SAFE TRAVELS

As customers prioritise health and hygiene, travel and hotel brands are collaborating on safety protocols to score points with them

- VINITA BHATIA

It has been said often enough and with every repetition the statement’s ominosity keeps increasing. The pandemic has dramatically changed some industries, with travel and hospitality being amongst the most affected.

The nationwide lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed by the government to flatten COVID-19’s spread hit both sectors, which are symbiotically bound, very hard. Despite the promise of a vaccine on the horizon, which will hopefully bring the pandemic under control, there is no denying that business will be equally challenging going forth.

Few know exactly how the dynamics of the travel and hospitality business will transform. However, many are trying to comprehend the altered customer behavior and come up with strategies to deal with it. One thing is definite though; safety and health is right on top of a traveller’s check list.

According to a Booking.com report, about 86% Indian travellers plan to take more health and safety-related precautions when travelling in the future and 71% are opting to avoid certain destinations altogether due to safety concerns. The online travel aggregator recently conducted this survey amongst 20,934 people who had travelled for business or leisure in the past 12 months and were planning to travel in the next one year, whenever travel restrictions are lifted.

Talking about it, Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives at Booking.com said, “Health and safety are top priority for travellers wanting to travel once again. They are looking forward to new health and safety measures to avoid COVID-19.”