| | DECEMBER 20208After months of being in lockdown with vacation plans on hold, the gradual resumption of international travel has easily become one of the most anticipated events for people across the globe. Several studies have shown that while the travel sector has been impacted severely, resumption of travel continues to be highly anticipated. Although modest right now, travel is anticipated to get only more promising going forward. Amidst all the enthusiasm, the industry is reinvent-ing itself in anticipation of how behaviour of travellers will evolve post-pandemic. There could be changes in choice of destinations, increased caution around air travel, and an extremely vigilant eye on health consid-erations and more, all in the aftermath of COVID-19. To stay a step ahead in addressing these trends, the industry needs to do its might to enable a safe, smart and digital approach to travel planning, and health and safety procedures. Faced with a new reality, here's are the possible new ways travel could change in the upcoming era: Exclusive experiences Early into the COVID-induced lockdown, some felt the era of affordable travel was over, in context to the new requirements of physical distancing, and emp-ty middle seats in airplanes. Over the last couple of decades, the travel industry had seen a shift from be-ing an exclusive experience to a more accessible and affordable one - with increase in number of budget flights, hostels, homestays, rental accommodations, and some nifty online travel planning. International THOUGHT LEADERSHIPA TIME OF EVOLUTION IN TRAVEL?By Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO (South Asia, Middle East & North Africa and Americas), VFS GlobalAs the Regional Group Chief Operating Officer at VFS Global, Vinay leads the business in the regions of South Asia, Middle East & North Africa and Americas.Vinay Malhotra,Regional Group COO
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