Can I Travel Once Coronavirus Ends?

Starting to venture out again in December 2021, I noticed that a full vaccination indeed came with an end to quarantine requirements in Europe and Southeast Asia. However, this freedom comes with conditions and responsibilities. Whether you can travel post-COVID hinges on your health status and adherence to testing protocols.

Health Conditions and Testing

Once fully recovered, and with a negative test result for the disease, you can travel. Nevertheless, the rules vary from country to country and airline to airline. If you test positive, you are likely to be barred from travel. Some individuals test positive even months after their symptoms have subsided. This highlights the importance of staying updated with the ever-changing regulations. Always check the specific rules that apply to your travel plans.

Anticipated Changes

Many expect a significant shift in travel policies. The global pandemic has exposed the high economic and social costs of leaving international travel unregulated, until the virus can be effectively managed. New Zealand’s successful approach serves as an example. Hence, expect stricter measures such as travel bans and mandatory quarantine upon signs of resurgence.

Travel insurance will undeniably increase, particularly to cover pandemic-related issues like overstay repatriation and quarantine costs. This insurance may become mandatory, as failure to purchase it could result in being denied entry or forced to buy it at border checkpoints before boarding your flight.

Vaccination and Entry Requirements

Vaccination is set to become a rites of passage for international travel, with mandatory vaccination programs expected to persist for years following the pandemic. This measure aims to protect countries from sudden waves of the virus.

Future Traveling Behavior

Pandemic-induced travel will encompass a range of safety measures, similar to staying home during the pandemic. Travel will come with new perspectives, behaviors, and engagements. People may feel more unfamiliar with one another, and travel might be more restrictive than ever before. It’s important to adapt to these changes.

Expert Advice on Travel Planning

For those still hesitant, the first advice is to avoid traveling until September-October, when international borders are fully open for tourism. At this point, we can better gauge the world’s preparedness for a travel resurgence. Picking safe destinations and keeping abreast of their current situations will help mitigate risks. Mixed group tours should be avoided, with customized tours being a safer alternative. Personal hygiene and precautions should always be prioritized, regardless of the number of days spent traveling.

Keyword: travel after coronavirus, travel insurance, mandatory quarantine