What will travel in 2022 look like for Australians

Will bubbles burst and corridors turn to chaos? Will pesky isolation rules prevail as the world attempts to return to a sense of ‘normality’? Or will the next year feel a little more like the cherished pre-pandemic times we so sorely miss?

Confidence levels are shaky heading into the back end of 2021, and it’s understandable to see why. With Omicron rearing its ugly head at possibly the worst time – with Christmas plans locked in and the industry finally starting to stagger back to its feet – the impact of the new variant could swing several ways when it comes to tourism in 2022.

Speaking to news.com.au, tourism expert Dr David Beirman of the University of Technology said the global response to the new variant, focusing on caution around Omicron rather than panic – will hopefully keep the industry on the road to recovery.

“It’s a sign of the almost two years of experience in responding to the pandemic that most governments are responding to Omicron with caution rather than hysteria,” Dr Beirman said.

“There has been a shift in governmental approach globally that we need to live with Covid-19 rather than attempt to wipe it out.”

Dr Beirman predicts that despite the apparent mild nature of the new variant – coupled with booster shots now being encouraged around the world, he expects the new strain was likely to curb enthusiasm for international travel in the short term.

But the back end of 2022 looks more optimistic.

“The much anticipated Christmas rush for international travel is likely to be reduced to a stroll,” he said.

“The recovery of international travel is likely to pick up speed and momentum after the key Omicron questions are answered.”

At the final market update for Qantas Group in 2021, CEO Alan Joyce had a similar outlook around confidence levels for the airline’s international network.

“This has been one of the worst halves of the entire pandemic, where most states had their borders closed and the majority of Australians were in lockdown,” Mr Joyce said in December.

“The news of the Omicron variant had a clear impact on people’s confidence to book international trips in particular, but we haven’t seen large numbers of cancellations.

“We were able to switch on an initial wave of international flights in time for the accelerated border opening in November, which meant we could capitalise on pent-up demand.

At the time, Mr Joyce said he was encouraged to see the forecast that the airline expects domestic capacity to be 102 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels by March, and 117 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels by the end of June.

However, for the airline’s international network, travel is only expected to hit 30 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels by March and 60 per cent by the end of June.

Overall, especially on the international front, increased vaccination rates, pent-up demand and accumulated savings will help…