogan, and travelers have a new awareness of the positive impact that travel has on their well-being. In fact, two-thirds of us want to travel to improve our mental health. We expect this trend of improvement, awareness and well-being to be part of the travel experience for the coming years, accelerated by the opportunities lost by Covid. Travel is back, experiences are back, and Europe is starting 2022 with optimism. ”