Safety & hygiene tourism trends Whether it is airlines, cruises, hotels, restaurants or bars, since the outbreak of COVID-19, safety and hygiene standards have been absolutely paramount. With this in mind, there are a number of tourism trends that are related to this, such as increased cleaning, socially distanced seating, providing hand gel and enforcing masks in some settings. This is also now a vital part of tourism marketing, with companies needing to make clear what their hygiene and safety policies are and what measures they are taking to keep customers safe. The threat of COVID-19 has meant people are more reluctant to travel and visit tourism hot spots, so they will need to be persuaded that it is safe. Shift from international to local The various travel restrictions and the reluctance of many people to travel abroad has meant many in the tourism industry are having to focus on local customers, rather than international ones. This does not mean giving up on international travelers entirely, but it is likely to require a change in your core marketing strategies. With hotels, it could be best to highlight the kinds of facilities that may appeal to the local market, such as your restaurant, your gym facilities, your Wi-Fi and even the fact that your hotel rooms are ideal for remote work. Airlines and tourism management companies may also need to shift gears to domestic tourists. It is worth remembering that local customers are less likely to cancel too, as they will only have to pay attention to local restrictions and are not as likely to have to quarantine after their visit. Virtual reality tourism trends Virtual reality is another of the major tourism trends disrupting the industry and capitalizing on the technology can give you an edge over rivals who have not yet adopted it. Through online VR tours, customers can experience hotel interiors, restaurant interiors, outdoor tourist attractions and more, all from their home. Importantly, they are able to do this at the decision-making phase of the customer journey. This can then be the difference between customers completing a booking or backing out, and VR is especially useful within the context of COVID-19, where customers may have second thoughts and may need extra encouragement to press ahead with their plans.