The Future of Travel and Tourism
By: Mapa Group
Tags: Travel, Vacation, Tourism, Holidays, Covid 19

It is without a doubt that the number of holidaymakers globally in 2020 has dropped due to the pandemic, but there is likely to be a significant resurgent in tourism for 2021 as travel companies, airlines and tour operators adapt to the new ‘normal’ which will help keep travellers safe.

There is a certain unease with holidaymakers who have opted for ‘staycations’ instead this year, but we’ve grown used to being global citizens with the freedom to travel with our passports in one hand and a tourist map in the other. It just means that people will be taking extra precautions to keep safe and avoid crowded tourist hotspots where social distancing maybe hard to maintain.

Through health screenings at borders and airports installed with ‘green lanes’ for travellers can lead towards a healthy recovery. And numerous companies and pharmacies have started to offer ‘Fit to Fly’ certification that allows people to take quick and simple Covid-19 tests before they embark on trips aboard. This offers peace of mind for travellers who know they are 100% fit to fly, and for local populations too who know visitors that they welcome are not ill.

Of course, recent breakthroughs in medical research and trials for the interim also help offer peace of mind. For example, a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is found to be 95% effective against the coronavirus. Governments, universities and philanthropic foundations across the world are also investing in research. This will inevitably lead to mass production of a viable vaccine, which could be ready as early as end of the year. Currently, 170 vaccines are being tracked by the World Health Organisation as potential feasible candidates.

Travel and tourism are an essential driver of our global economies and it plays an important part in our post-pandemic recovery. As key travel and tourist locations start to accept visitors again, they will be conscious to help maintain social distancing and other health protection practices, such as asking visitors to wear masks. Travelling in groups with strangers are also expected to change, and tour operators will adopt new models to offer group travel but only with individuals that interact regularly. Consequently, these practices will allow the travel and tourism industry to start operating again safely and in a sustainable way, producing economic benefits while at the same time keeping people safe.

Mapa Group’s view is that the tourism and travel sector will bounce back in 2021. Tour operators and airlines are already offering significant discounts for flights and accommodation for next year, which will entice holidaymakers and offer huge savings.

Our MNG Tourism business has offered discount up to 55% for top holiday destinations, and even during the height of the pandemic cancelled holidays were refunded in full, even though advance payments were made to our suppliers. This was only possible as our strong financial structures allowed us the flexibility to operate with a contingency. MNG Tourism as a business has always been customer orientated which is why it has been able to grow year-on-year. Based on its years of experience in the hotel industry, from the iconic World of Wonders Topkapi Palace and Kremlin Palace, the recently completed SLS Dubai, and the Gloria Gazelli Hotel in Georgia, to name but a few, Mapa Group believes the future is still bright.

As part of Mapa Group’s work in construction for the hospitality, tourism and airport sector, we’ve shifted our thinking for the future design and development of our projects. Future projects will need to be designed in ways that can potentially reduce transmission of deadly viruses between people, while not losing any of the aesthetic appeal of a particular architectural space.

To learn more about Mapa Group, visit our webpage.

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