The metamorphosis in tourism, the blow to business travel and Mexico until 2024

Note published on July 26 in La Razión de México in the Opinión [Opinion] Section by Ángeles Aguilar.
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What is my place of departure? and, where am I going?… two questions that are particularly relevant in the area of travel.

Last year, restrictions on mobility due to the pandemic and the implementation of mandatory quarantines were the cause of an avalanche of cancellations and of the closing of routes.

According to data from the World Tourism Organization, global travel in 2020 suffered a collapse of 73%.

The expert on airport services and experiences, Collinson Group, headed by David Evans, recently released its report “Priority Pass Travel Sentiment Survey”, a study that measures the concerns and travel possibilities of 46,830 members of Priority Pass worldwide …

Delayed flight…The brakes applied in 2020 were evident. In average, the number of trips made by respondents went from 9.6 times a year to just 1.5, a situation that was even more piteous in international travel, where they were reduced to only 0.6 per year.

In this respect, the advance in vaccination will be crucial in the stimulation of this damaged sector. 76% of interviewees would be more willing to travel to places with high inoculation rates and 3 out of 10 could do so within the next 3 months.

If this is the case, it is estimated that the average number of trips could rise to 5.9 per year in the next 12 months.

Although disparities will persist. While the United States has practically recovered the influx of trips it had in 2019, in emerging markets, such as Mexico, where the vaccination rate is low, total recovery could take until 2024…

The metamorphosis … Be as it may, many of the changes deriving from Covid-19 are here to stay.

Mauricio Molina, vice-president of Collinson Group for America, points out that the configuration of aviation has changed, possibly in a permanent manner. Business travel, which previously accounted for 52% of the total, is only one third at this time.

Additionally, toward 2024, it is estimated that business travel will barely reach a recuperation of 80%, given the spike in videoconferencing and platforms used for meetings which limit the need for travel.

In order to take the changes in the structure of travelers into account, the future of airports and airlines will be linked to the implementation of improved technological safety measures.

42% of respondents state that the obligation of presenting a negative test before departure reduces their fear of traveling; therefore, airports could implement special kiosks for the detection of diseases.

Likewise, the use of technology in documentation could increase, 24% of respondents state that they would prefer using automated check-in counters and 48% would seek private waiting rooms with all hygiene measures.

In turn, despite its high controversy, 56% support the idea of a digital health passport with a record of vaccination and tests. As you can see, travelers are undergoing a metamorphosis…

This week, IMEF meeting on outsourcing

On July 28 … the IMEF [Mexican Institute of Finance Executives], headed by Ángel García-Lascurain, will hold its meeting on “What is coming after Outsourcing” in which specialists will conduct an exhaustive analysis on the challenges in face of the legal changes, the key labor, union, tax, benefits, housing and social security aspects, the times for their implementation and amparo proceedings.

I noted the presence of experts such as Óscar de la Vega, partner at De La Vega & Martínez Rojas; Pablo Mendoza, director at Crowe México, and Carlos de la Fuente, expert on this matter from EY. Take note…