Travelling after COVID

Covid-19 flipped the world upside down: read about our writer's take on travel after the pandemic

Castor Chan
26th April 2023
Image Credit: Castor Chan
I think we are all aware of how much the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world. Zoom schooling, remote workforces, hand sanitiser sales, the list is endless. But one of the biggest hits during that time was the travel industry. For me, it meant a much lonelier time in university, but also a new appreciation for our ability to travel.

COVID definitely had lasting impacts on me. When I say that, I thankfully mean the idea of the pandemic in general, not the illness itself. I feel as though I am now hyperaware of people who are coughing in lectures - I’m sorry, you’ve probably just choked on your water - and I’m even warier of normal colds and flus.

When I was due to go home last summer after a year of being away, I tested positive on the PCR test I needed to fly back. That hit me quite hard, and ever since then, I’ve been paranoid about getting COVID before or after I travel. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t stopped me from exploring new places with my friends and significant other, but it has definitely impacted how I see locations and made pandemic adjustments with tech more noticeable.

Image Credit: Castor Chan

Having successfully travelled home over Christmas, I really noticed the adaptations and the heavy encouragement to use them. For example, many places have installed touch-free elevator panels, where you just hover over whichever button you need. Then we have the increasingly standard QR codes at restaurants, letting you read the menu, order, and pay without having to talk to a single person. These adaptations actually make travel seem safer, and even though the worry of COVID doesn’t seem to scare most travellers nowadays (apart from the risk of missing out on their activities), this safety doesn’t hurt.

COVID has definitely taught me to cherish my time with my loved ones, and travelling with them no matter the destination is always something that I will remember forever. 

There has also been a boom in countryside destinations. With plenty of green space nearer the outskirts of Hong Kong, my family and I found ourselves hopping in the car to more of those locations with the dog. Walking along the beaches and barbecue pits, I saw people taking the chance to take their masks off while cooking up sausages and chatting happily with their loved ones. Being in the countryside meant getting to explore new places and breathe in fresh air without fear of catching anything, and is a welcome reprieve from the city buzz. 

I think another type of travel that will keep gaining popularity in some circles is luxury travel. With people having been cooped up for three years, they will be more eager to put money into seeing the world again. Whether it’s from that desire to give themselves the amazing break they’ve been waiting for, or the perks that luxury gives them in terms of distance, some people are more inclined to splash their cash when they travel. There is a certain reassurance in the distance that business class has compared to economy, and a whole villa for you and your family to run around in and luxuriate in the peace and privacy.

Lastly, we’ve seen a huge uptick in domestic travel and the idea of the ‘staycation’. Weekend breaks in a nearby city or isolated cabin, hotels are chock full of couples looking for an easy trip and families spending more of their free time with each other. As opposed to a glamorous villa, staycations can be of different budgets. From a nice hotel getaway to a hostel to immerse yourself in local culture, exploring what is at your fingertips is an appealing option when living costs are increasing and the pandemic has been hard on many people. I fondly remember taking the train to London for the weekend with my significant other and trying new things together.

Image Credit: Castor Chan

Travel is for sure going to be coming back stronger than ever after COVID, with many destinations focusing on convenience, safety, and new cultural experiences. There is also a special feeling in travelling that keeps people going back; a solo trip learning more about the world and yourself, or a group vacay with your family or friends making memories together. COVID has definitely taught me to cherish my time with my loved ones, and travelling with them no matter the destination is always something that I will remember forever. 

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