Staying close to home: Summer vacations could look quite different once travel returns

As parts of Washington enter phases of reopening, tourism leaders say families have started to ask about summer travel. If all goes well, more trips could begin by July or August.

When travel does return, it will look different for a while, said David Blandford of the Washington Tourism Alliance. Nationally, the industry expects trends of shorter vehicle trips as travelers and businesses navigate safety rules due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Based on travel research, all states are expecting some travel, estimated to pick up by July or August with more road trips and fewer flights, he said.

“I think it will be shorter trips closer to home,” Blandford said. “We’ll see more in-state travel, so traversing within your own backyard. As time goes by, we’ll see more regional travel and U.S. travel.”

As interim head of the tourism marketing nonprofit, Blandford urges people to remain flexible with travel plans, but he said families probably should start research now. They need to monitor a destination’s safety rules and cancellation policies.

“The key word is planning, and it’s become increasingly important for all travelers to research ahead of time, to understand any special restrictions and protocols and to be sensitive that different destinations or travel may have different requirements.”

Erin Rogers, AAA Washington store manager for Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, said that in the past three weeks more people are calling to plan road trips near home. Most members are asking about day ventures to Palouse Falls, Kettle Falls and Steptoe Butte.

“We’ve got more requests for day trips and for road trip information,” Rogers said. “The calls have been for places to go in a day and come back, just to get outside the home for the day but be together in the car enjoying the scenery.”

Responsible travel will be key with adherence to safety, Blandford said. Phase 1 restrictions now are expected through the end of May, but possibly into June or July depending on data. Each phase is expected to last three weeks based on the virus incubation.

“We feel family travel will open and continue to unfold and grow this summer just like every other sector of business,” he said. “We’ll have to look at data in real time.”

As trips happen, travelers should pack cloth face coverings and sanitizer if they have it. Don’t be surprised if you encounter temperature checks and limits on the number of people in one space.

“So much of travel is congregate,” Blandford added, but group travel allowances are expected to change through the different phases.

“Families will need to watch that,” he said. “They’re going to have to monitor the phases and know that the times for phases are in flux. The governor said he’ll have to evaluate and look at data.”

“We hope in July and August, we will have moved into Phase 3,” which would open up more travel.

AAA Washington’s local offices are closed, but employees are working from home helping customers with future travel, she said. It’s a bit tougher to plan farther-flung trips now, she said, although a few people have asked about flights to Florida or Arizona.

“We don’t know how summer plans are going to shake out, so my suggestion is to follow the government guidelines,” Rogers said.

“We are getting requests for summer travel. People are still interested in going somewhere. A lot more domestic travel is more popular. We have people wanting to book and are starting to look at it.”

She recommends to study cancellation policies and avoid nonrefundable rates in case stricter policies return. “Read the cancellation policies and understand them.”

CDC and local guidance

Federal advisories still recommend staying home as much as possible. However, updates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer U.S. travel cautions under the White House’s Opening Up America Again plan, as “some parts of the country may have different guidance than other areas.”

“The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States is a rapidly evolving situation,” the CDC says. “The status of outbreak varies by location and state, and local authorities are updating their guidance frequently.”

“Check with the state or local authorities where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn about local circumstances and any restrictions that may be in place.”

The agency said travelers should follow COVID-19 safety protocols, from hand-washing to wearing a cloth face mask in public. Rogers suggests checking with a region’s travel offices, agencies that manage open spaces and municipalities.

Some hotels are operating, and others are still closed pending updates but might be taking reservations. Any large-group travel remains more uncertain, Rogers said. A cruise she booked for October was canceled, and it’s now scheduled for fall 2021.

Travel conforms to crisis

Expect new industry responses due to the coronavirus, Blandford said. Travelers and the industry had to adapt before to crisis events like 9/11 and the Great Recession.

Security changes followed 9/11, and travelers adapted to allow more time to get through security checks and in what they could bring, he said. The recession’s tighter travel budgets led to leaner hospitality options and innovations.

“I think it’s what is happening with the pandemic,” Blandford said. “Travelers will need to be sophisticated, allow time, be flexible, verify cancellation policies and learn other dynamics of travel. The travel industry is often on the leading edge of change.

“Americans will travel. We know there is pent-up demand for travel. Really what has changed is the way we travel. Travelers will adapt and figure it out. They will find a way of traveling in this new paradigm.”

Research will need to check if lodging, visitor attractions and restaurants are indeed open, and if any hours are different, he said. Travelers also will need to respect social distancing.

Under other considerations, travelers should check where masks might be required inside or outside along routes. In making reservations, do another quick check before you leave to see if there are any changes or new restrictions.

“For travelers, one other aspect is understanding their intended destination,” Blandford added.

“There is a difference between small towns and big cities, an urban experience vs. outdoor recreation. Travelers will need to understand some small communities are sensitive to being overwhelmed by large numbers and may not have resources to handle it.”

Any travel gains might get backtracked if data start to show spikes of the virus or if there’s a resurgence in the fall, he said. But he hopes that isn’t the case. Travel and tourism rank as the fourth-largest state industry, supporting jobs and economic impact.

“We can’t afford to stop travel and tourism,” he said. “We need to do it as it’s safe and adhere to protocols. There is a way to do it, and I’m sure that will unfold as we go throughout the summer.

“I would say it’s important to understand that travel, just like life, will go on. We have to find safe and smart ways to do that, and we can.”