By walking the tight line of the tips mentioned below, you can travel without risking your health one bit.
Ever since the pandemic has hit the scene, many industries have fallen apart. Be it education, sports, energy, and resources, or retail, almost all of them have been bearing the brunt of the coronavirus. However, the travel and tourism sector’s deterioration easily surpasses the rest. The latest statistics show that the industry’s revenue came crashing down by a staggering 42 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.
Thankfully, governments and non-profit bodies have somehow managed to control coronavirus to a great extent. We are taking small steps to return to normality. It is one reason why traveling to hot-spots is gradually resuming across the world. As a travel enthusiast, you might be thinking of going for the trip that had been perhaps long-overdue.
That said, the threat of getting infected is still looming around the horizon. But you can explore the world and stay away from the virus simultaneously by subscribing to the following tips:
1. Pack safety essentials
Traveling in new normal requires carrying items that you might not pack otherwise. To give you a better idea, here is what your bag must contain to guarantee a safe and sound trip:
- Gloves
- Digital oximeter
- Face masks and face shields
- Thermometer
- Hand sanitizer with ideal alcohol quantity
- Disinfectant wipes
2. Pay attention to the activities
One could think of a wealth of exciting activities to do on vacation. But it may not be a wise decision to indulge in all of them right now. So you have to cherry-pick the ones that do not expose you to the coronavirus. As a rule of thumb, we would recommend you to stay away from activities that lead to close physical contact. It would be best to engage in outdoor stuff like hiking, camping, etc. If the place you are staying provides a swimming facility, what could be more enjoyable than it. You can stay in hotels in pigeon forge with indoor pool and enjoy leisure time with friends or family.
It would be best to avoid crowded places such as concerts, theaters, and museums. Moreover, do not drop by relative or friend until you are 100 percent sure that they are not carrying the virus.
3. Pick the right mode of transportation
The mode of transportation plays a critical role in decreasing or increasing your chances of contracting the virus. Health experts have categorically said that a car is hands down the safest source of traveling. It is because you do not get to share space with strangers who might have infected themselves along the way. To make the trip even safer, you must take these measures during car travel:
- Cut down the number of stops. Instead of buying food or other supplies down the road, consider taking them from home. In case you run out of food, consider eating at a restaurant offering curbside service.
- If the destination requires a lot of traveling, you might have to add fuel multiples times. Make sure to scrub handles and buttons with a disinfectant wipe before touching them.
- Keep the mask within an easily accessible premise so that you can wear it without any hassle every time you get out of the car.
But the car is not always an option. You have to go by air to a different country or distant location for that matter. As time goes by, airlines are becoming very stringent to abide by the SOPs. To cut down the danger during the flying hours, stick to the chores such as:
- Wash hands frequently.
- Consider booking a window seat as it keeps foot traffic at bay.
- Use High-Efficiency Particle Arrester (HEPA) filter provided by your airline. It wards-off air contaminants.
- Though modern-day airlines stay on top of the cleanliness, it would not be a bad idea to clean the seat with antibacterial wipes.
4. Assess the coronavirus situation at the respective destination
There are many countries whose economies thrive upon the revenue of the travel industry. As travel rules softened internationally, these nations have begun to welcome tourists. But just because they are accepting vacationers does not mean you should go there right away. Thus, it is necessary to drill down your destination before making the final call.
However, you need to check the test positivity rate of a specific country or area into account. Finding an authentic website to know this figure is somewhat a straightforward process. Also, check the availability and condition of hospitals. If hospitals and other health facilities are overwhelmed, you are better off going to a different location.
5. Think through the accommodation
The hotel is the go-to place to stay for a vast majority of tourists. However, unlike in the past, you can’t randomly select a hotel anymore. Many governments have introduced rigorous certification programs for restaurants. Hotel managements have to prove that they are leaving no loopholes to provide a safe environment for their clients. If governments do not find safety measures aligning with the defined standard, they deny the hotels' certificates. So while booking the hotel, it is a must to ask for the certificate.
Your safest bet is to opt for a hotel that has put up a comprehensive plan and visuals on the website to safeguard their guests.
Wrapping up
Finally, the travel industry is out of the suffocation period and starting to flex its muscles after a long time. It is a joyous moment for travel enthusiasts. But you can’t afford to get carried away by the excitement and overlook safety measures. By walking the tight line of the tips mentioned above, you can travel without risking your health one bit.
Image by TheOtherKev from Pixabay
