Should you make future travel plans now?

Posted by Anita Froneman on 14 April 2020

The nation is under lockdown and everything has ground to a halt. Tourism is not categorised as an essential service and as such, all travel has been banned both locally and internationally.

The nationwide lockdown is due to end on 30 April, but we have learned that things change often and of course, safety comes first. There is no guarantee when things will really be back to normal again.

Meanwhile, many of us have had to cancel our travel plans or are planning to travel once we can. But is it wise to make plans in this uncertain time? We have some tips on how to plan your future travels.

Plan, but don’t book

Some argue that if you book a trip far enough ahead, you will save money by taking advantage of low airfare prices. Under usual circumstances, we agree. However, even though some prices might be exceptionally low at the moment due to significantly reduced air travel across the world, it might not be wise to book now. Airlines might undergo restructuring which might mean fewer routes are travelled, or less flights could be available. ‘If the recovery is as slow as we fear, it means our airline and our workforce will have to be smaller than it is today,’ said United CEO Oscar Munoz and President Scott Kirby according to CNN.

This shouldn’t stop you from planning your next trip though! Get inspired, do research and work out itineraries. You can do everything except actually make bookings. Once things return to normal, just head over and book.

If you want to book, book smart

If you do feel like you can’t resist the great prices or come across a really good offer you want to book, make sure you do it smart. Only book if you have the option of cancelling and receiving a refund, or have flexible dates, for instance. Take out good travel insurance to help cover the bases should you have troubles with refunds.

It’s also the best idea to travel locally instead of internationally, as it will help the tourism industry and economy as a whole get back on their feet. Hotels, lodges, tour operators, local airlines, trains and various other parts of the industry are suffering immense losses during the lockdown, and the way for us to help is to support local once we are able to do so. Explore our vast and beautiful country first, Europe can wait!

Stay up to date

If you’re planning to travel, make sure you stay up to date with everything that’s happening around the coronavirus and how it affects restrictions. You don’t want to waste time should you need to postpone your dates. The best route to take is to keep in touch with your travel agent or specific airline, accommodation or tour operator, as policies are different to each company.

Make sure you follow reliable news sources and beware of fake news.

Image: Unsplash

 

 






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