5 ways YOU can support the travel industry during the Covid-19 pandemic

5 ways YOU can support the travel industry during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has essentially shut down the global economy. One of the first and hardest hit victims was the travel industry.

With backpacking trips, honeymoons, gap years and family vacations now on hold amid a global pandemic, it's difficult to predict what the future of travel will look like.

In the face of uncertainty, one of the best things we can do is stay positive. While a positive mentality is a good starting point, now more than ever it is important to come together as a broader travel community and put that positivity into action.

But what can we do?

How has travel been affected by Covid-19?

Well, the short answer is that travel is canned for now.

And rightly so.

Traveling in the current climate is both selfish and inappropriate. Even if you don't have border restrictions, traveling to other countries contributes to and increases the infection rate.

As a result. Travel has been suspended, tour operators have lost revenue, airlines are asking for bailouts to keep flying, and the local tourism economy is struggling.

It's certainly not a great time. And what's worse, almost no one knows when this Covid-19 nightmare will be over.

As a blogger and travel photographer, my personal income came to an abrupt halt.

However, when times are tough, it's easy to fall into the woe-is-me spiral of self-pity. The truth is that there are always people who have it much worse off than us.

This is especially true for those of us who come from countries with strong social and economic support. While the big companies are of course bleeding, it is the local Balinese tour guide and Nepalese porter and their families who are feeling the brunt of this whole thing.

So what can we do as a travel community to support those who need help most and come out the other side together?

Coming together as a travel community – ways to help

We're all in the same boat, so let's all do our best to keep it afloat. Below I have included a list of ideas and ways we can all contribute.
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1. Don't cancel, postpone

This is what many airlines, tour groups, transport operators, hotels, etc. require in order to avoid bankruptcy.

If you are able, the best we can do is to postpone our travel arrangements until a later date. Most companies offer “flexible time” or “open” tickets and bookings that are free to use once they expire.
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2. Request travel credit

If you booked a tour or purchased a plane ticket, you may be able to request travel credit to use at a later date. This is different from “open” tickets because you often also have the option to change the destination entirely.
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3. Buy gift cards

Whether for an upcoming birthday or a future celebratory self-gift, purchasing a gift card is a great way to contribute to the travel economy.

It's truly a win-win situation. Your future trips will pay off, and companies will have the cash flow to keep their employees working until we beat the pandemic.
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4. Stay adventurous

For lack of a better term, keep the “wonderlust” alive. Share previous travel photos on social media, buy travel books and magazines, read blogs and travel guides, and watch travel vlogs!

Sharing, commenting and enjoying travel content helps keep creators afloat during these times. You're sure to find great travel ideas and inspiration for the post-Covid travel boom!
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5. Don't forget the little guys

As I mentioned before, the people who are really suffering are the local leaders and business owners who live in places where tourism is one of the only means of income.

I'm sure we all met local legends who went out of their way to make your visit to their country unforgettable. Stay in touch with them, see if you can support them financially if you are able.

Book future travel plans with them and keep the positivity going.
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So when can we travel again?

The truth is that no one knows at this point. What we know for sure is that travel will be back.

The good news is that the current best estimate is that the tourism industry is expected to fully recover by 2023.

This may seem a long way off, but let’s stay positive, stay adventurous and all do our part to keep tourism and travel alive!