The current health crisis of the Coronavirus, which affects the entire world population, has significant repercussions on all aspects of life, especially health and the economy. The number of infections and deaths continues to rise rapidly, and many shops, cafes and restaurants have had to close.
Aussi the tourism sector is seriously affected by the Coronavirus. But not only travel agencies, flight agencies and hotels are suffering from the current situation. Also tourists have to cancel their long planned trips. Huge numbers of tourists are stuck in tourist areas, such as the Canary Islands, and cannot return home. In addition, travel has so far been severely restricted by the government. Containment rules aim to prevent all movement in order to contain the pandemic.
Governments and other major political actors are all in a state of emergency and new laws or restrictions fall regularly in the face of the evolution of the Coronavirus. It is still early to know when the situation will return to "normal" and therefore difficult to plan any trip whatsoever..
But what are the main measures that have been taken by the government in the face of the current health crisis and how do they influence traffic and travel? This article provides you with an overview of the most important facts.
Measures taken by the government to reduce contact and displacement
In France and since March 17, measures have been taken to reduce contact and travel to the strict minimum. In the general interest and with the objective of getting out of this new crisis as quickly as possible, it is therefore quite simply impossible, at the present time, to travel. Many tourists have had to cancel their spring travel plans and even for the summer there is great uncertainty whether people will be able to go on vacation.
The main goal for now is to organize the return of people who are still in tourist areas, without knowing when they will be able to return. In fact, for people traveling, it was first advised to return to the national territory fairly quickly. Currently the majority of flights are canceled, it can therefore become difficult to return to France. The government has set up a regularly updated travel advice page on the website of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This allows everyone to learn about the situation by country and to be guided in their next decisions.
Border closures and restricted public transport: traffic disruptions
The majority of transport offers are affected by the situation, any border crossing becomes delicate and some borders are now closed. The impact of the Coronavirus on travel is enormous and many trips are or will be canceled. It is sometimes difficult to navigate.
Different airlines, buses or railways continually change their policies. Cancellation, refund or postponement conditions vary constantly. If you've already booked travel and need assistance, Omio can help you find a solution. The most important thing is the safety of people and their good health.
When it comes to planning (or re-planning) a trip, there will always be advice to follow. For now anyway, it is better to postpone the holidays until later, for example in the fall, hoping that the situation will have calmed down by then.
Conclusion: stay home and dream about the next trip
Ban on travel, meeting our friends and family and closing borders, shops and restaurants: the circumstances facing humanity today bring their share of constraints and inconvenience. In addition to the health concerns of our loved ones, we are forced to cancel our plans and stay home, not knowing when this phase will come to an end.
However, there will be an end to all this and a near future that will certainly be more positive and bright. In the meantime, nothing prevents us from thinking now, even from dream, to his next travel destination (with this article for example). Positive thoughts and the anticipation of a trip to better times not only help overcome this difficult time with confinement and the fear of losing loved ones. After all the restrictions and prohibitions in this situation, most people will surely enjoy the beautiful times even more, such as meeting friends and traveling, and learn to make the most of those precious moments and experiences. Thereby, your next trip will certainly have a special taste that will make it special and unforgettable...
