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How is travel affected by government shutdown?

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COVID-19 resulted in several government-backed restrictions and shutdowns in the early months of 2020. In addition to local restrictions, the nationwide lockdown was also accompanied by a shutdown of domestic and international travel. Needless to say, the travel industry faced a sudden and unexpected crunch in its operations, making it one of the worst-affect sectors of the economy.

The impact of the shutdown on the travel industry in India

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTCC) predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely to cost the tourism industry around USD 22 billion. It was also expected to result in a loss of almost 50 million jobs worldwide. India’s travel industry has also suffered similar repercussions.

Early into the lockdown, in March 2020, the hotel industry witnessed a decline in occupancy levels to the tune of over 65% when compared with the same period in 2019. The outbound and inbound travel also witnessed an all-time low. And in addition to business coming to a standstill, the travel industry also saw several job losses, with both blue and white collar jobs being hit by the pandemic.

Furthermore, for the average traveler, the government shutdown followed by restricted travel protocols have all completely changed the experience of travelling, as we’ve known it. If you’ve had the opportunity to take an emergency flight or train to another city in the country, or a flight out abroad, you would have undoubtedly had a first-hand experience of the way travel has been impacted by the pandemic. With temperature checks and face masks being the new norms, travelers are in for an entirely different routine for at least the next couple of years or so.

Inching back to normalcy: A revival of travel and tourism

While the initial months following the nationwide lockdown in India were quite hard on the travel and tourism industry, during the latter half of 2020, things slowly began to pick up. First, local channels of transport began to open up. Domestic travel followed, and eventually, airports were opened up and a few domestic as well as international flights were permitted.

While the worst may be behind us, the pandemic and its effects have not quite waned entirely. With news about new variants of the coronavirus popping up every few weeks, there are likely to be more travel restrictions in store, although they may be in place for shorter periods.

Nevertheless, 2021 is all about survival for the travel industry. And despite the dents caused by the pandemic, there are bright spots appearing in the sector. Domestic travel has been picking up over the past few months. On the one hand, drivable destinations such as Shimla, Mussoorie, Coorg, Nainital and Rishikesh have been hot favorites among travel enthusiasts and holiday seekers in the country. On the other hand, air travel to Goa has also been on the rise.

The traveler’s checklist for 2021

If you’re keen on traveling somewhere this year, you’re no doubt excited about it. After all, nearly one whole year of lockdown and restrictions is not a pleasant experience. But of course, you mustn't compromise on the safety precautions. So, here’s a quick checklist for the traveler in 2021.

• Use digital and online solutions as much as possible, right from booking your tickets to reserving your accommodation.

• Mask up and take a sanitizer along.

• Keep yourself updated about the restrictions and regulations in place.

• Get yourself tested before and after.

Conclusion:

And of course, with or without the pandemic, don’t forget the original safety measure that you always need to put in place before a trip anyway - your travel insurance policy. You can now easily purchase travel insurance online to secure your trip and your belongings, among other things. Make sure you attach this seal of safety before you head off on your journey this year.

Disclaimer:  The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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