Things have to change
Welcome to our 11th media and communications newsletter, designed to help you track travel- and coronavirus-related developments that continue to affect our industry at large.
It feels hard to talk about travel after this past week, when the murder of George Floyd sparked protests across the United States – and around the world – against police brutality and racism faced by black people throughout North America.
During this time of unrest and uncertainty, here are some ways our industry can be actively anti-racist:
- Seek out black-owned travel companies: you can find lists here and here
- Follow, listen to and support black travel content creators who are speaking out, including Oneika Raymond and Annette Richmond (Wanderful has a great list here)
- Read, read, read: essays like Don’t Miss This Seminal Moment for Racial Justice, Travel Industry and For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies, and books from A Different Booklist for a deep dive into systemic racism and how we can all take action
In the meantime, below is our weekly roundup of news, expert insights and food for thought about what has been happening in the travel industry this week. If you can’t access an article due to a pay wall, let us know and we may be able to send it through to you.
Stay safe and healthy,
Your friends at Bannikin
The week at a glance
Tuesday, June 2
- Spain’s tourist economy begins to reopen with guarantee of good bill of health
- Hong Kong Tourism braces for blowback from new security bill that threatens autonomy
- Czech Republic to open borders based on color-coded coronavirus country risk scale
- Southwest says buyout and paid leave packages boost survival chance
- Germany pushes to downgrade European travel alerts from warnings to guidelines
- Parisians return to cafe terraces as government lifts restrictions
Monday, June 1
- Don’t miss this seminal moment for racial justice, travel industry
- Royal Caribbean erases Alaska, Canada itineraries from website
- Yellowstone to open Montana entrances today
- Cheap airfare pricing could make a major comeback after COVID-19
- NCL details how cruising will change in COVID-19 era
- Greek hotels reopened Monday to uncertain summer travel season
- Turkey reopens Grand Bazaar and resumes domestic flights
- Lufthansa’s board approves $10 billion euro government bailout
- Vatican museums reopen with rare appeal of limited crowds
- Emirates may take years until it flies all of its routes again
Sunday, May 31
- Ottawa pledges millions to promote tourism within Canada amid COVID-19 pandemic
- Egyptian hotels fill up at reduced occupancy
- Bankrupt LATAM Airlines took a $1.7 billion Q1 impairment due to the pandemic
- Sri Lanka to reopen small-group tourism in 5-star hotels
Saturday, May 30
- Glad you’re not here: stag party capitals vow to ‘do tourism differently’
Friday, May 29
- What the 2020 summer cruise season will look like
- What is the future of international travel once restrictions lift and borders reopen?
- Fairmont reopening four Canada hotels June 1
- Roam close to home: Europe’s tourists play safe in pandemic
- National and state parks are reopening in the US in phases – here’s what we know
- RV sales and rentals are taking off in the US due to COVID-19
- Thailand is easing restrictions as travellers hope to return this year
- Europe prepares post-corona, socially-distanced culture-fest
- Paris’s Louvre will reopen in July
Thursday, May 28
- WTTC creates first-ever global safety stamp for travellers
- Camping in the west? Like everything these days, it’s complicated
- How tourism will survive the pandemic
- Mexican Caribbean announces ‘Clean & Safe Check Certification’ program
- How COVID-19 will change business travel
- Caribbean islands will begin reopening to Americans in June
- American Airlines making deep job cuts
Wednesday, May 27
- Las Vegas resorts can reopen June 4
- Disney plans phased reopening of Florida parks in July
- Japan debates traveller subsidy as it emerges from nationwide state of emergency
- Popular destinations planning to re-open to tourists in June
- Thinking about flying? Here’s what you need to know now
Tuesday, May 26
- Americans desperate to travel are buying up ‘Covid Campers’
- Latin American airline Latam files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
- Dubai pushes the restart button with transit flights allowed from Wednesday
What the media is saying…
Condé Nast Traveler – How travel will change
Snippet: While it’s impossible to predict how the economy will fare once the pandemic subsides, some of the changes that will stick around will likely be for the better. Everything will be cleaner. Seriously—everything, even the New York City subway. Travelers will have more power than ever, especially in booking flexibility. And while some changes may be less welcome, like rising ticket costs once airline demand returns or reservations being required, well, everywhere, travelers have never rallied behind their favorite places, from restaurants to hotels to destinations, like they are right now.
The Guardian – ‘Things have to change’: tourism businesses look to a greener future
Snippet: …As destinations slowly start to emerge from lockdown and borders tentatively reopen, many in the sector are wondering if this is a chance for tourism to rebuild in a greener, more sustainable way.
Skift – The anguish of travel’s lost summer
Snippet: It’s easy to forget that some initial lockdown orders were in place just for two or three weeks. Stay home now, the sentiment went, so we can enjoy the sweet relief of summer later. But months on, we now know the Covid-19 crisis is, unfortunately, not that simple. It’s less a matter of returning to normal, and more finding a way to continue our lives with profoundly altered norms. And yet, as the temperature heats up and travel begins to reopen, albeit unevenly, it’s tempting to fall back in love with the promise of summer and all its possibilities. Indeed, no one is denying that the travel industry — which may lose up to 80 percent of international arrivals this year — certainly could use the kind of carefree summer that brings in revenue and economic relief.
What experts are saying…
Longwoods Internationals – COVID-19 travel sentiment study: many Americans plan first trip since pandemic in next six weeks
Snippet: According to the most recent Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, almost half (48%) of American travelers are planning their first trip since the pandemic struck the U.S. between now and the July 4th holiday weekend. The most popular trip planned during this time frame is a car trip of less than 200 miles to visit family and friends, chosen by 15% of travelers. Half (52%) of American travelers do not plan to travel before the 4th of July holiday.
AFAR – When will we travel abroad again?
Snippet: For many, the idea of going abroad is unfathomable right now—like we’re suggesting we all go into space. (Actually, space sounds less threatening.) The COVID-19 pandemic continues and a vaccine is still in the works—but as we’ve noted in the past few weeks, after months of global lockdown to flatten the curve and the development of rapid coronavirus testing, several U.S. states and countries have started to gradually reopen. As we tiptoe back outside, masks firmly on, we may start asking: What’s open? What’s safe? When will international travel be allowed? Will I be able to board a plane this year, or use my passport? Signs are pointing to yes, if we do so responsibly and don’t face setbacks.
TravelPulse – One-on-one with the head of the UN World Tourism Organization
Snippet: Data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that only in March, the start of a lockdown in many countries, arrivals were down by 57 percent, which translated into a loss of 67 million international arrivals. Figures for April and May will be even gloomier. In its worst-case scenario, this UN agency estimates that the massive drop in demand in international travel by the end of the year could put up to 120 million direct tourism jobs at risk globally.
For questions or comments, email us:
britney@bannikin.com
Visit our dedicated COVID-19 page for our library of weekly updates.