Reflecting on Five Years Since COVID-19: How Travel Has Transformed

As we commemorate five years since the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, we explore how travel behavior has evolved following the emergency lockdowns and the subsequent travel boom, inviting readers to share their personal experiences.

Five years have passed since the world dramatically shifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization designated the outbreak as a pandemic, prompting immediate statewide shutdowns and travel limitations across the United States. Almost overnight, travel came to a screeching halt.

By the end of March 2020, the European Union imposed a ban on nonessential travel from outside its borders, and U.S. cruise ships found themselves grounded by a strict no-sail order. These drastic measures included an array of stay-at-home orders dutifully implemented by state governors to contain the virus. Travel, once taken for granted, ceased to exist for months.

The rebound began with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the spring of 2021, slowly allowing travel to resume. However, the baggage of the pandemic lingered, as travelers were required to wear face masks on planes and in airports. As restrictions lifted, a wave of "revenge travel" surged as people yearned to reclaim lost travel experiences.

Popular tourist destinations, once quiet, are now bustling hotspots again, with cities like Venice, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik experiencing a sudden influx of visitors. The pendulum swung from a tourism drought to overtourism in a rather dramatic fashion, compelling officials in these places to implement measures such as fees and restrictions to manage the overwhelming crowds.

The past five years of travel have been characterized by a profound transformation, and we are keen to understand how this tumultuous journey has reshaped your perceptions of travel. We invite you to share your experiences, thoughts, and changes in travel habits post-pandemic, promising to read every response and reach out to stories that resonate—while assuring your privacy and confidentiality in the process.