The pandemic has hit us hard, and no industrial sector has remained unaffected. But things are gradually moving back to place, and most industries are back on their path to recovery. So today, we, at Avlon Shiksha Niketan, have brought for you a deep insight into the various ways in which the tourism sector is rebuilding itself and what strategies are being put to use to bounce back to its previous glory.
30-second summary:
- Tourism businesses have amped their marketing efforts to incentivize regional and domestic travel
- Greater focus is being laid on environmental concerns, social impact, and corporate governance needs
- Travelers, and thereby businesses, are focusing more on eco-tourism pursuits
- Businesses are implementing better cybersecurity to deal with emerging data breaches and fraudulency
- More emphasis on increased readiness and proper implementation of the health and safety protocols
In the setbacks and losses that the world has had to suffer because of the pandemic, several industries have hit major stumbling blocks. And we cannot deny the fact that the tourism sector is one such industry that faced the consequences of the lockdown and travel restrictions. It is a sector that has always held the distinction of being one of the highest contributors to the country’s GDP. However, with the pandemic looming large, the industry faced a serious loss of steady revenue generation.
And yet, the tourism sector leaders have continued to stay steadfast and strong in the face of this adversity. In the last couple of months, all of us have witnessed the efforts that the sector has been pouring in towards improving traveler safety, providing for their workforce, and supporting local communities. In fact, the business leaders are in a bid to take this crisis as an opportunity to rethink their policies and enable the sustainable growth of the sector. And so, here we are today to take a closer look at how the sector is most likely to rebuild itself post pandemic.
- Starting with regional and domestic tourism to promote traveling
At Avlon Shiksha Niketan, a well-known tourism management institute in Kolkata, we firmly believe that when travelers start navigating the post-pandemic world, local travel will come to the forefront as a safer, easier, and more sustainable option. In fact, reports suggest that 58 percent of individuals are eager to travel to nearby regions that are accessible by car.
In order to capitalize on the initial stage of recovery, tourism boards and organizations are more likely to focus their early marketing efforts on incentivizing regional and domestic travel. We can expect them to inspire eager travelers to explore nearby destinations and attractions. 24 percent of travelers are already interested in seeking out hidden gems to tell their local friends and family about. Thus, domestic tourism will be the first to get a boost, followed by a medium haul between regions and finally, international travel.
- Ingraining greater sustainability in the processes and practices
Studies report that over 73% of consumers are taking note of brands that are making a difference during COVID-19, and that includes making sustainable choices. After all, the lockdown has offered ample evidence of human impact on the environment. Thus, the businesses will have a renewed call to action and adopt more sustainable practices. Regardless of the scale, the businesses are expected to focus more on the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) spectrum to address environmental concerns, social impact on local communities, and corporate governance needs.
Furthermore, travelers are likely to make a positive difference while traveling, thereby turning to eco-tourism. Thus, businesses would develop their portfolio of natural destinations and highlight their ecological benefits.
- Bring greater spotlight on measures related to cybersecurity
With the pandemic making the consumers more comfortable with working, buying, and being online, the tourism businesses will also have to make major shifts towards digitalization. As such, payment processing systems, reservation apps, and loyalty programs connected to digital platforms and digital corporate networks will increase the likelihood of attacks.
Therefore, the tourism sector will focus more on strengthening the cybersecurity measures after the pandemic. Enhanced cybersecurity is required to deal with emerging data breaches and fraudulency and also to make the adoption of new technologies easier. In addition, several job roles in the sector might make a shift to remote work, and as such, more robust security measures will be needed to make that transition smooth.
- Focus on implementing and highlighting the prescribed health and safety standards
According to 69% of travelers, cleanliness is a critical component of a travel brand’s crisis response, which is also one of the proofs that safety and health are paramount in the new era. Thus, it is important to keep in mind that even post-pandemic, personal experiences, the dread of being stuck in another region, and concerns about social distancing will continue to guide consumer behavior in both short and mid-term.
As a result, businesses will continue to collaborate more closely with the extended value chains, including suppliers and employees, to make sure of the readiness and implementation of the safety protocols. Also, since the trust between businesses and tourists will be a crucial factor in the recovery of the sector, the sector will keenly focus on promoting the safety measures undertaken.
- Enriching the talent pool to have a more multi-skilled workforce
Of course, we cannot conclude this discussion without throwing some light on the post-pandemic world of jobs and careers in the tourism sector. The crisis has clearly outlined the requirement to have a technologically proficient and multi-skilled workforce. Furthermore, the move to remote work has unlocked the potential to hire talent from all parts of the world.
Businesses are thus more likely to target a diverse skillset among the employees to plan for workforce continuity and reallocation of future stocks. They would preferably invest in cross-training their employees in multiple topics and digitally upskilling the workforce, along with recruiting tech-savvy talents across job roles.
All in all, there is no denying that the world of tourism is going to witness a sea change in the post-pandemic era. And we, at Avlon Shiksha Niketan, as one of the best tourism management institutes in Kolkata, are right here to prepare you well for the new and improved world of tourism jobs. Our teaching methodology has always focused on real-world approaches and keeping up with the trends, and these are the aspects that make our young professionals stand out today and tomorrow.
So, if you are planning to launch a glorious career in the field of travel and tourism, join us at Avlon Shiksha Niketan and get going for your future role in full swing.