It’s about next normal for tourism, not new normal!
Global tourism expert points out need to define the form recovery expected Says immediate focus should be on domestic market Stresses need to build awareness of travel protocols to increase confidence Advises to focus on quality and not quantity of travellers
In an effort to allow global travel and tourism space to bounce back at a faster pace, from the crisis brought about by the ongoing pandemic, a senior representative of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) highlighted it is imperative for governments and key authorities to define the form of recovery sought in the POST-COVID-19 scenario.
“When we look at how the tourism sector is going to recover, we need to critically make sure we define the form of recovery expected, what we exactly mean.
It is not about the new normal but the next normal. It is about the stages of recovery,” said UNWTO Special Advisor to Secretary General and CNN Travel International Consultant Anita Mendiratta.
Mendiratta noted that the end of the year recovery would focus much on the domestic market and the reasons for taking up that strategy is valid, given that people are nervous about travelling and leading to that sentiment is the level of awareness of the health protocols in the destinations.
According to the expert, smart governments around the world are encouraging their nationals to holiday home, as it helps rebuild the travel and tourism economy.
“That is critical,” she said, while presenting her comments on the theme ‘Charting a course for Sri Lanka’s tourism future’, at the Cinnamon Future of Tourism virtual conference.
She stressed that travellers need to know the protocols that are to be followed at the actual travel journey and when in the destination country.