If you are reading in this Forum, I presume that you have an interest in, and actively participate in, recreational travel.
Are "we" willing to stand by and let it die - killed off by pusillanimous politicians who are frighted of being blamed for "unnecessary" (but inevitable) deaths?
The Cruise industry will not survive. How can it? Its main customer base is over 65 years old (I'm 70), and as a group, those folks are going to be very reluctant to get into a sealed vessel with a couple thousand strangers, who might be carrying who-knows-what disease into their midst. And to say that "It will just take time" is oblivious to reality. You can't put those billion-dollar vessels into dry dock and leave them to rot until the People are ready to use them again. And they cannot travel half-full; even if the cruise lines are perfectly financially healthy when the restrictions are lifted (they are not), one travel season of half-full ships would drive them into bankruptcy.
And you probably know that those cabin boys and waitresses, etc., are mainly from what some refer to as "shit hole" countries, and they may not even be around when the cruise ships come calling again - not that they ever will.
Same for resorts (like those owned by Trump Properties). They cannot survive half-full. They have staffing requirements that can't be shrunk significantly. Buildings quickly go into disrepair when they are shuttered.
National parks will undoubtedly survive (we are paying for them regardless), but the hotels, motels, etc. near them may not.
Air BnB should see a surge of new business after the restrictions are lifted. Those properties are not going away. Even if the owners go bankrupt someone will snatch up the properties and make them available in the future.
But what about restaurants in tourist areas? People are speculating that those establishments might survive until the veil is lifted, but do you think about the next question: Can they operate under restrictions that will cut their business revenue in half? Most of them have microscopic profits in good times; they will not be viable businesses with half the customers and half the revenue, as "social distancing" will demand. Consider the wait staff. If tipping is not greatly enhanced, their hourly compensation will be reduced significantly.
For travelers it will be a whole new world. As someone who greatly enjoyed my Viking River cruises in Europe, I simply don't think I will ever have that experience again. Maybe bus tours would fare better. But who knows?
Are "we" willing to stand by and let it die - killed off by pusillanimous politicians who are frighted of being blamed for "unnecessary" (but inevitable) deaths?
The Cruise industry will not survive. How can it? Its main customer base is over 65 years old (I'm 70), and as a group, those folks are going to be very reluctant to get into a sealed vessel with a couple thousand strangers, who might be carrying who-knows-what disease into their midst. And to say that "It will just take time" is oblivious to reality. You can't put those billion-dollar vessels into dry dock and leave them to rot until the People are ready to use them again. And they cannot travel half-full; even if the cruise lines are perfectly financially healthy when the restrictions are lifted (they are not), one travel season of half-full ships would drive them into bankruptcy.
And you probably know that those cabin boys and waitresses, etc., are mainly from what some refer to as "shit hole" countries, and they may not even be around when the cruise ships come calling again - not that they ever will.
Same for resorts (like those owned by Trump Properties). They cannot survive half-full. They have staffing requirements that can't be shrunk significantly. Buildings quickly go into disrepair when they are shuttered.
National parks will undoubtedly survive (we are paying for them regardless), but the hotels, motels, etc. near them may not.
Air BnB should see a surge of new business after the restrictions are lifted. Those properties are not going away. Even if the owners go bankrupt someone will snatch up the properties and make them available in the future.
But what about restaurants in tourist areas? People are speculating that those establishments might survive until the veil is lifted, but do you think about the next question: Can they operate under restrictions that will cut their business revenue in half? Most of them have microscopic profits in good times; they will not be viable businesses with half the customers and half the revenue, as "social distancing" will demand. Consider the wait staff. If tipping is not greatly enhanced, their hourly compensation will be reduced significantly.
For travelers it will be a whole new world. As someone who greatly enjoyed my Viking River cruises in Europe, I simply don't think I will ever have that experience again. Maybe bus tours would fare better. But who knows?