PP Khanna
President, ADTOI
The ADTOI Managing Committee’s initiative is to bring confidence among the public to travel and to get a feel of that confidence, we have undertaken trips to nearby places in Rajasthan from Jaipur to experience the SOP followed by hotels and at the heritage sites. We wanted to see whether they are adhering to the guidelines of WHO, ICMR, and State authorities. We were happy to see the places were kept as per the guidelines and one can safely visit these places. A similar exercise was undertaken by the ADTOI Gujarat Chapter for tour operators where they were showcased tourist places and guidelines drawn by concerned authorities.
Travelling mainly depends on the restrictions imposed by State Governments which varies from state to state and some states are openly welcoming the tourists to their destinations. Also, people have started coming out of their homes to visit nearby places on weekends/festivities.
As an association, we are all thinking positively about the concept of ‘Revenge Tourism’ which could generate some form of business for our trade partners. However, it has to be seen how far this can be practical. Air and rail traffic has not attained its full potential as before and as per affordability, the majority of travellers are undertaking rail/road journeys to travel. How many will venture out for trips with family or at least some individuals within a family has to be seen to be believed. Children are deprived of their schooling which is the first and foremost concern of every parent before they can think of travelling. However, confidence-building will play a vital role in deciding Revenge Tourism. It may or may not happen and we all have to wait and watch. The flattening of curve and availability of early vaccines for COVID are the only aspects to bring positivity to the tourism industry.
One of the new travel trends is people venturing on cycling trips. Also, with one’s own transport, people are driving to nearby places and spending nights for a change. People have now learnt the importance of Sustainable and Responsible tourism and they will try to get close to nature as many times as possible as a way of spending vacation/holidays in the future. COVID-19 has brought some awareness to people as to how to live hygienically in such a crisis. Cleanliness and Hygiene are indeed playing a major role in everybody’s life. Masks, washing hands, social distancing, etc, are here to stay and people will be cautious in their endeavours to be healthy by adopting SOPs taught during the lockdown period.