The earth is shut. Go home!’ Imagine such virtual signboards being displayed all over the major tourist attractions as well as other remote places. Our Whatsapp and Facebook groups have only one hot topic to discuss i.e ‘Coronavirus’. Nobody knows when it will end and nobody knows how much longer will they have to stay indoors. The explorers haven’t explored in a while, the families haven’t had their ritual roadtrips, a newly wedded couple hasn’t had a chance to go on their honeymoon yet… life is anything but normal!

The deadly pandemic has changed the whole world. People are confused, frustrated and waiting to travel again, just like before. But the travel industry in India is going to witness quite a few changes after the end of this outbreak. We have listed a few trends that we foresee in the coming months. Let us assume that it’s not going to be the same for a while.

1. We won’t venture too far
   We will start small, take shorter trips… explore the forts or hills on the outskirts. Maybe we will check out the local museums that were often taken for granted. This year will be a year of shorter trips but wider smiles once we start travelling again.
2. Wheels over wings
   We'd prefer travelling in our private vehicles than taking a flight with hundreds of strangers. Afterall, we have to choose safety over faster travel. And, the one thing we learnt during this lockdown is… patience.
3. We will stick to smaller groups
   We will travel with our immediate family or close friends who are fit and healthy. Indians are known to travel with their entire family including the grandparents. But it's best to let the elders stay home until you return safely. Let's make the best decisions for our loved ones!
4. More planned and less frequent travels
   2020 will be a year of planning and postponing. You might have to push your every-weekend-getaway-vacations and have less frequent but more concrete plans. Put your new year diaries to use and plan well.
5. Lesser noise on social media
   We are used to shout out our travel plans on social media. But after the situation gets under control, we will post less to avoid huge crowds to travel with us. We will also like travel influencers giving out safety tips while travelling and asking us to take it slow. We will prefer travel companies who promote safety and comfort rather than discounts.
6. Decline in the “I want to see everything’ attitude.
   Instead of wanting to explore everything at once, travelers will need to be more cautious and stay put. We will carefully plan the places and things to do, rather than having a care-free attitude. It's not always about the destination, but the journey. We think this will be a huge change in the way we travel. And, it's so much better!
7. More health measures will be undertaken
   All the major hotspots like airports, railway stations, buses etc. will have stricter screening methods. Even though the virus will be gone, the fear won't be. Travellers will also check for health facilities in the places they check in and would want to keep emergency helpline numbers handy.
8. Rise of Travel Insurance
   After the coronavirus outbreak, travel insurance companies will see a significant rise in their sales. Indians only buy one if it's mandatory in the country they are travelling to. This attitude will slowly fade away. Whatever be the amount, we need to be covered.
9. Decline in urban travel
   We will prefer exploring the unexplored destinations more. Remote places will be less crowded, so we are more likely to stay healthy. Cramped up cities will need to stay patient to start seeing visitors again.
10. Homestays over commercial hotels
    It is also wise to book homestays and say goodbye to commercial luxury hotels. Homestays could be trusted if their owners have taken safety precautions rather than checking into the hotels with the unknown travellers. So, maybe look for a Himalayan adventure and book for a local stay and drop the 5-star hotel.
11. On My Own
    We will also see a rise in visiting farmhouses or a friend's guest house away from the city but not too far. We would want to stay safe yet not miss out on our travelling regime.

Our dream destinations and weekend-getaways are not going anywhere! They stay put and so should we until the outbreak leaves our mother earth for good. Eventually, life will come back to normal and it will be the same again. Until then, get a hobby, make the most of your time and have patience!