Can the Tourism Industry Handle Another Health Crisis?
It seems like we’re almost out of the pandemic and its impact. People are going back to their regular lives and most countries no longer have the same restrictions. The problem is that many experts project that another health crisis could be on the horizon. It might even be worse than Covid-19. The fact that this strain of virus halted the world was possible means that another one can have the same impact.
It’s not only the health crisis itself that became the problem. The response from various nations was also an issue. There were severe regulations that prevented people from moving around. In some countries, international trips were inexistent at the height of the pandemic.
The tourism industry was at the receiving end of these policies. Several companies closed due to the lack of clients. Hence, it begs the question. Will the industry survive another health crisis?
Some companies were lucky enough to have saved a sufficient amount over the years and didn’t close despite the lack of clients. Despite that, they’re now on the edge of their finances. There’s still a path to recovery, but another pandemic might be the end.
New businesses that rely on tourism might also not open any time soon. Entrepreneurs are worried about starting something that won’t make money if another disaster strikes.
We’re better prepared
While there are many reasons to make us believe that the tourism industry won’t survive with another health crisis, there’s still a silver lining. For instance, many companies are more prepared. They have outlined alternative plans to continue operations despite the lack of clients. Some businesses also managed to keep going by letting some employees work remotely. It eradicates unnecessary operational expenses. Companies have also learned plenty of lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and have plans to execute should another one strike overnight.
Government regulations won’t be as stringent
Many companies didn’t survive because of strict government rules. Of course, leaders have to prioritize safety above everything else. At the start of the pandemic, it was more of a trial and error to see what can maximize public safety. Since the government already knows how to keep people safe without restricting movements, it’s an advantage for everyone. There’s no need to go back to the nightmare that the pandemic has brought upon the tourism industry.
We can’t give up
This pandemic taught us that giving up is never an option. We can continue to operate across industries and remain steadfast despite the challenges. If anything, the leaders in the tourism industry have been challenged to do better should another health crisis arise.
We can’t tell if tourism will still survive if another pandemic stretches out for years. However, we know that people are still eager to travel. The rise in flight reservations post-pandemic is a sign of hope. It tells us that everyone still wants to visit places. There’s no reason to despair. More people are itching to leave their houses to see wonderful destinations around the world.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://unsplash.com/photos/03nt4WmL1Kk
2nd image from https://www.hotelmanagement.net/tech/how-hoteliers-can-use-technology-get-ahead-2022
