The coronavirus has left the travel industry financially strained since the outbreak began at the beginning of the year. With airlines and cruises being forced to reschedule and cancel, the travel industry has never looked more uncertain.
However, one travel expert has revealed that there may well be a light at the end of the tunnel for the industry.
Travel and content writer Pola Henderson spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about the future of the travel industry after the coronavirus.
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Pola, who is currently based in Paris, has family in Poland and has previously lived in Chicago in the US.
She currently runs her own travel website called Jetting Around which is all about her own travel experiences.
Her most recent trip before the COVID-19 crisis erupted was to the beautiful island of Martinique.
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She also added that travellers might be more likely to travel closer to home for shorter periods of time which will give some areas of the travel industry the opportunity to rejuvenate.
She said: “I think before we start travelling far to other continents, we will start travelling closer to home and for shorter periods of time.
“We will see more long weekends, we will see more local travel, maybe more train travel even though you can touch germs on a train, I feel like people are more likely to travel on a train than a plane because you’re not in the air with someone for a few hours with someone.
“With a train there is this idea of ‘okay, I can get off at the next station if I have to’.
“I think we will see more local travel because it is logistically easier because some countries will still have restrictions.
“Some countries might ask people to self-quarantine for a few days depending on where they have come from which will ruin people’s vacations.
“It’s going to be cheaper and easier and safer to stay closer to home.”
Pola also suggested that car rental companies might boom after the coronavirus.
“People may rent cars more compared to taking public transport and perhaps more travel to small places instead of going to cities.
“So there may be an opportunity for car rental companies,” she said.
However, the travel writer isn’t as optimistic about the future of the ocean cruise industry.
“I think cruise ships will have a hard time attracting new customers,” she added.
She continued: “I think perhaps river cruises will be a different story.
“I did an ocean cruise once and it wasn’t my thing. But I did a river cruise through the south of France and it was a fantastic experience.
“You’re on a smaller ship with about 150 people, you have a lot more space, you’re not confined on this one big floating device.
“I think perhaps river cruises will be a nice alternative for some people who are a little afraid to go on an ocean cruise. Of course, this is like trying to look into a crystal ball.”
