What a Covid-19 vaccine means for the travel industry

(CNN) — It was the good news that gave the world hope.

The beleaguered travel industry immediately got a boost, with airline and cruise company share prices rallying, and tour operators seeing upticks in searches and bookings for 2021. Finally, it feels as if vacations might be in our future.

But will travel post-vaccine go back to how things were, or has your vacation been irrevocably changed?

“I think it’s just a matter of time before things come back to some degree of normality, but it’ll take quite a long time,” she says.

Pfizer’s vaccine has a success rate of over 90%.

Pfizer

“We should be encouraged but understand it’s unlikely to be as rapid as governments are suggesting,” she says.

“If they can find a way to transport it properly (it needs to be stored at minus 70 C, or minus 94 F), it could be early next year before things start to get going. Countries whose economies are based on tourism will be desperate to get people back and moving, but most people (in the travel industry) aren’t hopeful that things will really pick up until the fall of 2021.”

And don’t assume that once a vaccination program starts rolling out, you can jump on the next plane, whether or not you’ve had it. Nicholson reckons that proof of vaccination might become advisory, or even mandatory, for destinations.

An international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis (ICVP) — which travelers must carry to enter certain countries which mandate a yellow fever vaccination, or to exit those with high polio risk — could be the next addition to your travel kit.

“I think we’ll have a formal certificate, either online or on paper, showing that you’ve been vaccinated at a recognized, accredited clinic, as we do for yellow fever,” she says.

“It’ll be the destination demanding it — and that could be everyone.

“Most countries where there’s a vulnerable or older population will certainly be demanding proof because we know how devastating the disease can be.”

Making up for lost time

People are splashing out on post-Covid trips of a lifetime to places such as Patagonia.

Bluegreenadventures.com

So, you’ve had your jab, and are carrying your certificate — what next?

Well, you might be off on the trip of a lifetime, according to tour operators.

And of those who can afford to go abroad next year, many are splashing out, he says, with the average booking value increasing by about 20% this week, compared to pre-Covid…