Compared to the previous year, travelers, of course, have a little better life. Sometimes tourists need to comply with a lot of additional conditions: have a vaccine, a PCR test and fill out a bunch of different pieces of paper, but nevertheless. However, the pandemic is not over yet, the rules for entering already open countries are constantly changing, and the Omicron strain threatens a new wave of restrictions. Can we put on our T-shirt with the emblem Atlanta braves and plan a long distance trip to USA or wait? What will happen to trips abroad?
Overall Trends
Absolutely all experts agree that the prospects for foreign trips are completely dependent on the development of the situation with the pandemic, which is impossible to predict. New directions will open unevenly and almost unpredictably. The only thing you can count on for now is Turkey and Egypt, which are doing everything possible to ensure that tourists continue to visit them and support the local economy. There is a world trend towards long-distance travel, which will continue in 2022.
People travel less often, and many people want to go farther away if they have the opportunity to do so. Demands have increased for exotic countries in South America and Africa, not to mention the more or less familiar Cuba, Maldives and Seychelles. Eco-tours continue to be popular. Firstly, it is fashionable, and secondly, it is much safer to relax in nature than in cities where there is always a risk of catching the virus.
Asia
Many people are worried when we will finally be allowed into the countries of Southeast Asia, but everything is as unpredictable as possible. Formally, many of them are open, but the rules of entry are often so confusing that it is easier to go somewhere else. Thailand alone has three modes of entry for tourists: one for Phuket, one for Bangkok, and the third for Pattaya, and they change quite often. Buying a tour in advance in changing conditions is a big risk. Vietnam has also been opened (with a week of quarantine and a large list of requirements for entry), and in South Asia, Sri Lanka, which, by the way, has simplified the rules of entry since January: vaccinated tourists are exempt from PCR test
Europe and America
As for Europe, you need to get vaccinated with Pfizer, for example, in Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, and you can travel around Europe. Or go to America for baseball games. More than 11 million Americans are now involved in this sport, second only to American football in popularity. So you can put on a T- shirt with Tennessee titans logo and go to USA.
Prices
What will happen to prices? Sales of tours for the summer season 2022 have already begun, but the demand is still modest: people are afraid to make such long-term plans. However, right now it is most profitable to buy them: summer tours are 25-30% cheaper than they will cost on the eve of the season. If nothing unexpected happens, such as a massive closure of borders due to a new strain, prices will rise. First of all, this will be due to demand, and secondly, because of changed conditions in some specific countries. In particular, Turkey plans to restore 8% VAT and a hotel accommodation tax (plus another 2%), and in Egypt, by decree of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, from May 1, the minimum cost of staying in hotels will increase: 25% at 5 stars and 40% at 4 stars.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
