Light at the end of the lockdown tunnel: The positives of a temporary travel ban

Here are a few small comforts that can be found because the world is unable to travel.

Recently, global flights have reached an all-time low, with most countries having enforced travel restrictions and most major airlines halting flights. Under the current situation, it’s too easy to feel gloomy about our involuntary home confinements, but, as in any situation, there’s a bright side too. Here are a few unsuspecting positives to our temporary travel ban.

Saving money on travel costs

Travel isn’t cheap in any sense: there’s the costly return flight, accommodation, day-to-day expenses, extra cash needed for activities and tours, a visa fee if applicable, transport on the ground and travel insurance.

While it is awfully disappointing and unfortunate that we may have had to scrap plans that could have been months long in the making, or even postpone trips to an indefinite date, at least our bank balance looks a little more bloated than anticipated. In the current economic climate, it’s not such a bad thing to have saved some extra bucks while markets are crashing and unemployment statistics rise.

Possible flight deals

At present, there are conflicting reports of what future flight prices may look like. Some claim that airlines will be desperate to sell tickets and to regain confidence from fearful passengers, and, thus, ticket prices may be slashed to promote sales. An opposing line of thought emphasises that the travel and flight market is severely scarred: airlines may charge more to recoup lost sales and decreased demand may lead to inflated prices.

Although uncertain on how things may pan out, the possibility itself keeps skies looking bright. Reports reveal that Chinese airlines offered shockingly low domestic flight bookings once their restrictions were lifted, and if this is an indication to go by, then there’s always that to look forward to.

Well-structured and defined itineraries and destination ideas

After having had no choice but to stay home, frequent travellers are likely to have spent the last few months day dreaming about future trips and mapping out the best potential itineraries. Unlike sometimes ill-conceived or hasty bookings, we now have an increased time to maximise on the planning stage, decide on the most appropriate destination and compare different packages (despite not having accurate prices, companies will still be able to provide information on all their stops and accommodation providers on tours, allowing you to compare options).

Environmental rejuvenation

Recently, the travel industry has come under increased fire over the catastrophic and, usually, long-lasting, negative environmental impacts. Over-tourism plagues once idyllic and exotic locations, whilst cruise ships dump oil and waste into rivers and seas. The temporary global shutdown has given the environment time to recover and to attempt to unearth its once famed glories: canals and lakes get clearer by the day, the skies are free from the ugly scar of airline smoke and plumes, whilst wildlife roams around more freely.

Once we’re able to return to travel, we’ll return to the more picturesque and prized versions of recently tourist-tainted traps — at first, anyway.

While there are definite and negative impacts in global travel, there is a handful of positives we can always look to. We will return to explore our beautiful world soon, and it’ll be more welcoming to us than ever before.

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