“The coronavirus lockdown has given society a major psychological trauma that can be cured by sunshine, fresh air and water. The best idea is to set up tourist groups and take people out on nature trips to relax and return back to the cities balanced and mentally healthy,” said Alexander Kravtsov, creator and owner of the Ekspeditsia brand. Still, there is no certainty when we will be allowed to go out of town legally.
There have been no official statements about the opening of the tourist season yet, and the industry is holding its breath. According to Pyotr Kutis, founder of OneTwoTrip and co-founder of AnyWayAnyDay, people are so bored with the lockdown they have begun to book trips for July, August, and September.
“I am actually planning a trip now – to go to Austria on mountain bikes in August with my family. I hope air service will have resumed by then,” Kutis added.
Experts believe domestic tourism will show the fastest growth this summer. This is not at all surprising – according to expert forecasts, airfare prices will rise by an average of 20%, and many Russians will have to choose alternative ways of traveling, for example, driving around the country.
Demand for foreign tours can fall by about 30%, not only because fewer people will be able to afford it, but also for fear of getting infected.
For the same reason, in the upcoming summer season, most tourists will try to avoid large hotels, preferring secluded bungalows, and modest small campsites with separate accommodations. Thematic tourism – for educational or medical purposes – will become trendy, experts say. Asia and Turkey will most likely be the first to open up for Russians.
According to the forecasts of tour operators, the industry will not return to its pre-COVID level for about a year.