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9 Ways Travel Will Change After The Covid-19 Pandemic

empty road during sunset

Guest post by Rebecca Siggers

Almost every country in the world today is facing disruptions due to covid-19. It is one of the most significant global challenges that we are facing after the second world war. Our hospitals become full, and at times there is a shortage of medical staff and health infrastructure. To contain the rapid spread of infection, governments across the world imposed lockdowns and restricted movement. Countries shut their borders, closed schools, malls, theatres, and public places. For months, many people ventured out of their homes only to buy essentials.

Despite virtual meetings, parties, and online classes, people feel cooped up. For months, we have not hit the beach, explored the woods, or skied on snow-clad mountains. But the fear of getting infected is real, so people are hesitating to travel. And, the worst-hit travel industry is trying its best to bring the tourists back. So, let us see how the travel will be in a post corona world.

1. Preference for nearby locations

Once the infections subside considerably, and governments permit traveling, people will choose locations closer to home. Everybody wants to rush to the hometown in case of an emergency. You might have a family doctor and have a better support system. Uncertain conditions, ban on international travel, changing guidelines for interstate travel are other reasons for choosing local places. A visit to a weekend getaway, a nearby zoo or national park is more suitable now. You need not stop for fuel refilling or eating. Thus, the number of people that you come in contact with is less, thereby decreasing the chances of getting infected.

2. Hit the road

Now, it is well-known that the busy airports across the world were hotspots for coronavirus infection. It serves as the commonplace that people traveling to and from different countries come together. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends a distance of 1 meter between people to prevent transmission through air droplets. Such social distancing is not viable in an aircraft.

Trains are less congested, and in some of them, there is the provision to open windows allowing fresh air circulation. But the number of passengers traveling is more, and monitoring becomes difficult. Thus, using self-transport is the safest option now.

3. Private stays on the rise

The medical fraternity has repeatedly advised that isolation is the key to preventing infection spread. There is an increased preference for remote staycations and standalone accommodation over large hotels with many suites. Moreover, using common swimming pools, water playgrounds is not safe yet. Thus, people are choosing properties with private pools. There is a preference for familiar locations with self-catering facilities. Many people consider camping and glamping safe, as they get to stay outdoors for a longer time. You can also carry your camping gear on the roof rack basket or opt for camper vans.

4. Digital detox retreats

In the pandemic time, learning, cooking, exercising, and even wine-tasting has reached the internet. Our entertainment channels were mostly online, even during the pre-corona days. Now, we host parties on social networks and try to fit our social lives in the digital medium. People of all age groups right from children studying in primary classes to the retired seniors are turning to the mobile for killing boredom. But digital devices like laptops, cell phones, tablets cause addiction. People tend to think of online games, social media associated events all the time. They feel restless and even depressed if they do not have these. Such issues are steeply increasing in society now.

In digital detox holidays, you get to live in a wi-fi world. The hospitality system often arranges classical forms of entertainment like theatre shows, games, dance events, etc. There are provisions for pursuing your hobbies like painting, photography, etc. You learn to live without staying connected virtually; it also reduces stress levels. Given its importance, it is advisable to break free from the digital addiction at home too.

5. Exploring less popular places

Over-tourism and crowded tourist hotspots were the main reasons for the spread of infection in countries like Spain, France, and the USA. So, places like the Louvre museum, Paris, and Disney theme parks plan to have several restrictions in place. You will have to book slots, and the capacity will be limited too. There will be more staff to check social distancing, sanitization, and clean habits of the visitors.

The cost is also likely to shoot up. Thus people might prefer secluded places that are less known and less crowded. For the time being, they are going to be economical and safe. Many people fear that there is an impending climate crisis too. So, they prefer responsible and sustainable travel. The primary cause of our sufferings, including the current pandemic, is the disruption of the natural food chain and environment. Thus, people are craving to return to nature and protect it.

6. More micro-vacations

You may not be hopping on a long-haul flight anytime soon. Travel is going to be mostly domestic. Thus, people might prefer to squeeze in a trip during the weekends. Another reason is budget-consciousness. Almost all countries are facing an economic downturn, and there is an increased tendency to save money. Shorter trips are more pocket-friendly, yet they provide the much-required unwinding. People may not wait for the holiday season and may not form large groups.

As businesses are adopting the work from home model, slowly, people may opt for the work-from-anywhere concept. Soon, we may not take vacation leaves and continue the work from holiday homes or hotel rooms.

7. Pack for safety

Now, masks are compulsory even for venturing out of the house until we have an effective vaccine. The same applies during the tour too. Most people will take travel insurance covering emergency medical aid and evacuation if required. When foreign travel begins, insurance might become mandatory. People will also carry disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and wet-wipes. In long flights, face shields and hand gloves may become compulsory. You could also see people wearing PPE suits. Also, it is advisable to carry thermometers and pulse oximeters. The main issue with the coronavirus is its asymptomatic nature. These devices help detect infection early, which is essential to avoid complicated medical conditions.

8. Wellness tourism

wooden wellness sign on palm beach

The covid-19 pandemic has shown in about six months that people with the right BMI (body mass index) and free of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension could fight the infection and recover quickly. Therefore, people have become more conscious of their health and are willing to spend on boosting immunity and fitness. During the lockdown, online yoga classes, physical training, etc., mushroomed. Therefore, we can see an uptick in wellness resort bookings. Also, there is an inclination towards holistic treatments and traditional medicine. Hotels and staycations are quickly adding wellness features like immunity-boosting programs, health diagnosis, stress-relieving activities to attract customers.

9. Flexible options

In some countries, the covid-positive cases peaked, and then there was a decline. But the new infections also appear after a long gap. For example, New Zealand has a virus outbreak after a hundred days. Thus, the situation will keep changing until we find a cure. Due to these uncertainties, both the hospitality industry and transport systems offer you more flexibility in terms of booking. Businesses in the luxury travel segment have already continued memberships, have reduced rates, and offer free cancellations. Airlines now allow you to postpone the journey date. They even refund without charging cancellation fees.

Final thoughts

Now, many countries are gradually relaxing lockdown rules. They have allowed walks in parks, dining-ins, and interstate movements. New Zealand, Australia, a few European and East Asian countries have already reopened the tourist corridors. Presently, travel will not be like before, but it is still the perfect antidote for our stress and lockdown blues. You may find new things like electrostatic sprays, UV lamps, and contactless keys to help curb infection. These are for our protection. It is also our responsibility to wear masks, sanitize, and maintain physical distancing.

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About the author

Rebecca Siggers is a passionate writer & guest blogger. Writing helps her to improve her knowledge, skills & understanding about the specific industry. She loves writing & sharing her knowledge mostly in the Travelling Industry. She believes travelling is the key to a peaceful life & wants to spread her belief across the world. Apart from writing, She loves Traveling and Reading.

Cover photo by Jodeng, Pixabay

The Overview: Ghana Beach Guide

Pristine beach in Ghana

Our Complete Ghana Beach Guide

We have now completed our Ghana travel section with our recommendations and beach assessments. Head to our Ghana Travel Guide to give you all the tips and information pieces you need before and during your trip to Ghana or head to the individual beach sections to learn about each destination.

Ghana Beach Scores

On each of the beach destination pages in Ghana, we have included beach scores on specific parametres. If you have been to any of our 7 featured beaches (Kokrobite, Cape Coast, Butre, Busua, Akwidaa, Cape Three Points, or Axim), we invite you to give your own review of your beach experience.

Here are Beachmeter.com’s Beach Review Scores:

 Click on the images to go to the beach page and don’t forget to submit your own beach reviews of these Ghanaian beaches .

Kokrobite Beach Review Scores

Cape Coast Beach Review Scores

 

Butre Beach Review Scores

Busua Beach Review Scores

 

Akwidaa Beach Review Scores

Cape Three Points Beach Review Scores

 

Axim Beach Review Scores

Have you been to any of these Ghanaian beaches? Please help us by submitting your beach review score directly on the destination pages.
 

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 A Beach Holiday in Ghana?

Despite a dip in visitors due to Ebola outbreaks in West Africa (that never reached Ghana), we predict that international tourism numbers will continue to rise in the country. The main reasons for the rise of beach tourism in Ghana are:

  • Great flight connections to Ghana and improving infrastructure
  • The coastline sees an increase in good accommodation options
  • Ghana’s reputation as one of the safest African countries to travel in is spreading
  • Surfers seeking uncrowded line-ups are discovering Ghana as the next thing

Natural Beauty & Cleanliness

Ghana has a stunning coastline filled with pristine beaches, where you really get the feeling that you are in the middle of nowhere. Small fishing villages are dotted along the coastline and you will have ample chance to interact with local residents who are generally very welcoming of tourists. In Ghana, the more people living and visiting the beaches, the more dirty they tend to be. But all along the coastline you can find garbage on beaches, the amount depending on ocean currents and weather. In general, the cleanest beaches are the ones furthest away from cities and towns.

Many beaches have golden to light brown sand and large almond and coconut trees providing shade.

Accessibility

The accessibility of the Ghanaian beaches vary greatly with destination, weather, and means of transportation. The easiest beaches to get to are near larger transportation hubs such as Accra, Cape Coast, and Takoradi. The further you want to go from these hubs, the harder it gets. You may need multiple tro-tro’s, and you have to time it right due to limited departures. Taking a taxi solves this problem, but will result in a much higher bill for you. If you are used to European or North American prices, you will find the rates for taking a taxi rather reasonable.

The further you get from the main transportation hubs, the worse the roads generally get. This is usually not a big problem if the weather is good, but during heavy rains and the rainy seasons, roads can literally wash away and the risk of getting stuck in mud is high. Bear in mind that taxi drivers usually ask for higher prices to go on bad road stretches. This is completely fair, since a trip down some of the rural roads will often damage something on the taxi vehicle.

Family/Child Friendliness

If you are looking to take your family to a controlled and safe resort environment as found in popular charter destinations, forget it! There will be bugs and reptiles around, there will be hectic transportation, the hospitals outside the major hubs are not well-equipped, and everything is a little less organised. In other words, it is like it used to be to travel to foreign countries.

Do not expect high service standards – most staff have never traveled to a foreign country and do not know what kind of needs and habits tourists have. Do not expect hot running water and air-condition, and do not expect restaurants to have everything on their menu.

If you are open to some degree of uncomfortability, you and your family will be rewarded.

Is Swimming in Ghana Dangerous?

Most of the coastline is unprotected, so conditions can be rough. This is great for water sports such as surfing and body boarding, but less child friendly. Be extremely cautious when swimming – accidents happen every year – also to good swimmers who panic in rip-currents. Educate yourself and your family before heading out for a swim. If you are after safe swimming, look for protected coves which you will find in Akwidaa and Axim for example.

Nightlife & Socialising

For nightlife at the beach, the beaches near Accra, Cape Coast, and Busua are your best options. Outside of that, the beach lodges on the coast all have bars with varying degree of activity levels. Many Ghanaians do not go out partying during weekends. They rather use funeral celebrations as their party base. Here entire villages will be dancing and drinking away to the sounds of Ghanaian highlife music pumping out of rusty speakers. As a foreigner, you will often be invited to join in the fun, so if you want to immerse yourself in local culture and meet happy Ghanaians, go to a funeral.

If you are not up for partying, but only seek to meet fellow backpackers and travelers, there will be plenty of options if you go to the popular beach destinations. If you are traveling during the off-season and sometimes on weekdays, it will be a lot more quiet. Some beach resorts go days without a single visitor during the rainy season.

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We hope you enjoyed our Ghana Beach Guide. Don’t forget to give your beach score on the individual beach pages. For more travel and beach info, click the buttons below.

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