Coronavirus: Four ways it could change the way Kiwis travel
With travel bans and restrictions in place, airlines cancelling services, hotels going into lockdown, and ordinarily crowded destinations eerily deserted, the coronavirus has already had a massive impact on travel worldwide.
As the number of cases - and death toll - continues to rise and "moral panic" ensues, the travel landscape looks set to change still further.
Here are four ways Covid-19 could change the way we travel this Easter - and potentially beyond.
WHERE WE GO
With 90,870 confirmed cases of coronavirus globally as of March 3, including 10,566 in 72 countries outside China, it's getting harder and harder to avoid places which haven't been impacted.
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You'd have to have an extraordinarily good reason - or be extraordinarily reckless - to travel to mainland China, or Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea right now, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) telling Kiwis not to visit the former, and to avoid non-essential travel to the latter.
China and South Korea aside, the hardest hit countries so far are Italy, Iran, Japan, France, Germany, Spain and Singapore respectively, according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) situation report. But with WHO adding multiple destinations to its list of confirmed cases every day, it's impossible to predict where the virus will spread to next. After all, with three confirmed cases, even our own tiny nation at the ends of the Earth hasn't been spared.
Scott Cleaver, managing director of The Travel Corporation, says it's important to keep things in perspective, and not to panic.
"Our travel business has survived innumerable major world events over the years [the company has just celebrated its 100th birthday] and, not to downplay the significance of Covid-19, but this too shall pass.
"Kiwis have a passion to travel, and we also have a passion to showcase our country and welcome visitors to New Zealand, and I don't see that passion diminishing. While we can't be irresponsible in relation to government advice, we think things will return to normal sooner rather than later."
A House of Travel spokesperson Kate agrees, saying most customers are choosing to defer travel rather than cancel or change destinations.
"Kiwis are still wanting to travel… The current travel situation means lots of deals have become available and they are being snapped up quickly."
Given the virus can be spread by coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact, we're predicting more of us will be seeking out destinations that enable us to get away from it all - and, importantly, other people.
Crowded, communal spaces such as swimming pools and saunas suddenly seem way less appealing, as does any activity that requires touching someone you don't know (note to the dirty minded: I'm talking massages and the like here, not hook ups with strangers).
We could also see less kiss-on-the-cheek greetings, handshakes, and even hongi. The Japanese, Thai and Indians seem to have the most disease-proof ways to physically say hello - bowing and pressing palms together while bowing respectively.
Those who do choose to visit badly impacted destinations are likely to steer clear of super-crowded hot spots, meaning there's more reason that than ever to seek out quieter alternatives. And there are always alternatives which, while never quite the same as the place you'd originally planned on visiting, stand a fair chance of leaving you pleasantly surprised.
If you'd been eyeing up Venice, for example, you could consider a trip to Annecy (aka "the Venice of the French Alps"), where you'll find medieval chateaux amid the maze of canals; Bruges in Belgium, where the fairytale waterways can be enjoyed from the comfort of watering holes with some of the best beer in the world; and Udaipur in India, which boasts a five-star floating hotel on one of its many lakes.
If you want to play it extra safe, head for the hills. Consider the coronavirus added incentive to opt for a walking or cycling holiday, say, over a city break.
It also seems sensible to consider the healthcare facilities in your destination of choice. Does it have well-equipped hospitals, and will you be able to get to them easily?
Considering how scared Kiwis are of the coronavirus, however - with some supporting a travel ban on far more countries - we're predicting a marked rise in the staycation. Over Easter at least.
HOW WE GET THERE
The idea of being confined to a plane cabin crammed full of strangers - some of whom are bound to cough, sneeze or fail to wash their hands after using the loo - is even less appealing than usual right now.
Trains and ferries, which tend to afford passengers slightly more space, could be a better option, but you're essentially still stuck in close quarters with people whose health and standards of personal hygiene you can only guess at. Yet another reason to start plotting a staycation, ideally as a road trip or, if you're up to it, long-distance bike ride.
Face masks, meanwhile, are no longer the sole domain of those from countries where they are ordinarily worn on a daily basis and the ultra paranoid. The medical accessories are in high demand in pharmacies and on TradeMe, although Ministry of Health director general Dr Ashley Bloomfield said there was "limited evidence around the effectiveness" of face masks protecting against contracting the coronavirus, but "people should wear masks if they feel that that is protecting them".
WHERE WE STAY
With hotels in places such as Tenerife and Austria going into lockdown over coronavirus scares, it could be a good time to consider alternative accommodation such as baches, bigger holiday homes and campsites. Places which minimise contact with other people, minimise your chances of contracting the disease, and are consequently likely to give you greater peace of mind.
Personally, bedding down with a bunch of strangers in a hostel seem particularly unappealing right now. Although those with sleeping pods which enable you to seal yourself off from your roomies may be a better bet.
HOW WE PACK
Face masks aside, more of us are likely to be stashing hand sanitiser in our hand luggage.
We're also predicting a marked improvement in personal hygiene standards. We should all be washing our hands for at least 20 seconds before eating or handling food and after coughing, sneezing, blowing our noses, using the toilet and attending to sick people, as the Ministry of Health recommends, but the coronavirus is likely to scare or guilt trip more of us into doing it. Poor personal hygiene isn't just going to gross your fellow travellers these days, it could make them seriously sick.
We're also predicting those travelling with a cold will do their best to conceal it. Coughing, spluttering and sneezing in airports and on planes, trains and public transport is bound to arouse suspicion - and prompt your fellow travellers to give you the stink eye.
STAYING SAFE: Travel advisories and safety warnings can change quickly. Stay safe by checking safetravel.govt.nz before making travel plans, and even up to and during your travel.
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