5 direct consequences of the corona crisis with a positive impact on travel

Meanwhile we’re all painfully familiar with the negative consequences of the corona crisis and it will probably be a while before we can go back to our pre-corona lives. Still, every cloud has a silver lining and the corona crisis is no different. We have identified 5 direct consequences of the corona crisis that have had a positive impact on travel.

Cleaner air

Not everyone is in agreement that air quality has drastically improved compared to before the outbreak. For instance, a heated public debate is raging on whether or not Low Emission Zones should be maintained. Farmers, economists and scientists all weigh in. Nitrogen dioxide as well as other molecules and atoms are all part of the discussion. Nevertheless, air quality has noticeably improved in various locations around the world. For instance, from various locations in India the Himalayas are visible for the first time in thirty years. The question now is: how long will it last? Here at Uniglobe we were fully aware of the problem even before the corona outbreak. Together with CO2-Logic we have devised a system to compensate for the CO2 emissions from aviation because every little helps!

The tops of the Himalayas are visible from India for the first time in thirty years

Nature is rebounding

In a variety of locations nature is taking over from man. Venice is a textbook example. When Italy went into lockdown this interrupted the endless stream of tourists pouring into the country while the local residents holed up in their houses. Before long the otherwise busily navigated Venetian channels returned to their original clear blue colour. In no time the Venetian waters were teeming with fish, swans, cormorants, oystercatchers and colourful jellyfish. Ducks feel enough at ease to nest near the Piazzale Roma, an otherwise popular square in the Italian tourist city.

Venetian channels crystal clear again​​​​​​​

Less bustle

One of the main challenges for worldwide tourism before Covid-19 was overtourism. During high season a large number of cities and seaside resorts laboured under the adverse effects of a surplus of tourists. Classic examples include Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik and Amsterdam. Historical sites such as Machu Picchu in Peru and Cinque Terre in Italy have already imposed visitor restrictions. This forced reset of the travel industry constitutes an unprecedented opportunity to gradually return to a balanced situation of responsible tourism.

Thousands of tourists swarm around the Trevi fountain in Rome in hopes of taking a selfie.

And let’s be honest here: No one wants to see scenes like this again...

Cashless payments

How many times have you found yourself in a shop where you can only pay in cash? Very annoying with an ice cream cone in your hands or when you only brought your bank card. In this regard we were already lagging several years behind such countries as China, where cashless payments have been the norm for quite some time. Due to the strict hygiene rules that are in place, cash is now banned everywhere and most shops have switched to cashless payments. Indeed, in the near future even paying by smartphone will soon be possible just about anywhere!

Carpe Diem

Corona has made us see we can’t take anything for granted. For a short while we’ve managed to escape the rat race and the fad of the day. We’ve been made to realise what is truly important and what is missing from our lives. Some people went on holiday up to four times a year, perhaps on autopilot. Now all of us are pining for a real holiday. Just a week would be great. The destination is not that important right now. A bit of quality time is what really matters and that should always be what a holiday is about. Who knows, we may start to enjoy life a bit more from now on!

Here at Uniglobe we can’t wait to get back to the new normal but we will also contribute to a better and more sustainable normal than before!