Traveler’s changing behavior and preferences in near future

How safety threats impact travelers’ behavior and preferences? High time we think deep before our pent-up desire to travel gushes forth. Safe travel is the most important factor giving a firm mental support to the consumers that their trip is insulated from threats and they would come back home in one piece.

A nagging fear looms throughout the journey if there is even a hint of jeopardy in the course of travel. Each one of us is concerned with our dear lives and incited with the possible risk of travel, our anxiety multiplies no sooner we have taken a seat boarding the flight for a trip onward.

Much of the traveler’s changing behavior and preferences in the near future is viewed from the safety angle shaping their decisions and choices.

Identifying safety threats is more important

Just like travel protocols went more stringent in terms of security arrangements post terrorist assaults on 9/11 , health and sanitation requirements would be tighter after the Covid pandemic had shown it’s color.

The move is along a unilateral decision line not calling for consumer opinion. To put it in simple words travelers won’t like to go through these procedures that do not give a guarantee for safe travel. When they sniff troubled water they prefer to stay out altogether with the travel bug still biting. Testing the water for possible harms is not the traveler’s cup of tea. He is more occupied with the subtle flavor of the trip.

Simply, opting out of travel by flight and choosing a road trip instead is what they would likely do. The reigns are in consumer’s hands and they have enough options to workout a risk free hygienic travel mode without any menace lurking around.

Customer-centric travel packages to see a higher demand

The worth of travel is felt when you enjoy your trip. Safe travel is not enough, the experience with improved quality is what is sought after. It is imperative that the key players in this niche industry comprehend it.

The strategy that will lure potential travelers would include more authority over travel from the customer’s standpoint, more of a legitimate and customer centered service and more of a dynamic and flexible travel module. In a nutshell, the customer should completely feel at home and draw the bliss of travel as well. The entire concept should be in one combined and appealing module.

Greater emphasis on hygiene and sanitization

Traveler’s changing behavior and preferences in the near future would be very sensitive towards health and sanitation norms that keep changing standards in the wake of pandemic. There would be obvious competition among laboratories in a bid to market the best available. At least claiming that they are the best would need a bit of marketing hype and not much of quality delivery. A likely confusion would impact the travelers as to the benchmark and it’s trustworthiness.

Enhancing travelers’ confidence on safety measures

A similar logic would hold in the case of airports claiming a foolproof security system. Claiming the best and safest travel plan is not enough for the service providers. Their customers should find themselves in a continuous interactive platform. Notifications should steadily and unfailingly stream and pass on to the travelers indicating the safety and hygiene status of their destinations. A dedicated network should see to all of it ensuring that extra shield which protects the travelers against all risk of travel.

Anticipation of customers’ preferences – the ultimate winner

Travel companies are making efforts reading the tourist’s mind , their choices and desires. A need to re-draft the travel experiences would be a basic requisite catering to the future travel trends. The flow is towards more digitised and personalised services. The dangers of an all out and open travel have shown their killer faces. Tourists moving from one continent to another and hopping from country to country in close contact have given a highway for Covid pandemic to cross over and take lives in matter of minutes. Lessons have been learnt the hardest way and measures re- designed and thoughts guiding an itinerary have been amended.

However the valued concepts of a greener ecology guiding travel norms have not lost their significance. Wellness and sustainability still rules and now they are viewed from a different perspective that includes social distancing and the need for sanitisation as the other important components.

Smooth and comfortable interactions

The consumers interact with an array of people and services in course of their travel including the airhostess, flight purser,customs people at airport, waiters at restaurants , store clerks and salesmen at shopping plazas. Last but not the least the logistics arrangements including cabs and local bus and steamer services do count a lot. It can impact the traveler’s experience.

A traveler may be unwilling to visit a country just because the cab driver wasn’t courteous the last time. A whole lot of factors are responsible which needs an appraisal so that the traveler’s changing behaviour and preferences in the near future can be read well in advance. A high level of proactive and pragmatic approach is what’s needed to make most of the changing scenario and leverage it towards the growth of the tourism industry. If we have lost anything we need to bounce back with enthusiasm and a well calculated endeavour.

The silver lining here is obvious as it calls for lesser investment for playing by the changed rules where the stakeholders need to get a view of travel trends putting on a traveler’s glass. What is required is a revised outlook.

Prioritisation of customer services to be worked out after a thorough and intimate study of the traveler’s response to different inputs supplied by the travel companies.

The need to tradeoff between availability of deliverables and traveler’s choices striking an optimum balance is what is thought would take over the tourism industry for days to come. A three pronged approach seemingly works well with customers winning their faith and likings :

Extend your customers a more liberal and authoritative platform :

Customer’s brand loyalty can be won by extending them the freedom to design their own itinerary. Here the valuable services of the digital tools play a significant role. The ease with which travelers can alter or cancel their travel plans go a long way making the entire exercise smooth, easy to operate and time saving. This element is more important than price bargain. Making travelers more liberal in matters of travel choice is something to do with the quality of travel that money often fails to buy.

The service to customers to be personalized and not to lose the human element :

An important approach that a travel agency should keep in view to keep in tune with the future travel trends is to push the perfunctory approach behind something genuine coming straight from the bottom of the heart.

Boutique hotels have made a phenomenal growth between 2018 and 2019 in the United States. Customers are attracted to these brands of hotels which ensure them some private space with a human touch and a level of unadulterated dedication that money cannot always buy. These subtle treatments often have powerful psychological appeal pulling tourists from all quarters. Services should be consistent and should be sustained with a long life.

Talk to your customers and hear what they have to say

Keeping a seamless contact with the customers is rewarding. Listening to the customers with patient ear and entertaining their suggestions go a long way in strengthening the seller- customer bonding. It eventually reaps benefit for the tourism industry. What is being talked about is a cross functional agile team that will continually assess the changing pattern of customer demands in the face of the new normal that the coronavirus pandemic had left in its wake. Those who wish to read the traveler’s changing behaviour and preferences need to take into account how the customer’ pulse feels when exposed to a changed socio environmental climate.

Considerations guiding future travel

Travel safety will be the topmost priority while working out a travel plan in future. The pandemic had set the travel industry in a major topsy turvy. Traveler’s will certainly test the waters before taking a dive. Factors affecting the safety angle would touch the following areas :

Efficacy of the control measures followed in tourist destinations that would render the virus harmless.
Covid-19 affected destinations would have to stand the test of customer clearance. For these places blotted by pandemic stigma, tourists would decide whether to visit or not. Even if the customer response is positive, they need to maintain a certain threshold safety parameters that the customer would agree to.
Tourist destinations and the players interested in the growth of the tourism industry would frame reliable strategies to win over traveler’s fears. That there is enough evidence of hygiene and safety and that the virus is completely tamed.

It will be a complex issue that will put these players before the million dollar questions. When would the rush of tourism resume and which way would the wind blow with respect to the popular destinations that would feature in the new scenario.

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Impulsive travel gaining steam

Traveler’s changing behaviour and preferences are increasingly being guided by impulse. They sought after instant and accurate information towards which the digital world has its immense contributions.

Surveys reveal almost two thirds of US travelers look for an impulse trip where a decent stay and the quality of flight and it’s corresponding price do matter a lot.

An information is not enough however accurate or fast it is, it should suit my preferences to be any worth of travel. Personalised service always demands a premium and travelers embrace it with open arms. Future preferences are built on past trends and the service providers are expected to deliver a continuous quality service keeping a close tab on customer feedback.

Travel rebound will take time

Even it will not be easy for the countries who have done well to control the spread of virus by social distancing and other means of sanitation and public awareness. Travellers won’t jump back resuming travel, it has been a bitter experience and many have burnt their fingers trying to travel. Travel safety will be a top priority target to build back confidence in potential customers.

Traveler’s changing behaviour and preferences is highly sensitive to the behaviour of the virus and it’s lethal bite into the population map. Players in the tourism industry need to workout solutions so that their customers have a seamless feel of security encapsulation while they travel.

Mapping the traveler’s needs under the changed scenario :

For many destinations the customers have been fed with the notion that the virus had been brought under control and the new normal demands they live with the virus, herd immunity would be achieved with time. However, travel mandates keep the practice of quarantine very much alive. Despite having put all these travel safety inducing strategies in place about 45 % of the travelers are afraid to deep their feet in untested waters.

A second picture that comes up for a few destinations ensures complete annihilation of the virus and availability of good enough medical treatment. In spite of the successful pandemic combat programs, 35% of the travelers preferred not to travel.

Digital world coming to the rescue of an uncertain tourism market driven by customer preferences :

Traveler’s changing behaviours are increasingly shifting towards a trend where past experiences and personalized service are meaningfully blended to achieve ultimate satisfaction.

To read the business climate, digital help would do a miracle given they are applied to the right business model. Artificial intelligence and machine learning would analyse new opportunities and explore untapped markets enabling the travel business entities to serve the customers better.

Digitised marketing exercises putting emphasis on the customer preferences built on past trends and customisation would take the tourism industry forward towards an expanding future. Digital technology could bring in line the customers needs and delivery of solutions to meet them through a simplified and comprehensive module.

A study reveals a bit of math showing the way the preferences of the travelers go.

57% of American travelers desire that the travel companies should customize their services to their personal preferences and precedence.
This would further lead to a spike in revenue to the tune of 36%.
Needless to say machine learning and artificial intelligence would locate the trends with comparative ease.

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Digital signals will find new respect among the customers

More and more travelers are feeling at home interacting with the computers when searching for reliable information on the travel domain. Research shows that a third of the travelers prefer using digital platforms for booking a trip. For that matter searching for the right accommodation or availability of a flight could be safely entrusted to digital assistance.

Digital nomadism giving way to wellness sabbaticals

Wonderful are the ways the fast-growing world of digitization works. Working from the office concept is likely to become a thing of the past in the future. We can literally work from anywhere and everywhere if dedicated lines are at our service. Moving fast on the electronic highway enables quicker delivery, but still not fast enough to bring the entire gamut of industries to run at the touch of a button. Manufacturing, mining, construction, and a lot more are still outside the purview of work from the anywhere digital approach. Now that with industrial automation coming up rapidly, we could someday break the barrier, robots doing the physical work, command switches hit by human fingers sitting back home.

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Leveraging ‘Work from anywhere’

Major industrial houses are putting extra effort and depending less on human capital. They are moving ahead with mechanized labor to avoid a second pandemic that’s now pretty much going to be a routine. Working shoulder to shoulder has other demerits as well.

Working from a distance you can avoid stress built upon a man to man interface at a workplace, avoid arguments flaring up every minute, think and plan in a tension-free environment. Needless to say, it is not a one-point solution, your boss would cuss whenever you fall from his grace over work mistakes. You will get it over the phone. Still, that’s better than getting a piece of his mind being called in the chamber. It is a lesser of a rough ride on your health front.

Tightening up a knot in your belly and a rising heartbeat are bad enough experiences. Even if you have bright ideas they slam shut inside if you are yelled at point-blank. Work from distance and an improved sense of wellbeing came closer, there is a chance for productivity scaling up.

More hobby projects and naturescaping are growing and if you have the right adept just tap into it! Consequently, digital nomadism and wellness found a market leading to the rising popularity of the trend.

Reshaping the work-life balance

What was thought to be a luxury turned into a survival strategy when Covid 19 pandemic struck. Life and livelihood were both at stake and there was no assurance both would end well. The tourism industry was on the brink of closure. Wonderful destinations, ones that were dream paradises found hardly any tourists to bank on. Earnings fell and the local economy got almost ruined.

Wellness sabbaticals – the long-term workstations

The silver lining finally was seen, why can’t these tourist destinations cater to the needs of tourists, not just for short fun vacations but as long time workstations? These breezier and greener places are ideal for wellness, way better than the cramming offices in congested cities susceptible to a spike in Covid infection spread.

Work and wellness can merge well keeping you healthy and happy. You are insulated from Covid in serenity and you get your wallet overflowing from the digital office work. Life and livelihood are both saved which were once put down by the pandemic. Just some innovative marketing strategy has changed the entire ball game in the favor of digital nomads, the people who are looking for working from a health-friendly destination.

However, this is a new kind of long term vacation requiring long term visas and indeed your working kits: Your laptop and smartphones surviving on an effective net connection.

Light on your wallet, light on your mind

Bermuda’s ‘ work from paradise’ marketing efforts puts it this way ” leave your claustrophobic apartments in a crowded city, come sit by our breezy beaches, earn a living from our healthy workstations “

Both the expensive and moderately priced travel destinations are working out programs for attracting potential customers who are on a work and wellness lookout. With the pandemic outbreak, these resorts were facing a low season. Now with work from anywhere opportunity, the interest of the customers and the resort owners suddenly seem forged in heaven.

Customers worldwide adjusted to working in their own homes like they did staying hours in their offices. With lockdown closing in from all angles the need to escape went rife than ever before. For the affluent, the choice to escape to sunnier and quieter neighborhoods was more feasible.

With their present offices closed down for an indefinite period, those greener and less crowded work stations looked more and more like permanent settlements. Latching on to the scope of loss recovery for the pandemic affected the tourism industry, hotels and resorts overhauled themselves as semi-permanent home offices.

Easing visa norms to facilitate wellness sabbatical

On 2nd July ‘2020, the Barbados govt had launched an offer for around the year Visa in the hope of curing the harmed tourism industry. Tourists here can spend a vacation and work remotely together. It is expensive but you are guaranteed a steady earning throughout the year that you lost back home. You are to do the math and work out a viable trade off working in your favor. Furthermore, investment in health and happiness here in Barbados is something beyond that little bit of accounting fail to reckon.

The workplace wellness program that fits your needs

Digital nomadism is wandering carefully into the wellness space and fusion with sabbaticals, in the long run, looks inevitable. The key to success in a wellness sabbatical is the perfect balance between wellness and the work environment. Spending a stress-free holiday in a remote location not threatened by the crowd or Coronavirus with a steady earning is anybody’s dream. One thing is certain you got to connect with your workplace through digital media. You got to make a living and survive, so there is no hurry that you spend the vacation in a rush. Here you feel fully secure that Coronavirus is miles away.

Why sabbatical?

Sabbatical has a history ,it is a concept as old as the Bible. Sabbath or the day of rest is a time marked by taking time off from the regular chores. Take a journey within, explore the world of academics and write a diary taking a break from orthodox work environment for a change. Currently the pandemic has made this change an enforced acceptance rather than a choice that eventually pays off. Technology has sped up this change and helped the process adapt to a modified environment.

Banking on the remote work culture

A study by IWG Plc , a Swiss company reveals 70 % professionals are into remote working once a week and 53 % half a week. The possibility of remote working and evolution of digital workstations are fast changing the concept of work, travel and wellness. The opportunity to merge them all in one productive and fun space is there for you to grab.

Best selling wellness sabbaticals have an unstructured schedule of work suited to individual requirements. The work environment will be set in the backdrop of nature, where you have enough fresh air to breathe and unwind.

Healthy nutrition, yoga and meditation,fitness sessions, quality sleep and de stressing tutorials are fitted into a holistic program. Nature walks and open air workouts are very thoughtfully designed to give a unique work – life balance. High speed net connectivity will never fail you and so would access to different time zones across the world and have a seminar with your client or a word with your collaborator.

Customers taste life here, a complete serenity that improves your thinking process. But certain prerequisites come along. The mental calm is felt when you are here for at least a month. Brief vacation won’t deliver goods. And you got to bring with you a bag full of money, your investments will be rewarded eventually. Nothing much to scare.

Wellness sabbatical – setting boundaries

Digital nomadism closes its doors to overwork. Studies show overworking can kill. To stay ahead in competition companies strive hard in a bid to survive in a highly challenging business scenario. Work pressure builds up, tension brews and stress flows down the rank. Late stay at office and over work is inevitable. But employee health doesn’t understand the cause and effect relationship. It takes the hit. Researches reveal more than 55 hours of work a week can lead to stroke and coronary disease. It can shorten life span and away from home, work sabbaticals take this into account. They set your work schedule not to get you bogged down under work pressure.

Trend of company top brass showing concern about the mental and physical health of human capital is gaining momentum. Besides medical compensations and health insurance packages, employers are going a proactive way taking steps forward that their employees’ chances of getting sick are minimized. Gyms are becoming a part of organizational infrastructure .

Break between work and meditation sessions are finding a place in offices. Wellness sabbaticals is now another addition to the employee welfare schemes. A quarter of the top notch Fortune 100 companies are putting sabbaticals on offer for valued employees . Certainly, those running that extra mile investing blood, sweat and tears to contribute to their employers wealth pool , deserve it.

Lower healthcare burden

Cost of healthcare is steeply mounting and will irrevocably continue so. Studies show 69% of deaths around the world are from preventable chronic ailments. Cardiovascular diseases, tumor malignancies, chronic respiratory diseases and mental disorders could run into USD 47 trillion in terms of treatment costs by 2030. What an enormous wastage of money on health disorders that could be avoided and wellness sabbaticals neatly fit into space as an answer.

An important insight into reasons for prolonged lifespans was found by Dan Buettner of Blue Zone books who authored ‘ secrets of living longer ‘. Rather than striving for a healthy lifestyle, desired results would flow in easier if you stay in the right environment. To put it in simple words, following a disciplined approach to life while living amid city grind would bring lesser benefits than what a stress free surroundings would bring you. The purpose of a wellness sabbatical is to offer the digital nomads the right environment to work in.

Flexible work-life balance

At present many tourist destinations are offering wellness sabbaticals. These are very flexible concepts of rest and work where customers themselves design their long stay schedules. They can mix their wellness and work for a living program in line with their choices.

The sabbatical resorts appreciate that putting a divide between work/business and wellness is not viable. In the pursuit of happiness, you can’t stay away from work and invite a block in your earnings. With this in mind, their sabbatical holidays don’t follow a rigid pattern. The guests have ample time and space tolerance to pursue work as well as wellness therapies that don’t clash with each other. Kamalalaya wellness sabbatical, Koh Samui, Thailand, and Vana in India have been doing very well in this respect. A minimum of three weeks’ stay would bring in desired results.

Milan, Italy is opening up sunny, seafront workstations for digital nomads. Inexpensive long vacations and a guaranteed infection-free space here has baited the new breed of remote workers. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the tourists and the destinations. Milan to make up for the past tourist revenue decline and the visitors to sustain a livelihood.

Still and all a long stay at a destination away from home can burn a big hole. Even then digital nomadism embraces a wide spectrum of people. They are worked out that way to accommodate millennials just graduating from colleges to those into salaried employment. From a white-collar decent salaried guy to an average blue-collar wage earner. The rise in demand for a work and wellness program can morph into sabbaticals that are easy on the pocket. Many crowdfunded startups have custom-built sabbaticals for efficient professionals across the US. At a meager price, sabbaticals offer a cozy stay and food. Guests spend 18 hours a week on different constructive ventures and participate in nature walks and hikes.

What goes out from your pocket is replenished by earnings from work, that’s the best part of it.

Wellness sabbaticals are now available in many locations throughout the world. Five-star hotels, yoga retreats, and basic campsites all have them with different price tags and aimed at people from a range of socio-economic standings. The objective is to drive a fine-tuning between work and wellness and the idea is going to reschedule the future of work, travel, and wellbeing.

Digital nomadism has been in trend for specific classes of freelancers, entrepreneurs and writers as well. They traveled on a special passport to places away from the bustle depending only on WIFI for work. This trend was, however, a slow process and picked up pace when the pandemic made it compelling. Within months the scenario changed. A changeover which normally took years to evolve into a niche model for many professionals happened much faster. Need to work from office lost significance and working from home wasn’t any great idea either.

If working from anywhere is possible why not go for dream vacations?

This time the brief stay will be displaced by a long vacation. Check-in here, get yourself through the covid testing procedures, get quarantined, and embark upon your new work platform. Earn a living, cultivate a productive lifestyle, invest in health, put as much distance between yourself and Coronavirus, and continue for months until the pandemic threat is completely eradicated.

Tracing the recovery path

Many tourist destinations suffering from revenue loss caused by pandemic are offering work certificate programs for a year. This is not exactly a Visa, rather a modification of current residency programs. In these destinations, airports are turning busier with rising visitors a chunk of them are digital nomads. These travelers have enough health insurance to cover in case infection strikes. Affordability for a long stay package is a criterion for getting a work sabbatical Visa too.

Estonia lures digital nomads with the kind of stride the nation has made turning into a major tech and start-up nerve center. It is a strong beacon for top tech brains. Estonia offers them a niche right into the digital nomad mold and it is exactly here the sabbatical walks into the scene.

They facilitate the startups for a hassle-free immigration process of those hired talents. No wonder an easy digital nomad Visa for techies to live and work in this Baltic country was a major foot forward. The already booming IT sector – based economy of Estonia is guaranteed for a big take off! The pandemic has been the new fuel driving the digital nomad Visa craze.

The potential for remote working is dawning on both the workers and employers faster than ever before under current circumstances. Digital nomadism will not be confined to a specific class of freelancers, millions of salaried people will crowd around the idea too.

It will be a great opportunity foregone for tourism-based destinations not to wake up to this new rush of digital nomadism. If revenue from tourism has declined for the pandemic, the same reason could go a long way boosting their economy, now from a work-based perspective. Contribution from the talent pool of visiting nomads under a work Visa is never discounted.

The system will be more like people living a big part of their year in a different location for reasons of livelihood. One may draw a parallel between a Canadian couple spending December Down Under to escape the biting cold. Living elsewhere under a prolonged self-initiated work Visa cannot rule out legal troubles. Then indeed solutions are underway to take care of the issue.

The founder of the Nomad list, Peter Levels in 2014 indexed in his popular website the best destinations available for digital nomadism. He went further saying that remote working would gain steam faster than we thought. By 2035, the world would see over one billion people joining the fold.

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Wherever there is a green pasture there will be more and more sheep going for it. To avoid overcrowding in private island work platforms, customers may choose to board a yacht. Yachts themselves are moving destinations.

You can charter a yacht, go fishing , work from your yacht and spend quality family time. It is an extension of your home cum office pressed into one wonderful module right under the blue sky. Pandemic has reshuffled the concepts of work, travel and wellness. All of these could be done in a single effort and service providers are ready to welcome your presence with open arms.

Things to consider while on wellness sabbatical

For a successful wellness sabbatical certain important features to be considered.

Separation from the world you knew is critical to creating a niche for the expression of self-identity. You hate to be lost in the crowd, rather want the crowd to listen to what you say and do. Once you are away from the grind you start feeling and seeing the world around you in clearer terms. More importantly, you know yourself better.

Sabbaticals ensure experimentation with one’s oneself and discovering your flow of passions that were clogged by heaps of stereotyped routine work. Pursue your hobbies with a little bit of social promoting you will make a tidy living, off something you love.

Contemplating over experiences and the merger of directions drawn from life is an integral part of a successful sabbatical. Here you take leverage on life separated from the crowd, subsist on bare minimums, and anticipate relationship issues. The underlying theory is to get cut off from society and its residual wastes, barricade off distractions and put your mind in all that really matters to open up your creative side. It is not escapism mind it, just that bit of focus necessary to chase your dreams. Are we moving closer to conditions that helped great thinkers attain wisdom?

Is it that comfortable?

Sabbaticals have their share of challenges too. The initial phases of the new normal could be difficult. You are in seclusion with no people around for a face to face interaction that you were used to. It is like living a life in a bubble where the flow of inputs for survival may turn uncertain if not scarce. Then again restorative experiences of life can come out from difficult and unusual spaces we encounter in isolation. All in all, we pivot around distance from our recent past and modify the future.

Mandatory Coronavirus-free certificate for travel – How countries are aligning?

The world is going through a nightmare it hasn’t dreamt of ever. Covid 19 is going on a rampage across the world. Social distancing, lockdowns, tests for positivity, herd immunity and sanitization methods are novel terms. Some of them throw light on tentative solutions too. If all of us were programmed robots, the solutions may have worked better. Some element of imperfections are inherent when it comes to immediate response to safety instructions coming from the authority.

Getting adapted to a virus-combat strategy takes time but the virus doesn’t allow you that. To make matters worse, the possibility of invention of an anti-viral or a vaccine is still far fetched. But the situation can’t be allowed to roll like that. If we manage somehow to keep the virus at bay, death would come in some other form.

Documentations endorsing corona virus free travel

Extended lockdown would not allow workplaces to function stopping bread to reach hungry mouths. Among other industries hit hard by the Covid 19 wave, tourism industry is panicking, its existence may get wiped out. In the light of above threats, some sort of valid documentation should vouch for you that you are free from the disease.

With the fresh spike of positive cases in India, the government has put emphasis on covid – 19 free certificates. For people moving in from China, South Korea and Italy, carrying this paper is a compulsory obligation. The documents would say that these travelers have tested negative for covid -19. Only listed laboratories approved by the ministry of health of these countries would be qualified to carry out such examinations. This new enforcement has already come into existence from 10th of March this year. Even so this is only a provisional course of action until situations normalize.

The first reported case from Wuhan in China should find a place in world records. So would this invincible virus, being the most formidable threat to mankind in this century. Currently, almost all the countries are affected and symptoms are dry cough and cold, lung inflammation and shortness of breath. Sufferings culminate in death in absence of proper treatment.

Tourism opens in Turkey

PC: TOI

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister for Tourism and Culture in Turkey has reported an added drive to validate tourist spots in his country as corona – virus free, once this pandemic subsides. Endorsement is of course subject to necessary tests.

The tourism department people feel the virus won’t go until next few months. The Minister is however optimistic that normalisation turn around would hopefully be in the horizon in mid – May. The entire country including its people, hoteliers, tour agents, industry top brass and ministry have joined hands together.

The resolution is firm enough to make the tourism sector rolling by the close of holy month of Ramadan.Being one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, a lot of tourist money is at stake for Turkey. The Agean beaches, Anatalaya and historical monuments crawl with tourists round the year.

The virus, if allowed to gnaw into the financial wound causing damage further, scale of loss would be scary. The virus free certification procedure would be in line with the global standard covering three segments : Tourists, transportation and facilities. Every medium of contact gives the virus a highway to spread around.

Good news! Turkey has opened for tourism with specific safety protocols in place. It has also introduced Covid-free certification for tourism hot spots to ensure 100% safety for travelers.

Special sanitization protocols released

Sterilization of every point of contact is crucial.Hotels,vehicles, travel agency offices, airports, restaurants needs to be practically bathed frequently with disinfectants. Places of tourist attractions like museums and historical sites need a similar treatment.

It is mandatory for manpower supporting the tourism industry to earn immunity certificate and training in pandemic management. Social distancing is the watchword and to be ensured by crowd administration frontliners. Thermal control devices employed by safety staffs at tourist spots to keep a tab on crowd temperature, an indicator of virus infection.

Call has been given to NGOs as well to offer their valuable and voluntary involvement. In 2019, Turkey’s tourist visit touched 51.8 million people. By 2023, the number is projected to climb further to 75 million tourists, and that is big money ! The country cannot afford to lose it.

Would you be allowed to travel to places you like?

Lockdown and social distancing are slowly paying off, the nature reclaiming back spaces once denied. The earth is at its greenest, skies look brighter and bird calls a little louder. This is the right time to go places and explore nature.How different the world seems today all sweet melody is so augmented. Rising bird twitter is a bliss just to show what a massive cover of noise pollution we had been living with.

Meanwhile river banks and sea shores are seeing more and more aquatic birds and animals basking. Flamengoes have been seen in Navi Mumbai creeks. Deer, lemurs and civets have started exploring city interiors amid lockdown. They seem quite content unaware of the viral siege. Ignorance is bliss, animals are devoid of extinction worries as a species . They live on a day to day basis and have no significant retentive memory and no futuristic expansion plans. They had always been better off until we started intervening in their lives.

Immunity passports

Covid-free health papers enable tourists to prove they are not infected although currently UK is not granting any such document . A tourist from the UK will have to be tested for antibodies. An alternate arrangement for tourists leaving UK are immunity passports that say the holder once had corona virus but presently free from infection.

As announced by Euro News weekly, the Madrid Association of Hoteliers are making a scrutiny into covid free hotel certification. This would ensure that boarders and staffs are virus free. Mechanism of this security check is not clear but hotel guests look capable of proving they don’t carry the virus.

Many countries have gone a step further to shut their borders and that was a move taken after finding many travelers into those countries didn’t have covid free documents. In the events of lockdowns being gradually taken off, desire to travel may soar when vacationers would start feeling the significance of these documents.

Can corona-free certificate provide the right solution?

The covid free documents are no permanent answers, the virus being known too little. Its behavior is unpredictable and none could guarantee it won’t make a come back even after a patient is cured.In the words of Claire Stanley, assistant professor at Georgetown University’s Centre for Global Health Science and Security ‘ not just could tests identify antibodies not connected with coronavirus, they aren’t reliable enough’.

She further went saying ‘ High pseudo – negative rates ( lack of sensitivity ) of tests imply that those presently at hand are not prescribed for patient level clinical diagnosis ‘. Now all these complications are mirroring our mistakes, past actions back firing on us. We have been cheating ourselves fiddling with nature too long.

We tend to forget that in nature everything is connected. That mistaken notion that our species is the only supreme one and the rest are either for decoration or consumption or for other forms of entertainment has brought us where we are today: facing the lethal virus in a dark tunnel with hardly any silver lining streaming in.

Just a short time back, the Emirates has proposed a required blood test for passengers on plane. The proposal is likely to be introduced to other flights too. The test would give reports in ten minutes. But whether the unwilling passengers would be denied boarding has not been confirmed.

Germany has also been buying the concept of immunity passports and have started testing 100000 people a day. Application of antibodies test will be initiated to find out if a passenger has earlier had covid -19. They will get necessary papers showing their position.

The Thai government is going for stringent regulations on international travel. Thai airports would check corona – free certificates as well as medical insurance to cover treatment expenses. The country is very careful in weighing risks of infection against loss of enormous tourism business. Plan and implementation of safe travel directives are yet to see a smooth roll out. The civil aviation authority of Thailand is still getting ready to execute the government protocols.

These measures do not appear to reconcile with ground realities because many countries will not test people for the virus. Unless symptoms exist and other criteria are met testing necessities look unimportant. The judgment follows a couple of days after the government states that medical and insurance papers would not be required for all.

Only people arriving from ‘ disease outbreak ‘ zones like South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran would need to comply with these directives. Further ‘on going local transmission ‘ areas have also been identified to follow the mandate. Parts of Japan, US, Britain and eight other countries are included in this group.

Health certificates should come in hand within 3 days from boarding flight. Insurance cover must take care of USD 100000 in medical expenses. Even for Thai citizens, medical certificates are compulsory but not the insurance policy. But they should stay in self quarantine for two weeks although quarantine orders for visiting foreigners are vague.

As covid – 19 combat policy, major holidays of the country like Songkran have been deferred. Schools, massage parlors and other places of community entertainment have been shut down. All major tourist attractions like Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya have come together in enforcing these constraints. Public gatherings are discouraged and social distancing have become the new survival strategy.

Can tourism spring back soon?

The issue is when would we go off to the deepest end with current rate of backslide? The employment scenario is already a bad dream of doom and state of sustaining inputs for survival is no better. But it is also likely if the infection graph gets flattened or even lowered in near future, the tourism market will spring back sharply on cushioned investor faith .

Month-long lockdowns and banishment indoors have been tiring for many. They would certainly get their hands on to any reliable platform supplying hopes for safe travel. Still there are a lot of unexplored and grey areas concerning travel safety and the way virus behaves in coming days is not visible.

Any trusted and seriously researched program for enhancing tourism throughput may not end in social rejection. Particularly for people who like to see the world around. It is quite probable that people would desire short haul trips once the lockdown is lifted. The backbone of tourism industry is the efficient communication channels.

Big players in the industry are trying hard to fan the fire in the belly of travel hungry consumers. Their desire to visit places should not die. This is the right time to expose people to as much media feedback as is feasible considering they are spending most of the idle time before the internet.

Social media and coordination with travel agents is a potent tool and it is evident since people are stuck up at home digital communication has soared. These players are focusing on their homework hard training manpower effectively.

Successfully handling customers after about four months from now would be the key to recovering losses incurred from business stagnation. Various training programs are in the pipeline to prepare the staffs on insights of tourist destinations. Hopefully tourism business would bounce back given the plans work well.

Discover the making of exotic coffee flavors around the world with coffee tourism

Dalgona coffee rocked in lock-down, a hot-spiked revelation amid testing times. How about getting further insights into exotic and top quality brews through coffee tourism where every sip instills fresh vigor? Yes, coffee addicts care a darn paying $35-$100 for a cup worth a sip!

You enjoy coffee while on a trip but not the other way round , perhaps you don’t travel for coffee! It might have never struck your mind. Beaches, mountains and other exotic landscapes beckon but yes coffee tourism destinations arrest as well. Just reset your mind and your travel lens and you can be in another world demanding a revisit to your idea of holidaying .

It is no wonder people drink a few billion cups of this beverage everyday! Amazing is the worldwide demand of those tiny brown beans and awesome is the power they pack in. Cappuccino, mocha, latte whichever name you call, the flavor is captivating and hard to get over.

Well, it was a very humble start for coffee to make it to new heights of farming and processing as of now. Take it with milk or without it, sip it raw and sugar-free or add a spoonful, frothing hot or iced, the impact unfolds new surprises every time. The beans had been through an ever-expanding market cornering major shares in consumer preference. Its appeal has been immense cutting across cultural and language barriers.

Coffee tourism – A first rate expedition

Do you know coffee is linked with the volcano? Volcanic soil is ideal for growth. Coffee being a mountain plant, the elevation of volcanic terrain helps it survive well . Heavy rain is essential yet the plant shouldn’t get waterlogged. Conical summits interact with moisture-laden passing clouds. The rock and cloud contact brings in heavy precipitation.

Mountain slopes (the ideal gradient is around 15°) drain off the water. Drainage is an important condition for coffee plants to thrive. A mountain slope assures that. Coffee also grows in other terrains but volcanic soil suits it the best. The irony here is the best farming areas keep the plants under constant threat from eruptions and flowing hot lava.

Zeroing in on the best coffee growing regions, they are all located in areas prone to volcanic eruptions. This list is however not exhaustive:

Country Volcanoes

Ethiopia Erte Ale, Nabro, Tat Ali

Japan Fuji, Asama, Ontake

Indonesia Krakatoa, Merapi, Sinabung

Costa Rica Arenal, Irazu, Poas

Brazil Nova Iguacu, Trindade

Colombia Nevado Del Ruiz, Galeras

Sweden Rallate, Gallabjar, Knosen

Turkey Ararat, Hasan Dagi, Nemrut

Tanzania Kilimanjaro, Ol Doinyo Lengai

India Deccan plateau made up of

volcanic soil

People are into coffee tourism, you might be missing it

The term is elaborated in the Collins Dictionary as a “Tourism which involves visiting countries where coffee is grown and tasting different types of coffee or just concentrating on consuming different coffees in countries renowned for its production and consumption”.

Coffee tourism is gaining popularity especially in Asia and Latin America with coffee farm hotels and home-stays churning up good business. Many coffee farms are offering tourism with a dual-pronged intent : assure a source of size-able revenue earnings and to build a brand.

Since modern-day travelers are taking interest in authentic tourism experience, coffee tourism is a great way into the lush coffee country. Coffee tourism goes beyond the buyer and seller relationship. The guest feedback and suggestions are important tools to improve quality that ultimately cements the bonding with customers improving the brand image.

Whether all these tourism ingredients add to the sustainability of coffee farms is debatable. But well-managed coffee farm tourism can create jobs and contribute to community development.

The journey from volcanic Ethiopian soil is a great history; the route had not been exactly a unilateral win-win channel of consumer acceptance. Coffee, the black beverage has collected assorted opinions from occasional consumers to connoisseurs.

Unfortunately, it earned negative marks too. Accusations come from medics that it causes a spike in blood pressure.

The anti-doping watchdogs from the world of sports level another set of allegations. Brewed beans are latent performance boosters. It can finish an athlete’s career! For a coffee addict, these slurs are not enough to kick the habit. The system won’t simply respond for the day without downing a cup of the bitter drink, the least to go with. Defamation of the beans has been far outweighed by its huge esteem and each cup of joy it brings.

Drinking coffee socially can reach you lengths in the discussion, drifting from politics to world economic policies. From weather to soccer and from nuances of art to wonders of modern hi-tech gizmos, the beverage helps you fight your arguments and deliver your judgment. Crafting the perfect cup from perfectly roasted beans is a treat before you. It can fetch you all the bliss you can think of.

Coffee culture and the destinations

Coffee and its consumption have a substantial cultural involvement manifested in diverse expressions and ruling memes driving nations crazy. It has gone deep into traditional values across the world and coffee tourism could take you places of origin of these magic beans. Destinations known for cultivation are themselves known for exquisite scenic appeal.

Here we go with a virtual exploration of coffee countries:

Bonga Coffee town, Ethiopia

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The first country to farm coffee, the homeland of Arabica strain the beans have a unique flavor. In fact, if you travel in Ethiopia, the volcanic plateaus would enthrall you. The country is mostly land locked within the Great Rift Valley. Here lies a coffee town called Bonga, a quaint little place with beautiful coffee gardens. Bonga is also known for its wild honey and wonderful panorama.

An enchanting place is the hamlet of Sidano perched atop an elevation of 1900 meters above sea level that would fascinate you. The Ethiopian countryside has its own charm very distinct from the rest of the world. It is very African in its own way although much of it is hot and arid.

Encounter with wildlife is possible, Ethiopian wolfs, wild dogs and elephants are a source of tourist attraction. Hamars and Mursis are the chief ethnic tribes among others. They have a strangely appealing culture in which body art and lip piercing is an important feature. How about watching a Mursi dance over a mug of locally brewed coffee? Take a flight to Addis Ababa and then into the interior exploring the country with a licensed travel guide. You won’t regret the trip even if it appears treacherous at any point.

Kopi Luwak, Indonesia producing the most expensive coffee, 5^th largest exporter of coffee in the world

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You enjoy resplendent beaches, infinity pools, cruise flanked by rain-forests , the magnificent Borobudur Stupa and also get to taste the most expensive coffee, $35-$100 a cup. The eastern corner of Java is noted for wet-hulled coffee estates. These are vast and photographic. In fact today Java is a universal term for coffee and those farmed in the Island have a rich and strong aroma.

Heavy bodied beans come with a sweet chocolaty taste, the specialty Indonesian coffee known as ‘ Kopi Luwak ‘ is one of the most expensive breeds in the world. What is more interesting is, it is the defecated output of the Asian palm civet. This makes it more expensive than others. Kopi Luwak is also known as ‘civet coffee’.

The ingested and partially digested coffee cherries come out with civet poop. While passing through the digestive canal, the cherries are fermented by specific enzymes that add to its flavor. The defecated cherries are picked, processed and marketed worldwide. Be ready to shell out $100-$600 for a pound. Coffee producers here have been claiming for generations that this process creates the best coffee flavor in the world!

Set out for a coffee trek in Sumatra, Bali and Sulawesi. The landscape would enthrall you as would the fuming brew. The yummy combination of skewered satay and coffee would do well to get along with a live show of Serimpi, the signature Javanese dance ritual.

Other notable coffee tourism destinations in Indonesia are Takengon, Lampung, Ambarawa (Banaran Kopi Village), Bali, Toraja, Manggarai, Wamena, etc. Indonesia has been putting in its best foot forward to promote indigenous coffee culture in different tourism fairs all over the world.

Vietnam

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Vietnam has recently made her presence strongly felt in the global coffee market. Coffee with condensed milk is a Vietnamese treat you would remember for the rest of your life. Most of the coffee is grown in the Central Highlands contributing to the inflow of foreign exchange. Coffee culture in Vietnam revolves around the bold Robusta flavor.

Take a trip to Da Lat, it is a mountain retreat with breathtaking scenic spots and cool climate. Spectacular lakes, dense greenery, thrilling treks, splendid waterfalls, beautiful flower gardens and last but not the least the roof top and train cafes will keep you absorbed in the hot frothing cuppa you were looking for.

Da Lat is known for coffee gardens. You can have an educational coffee tour here, sample coffee and learn farming methods. Strains are countless and they taste delicious. Vietnamese iced coffee called Ca’phe’ da’ is thoroughly worth sipping.

Though coffee was introduced in Vietnam by the French, the country has earned the fame of creating some specialist Vietnamese coffee like egg coffee prepared with egg yolks, smoothie coffee with bananas and avocados, yoghurt coffee, coconut coffee and the classic Vietnamese drip.

Brazil

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Brazilian coffee has earned a dominant position in the global market. Brazilians are regular coffee drinkers and consume coffee any time of the day. Cafezinho is the most common type consumed and people prefer drinking it very hot in small cups.

A trip to Brazil is always a highly desired tourist preference. Not only the seductive beaches and the daring Amazon navigation, but the Brazilian cuppa would add to the sweeping Latin charm. Passion for soccer and week-long carnivals are equaled by the nation’s wild penchant for music and some top-grade coffee.

The frenzy is viral and it infects the tourists who happily yield to the craze. If you are looking for premium coffee don’t miss visiting Sul de Minas and Cerrado de Minas, only a 5 hours car ride from Sao Paulo or Rio De Janeiro. All along, the ride takes you through a verdant outdoor landscape.

The local plantations offer sampling freshly brewed Brazilian coffee. Guides are on deck for you to give you a clear and detailed picture on the history of coffee grown here. You get to know about means of farming and tricks of handling a complex supply chain making it hassle-free . The endeavor is channeled along a route in which future of the beans is bound. They will guide you to the best coffee picks at cut back prices.

Costa Rica

You name it, Costa Rica has it. From rolling beaches of white sand to tropical jungles and from yoga sanctums to organized mountain treks, Costa Rica is endowed with all the bounties of nature making it a tourist’s paradise. If you are a true blue cafephile, the Costa Rican trip would offer you the much-coveted cup full of fire-roasted beverage.

Some of the ruling coffee bowls include Valle Central and Tres Rios hardly any distance away from International San Jose Airport. It is strongly recommended you go adventurous exploring the farms in Brunca, Orosi, Guancaste, Valle Occidental, Turrialba and Tarrazu.

Produce from these estates have a universally trendy flavor with a coffee house classic lemony tang. Beans pass through an acid test making selection process passionate and fastidious. The country has a broad spectrum of weather and terrain profiles. Each is capable of producing coffee with characters diverse and sharp cut. Costa Rican coffee tours are tailored and quite easy to reserve.

India

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Indian coffee estates are located in the southern half of the peninsula known as the Deccan plateau. Particularly Coorg, in the state of Karnataka is the hub of coffee production. It features scenic places, lush forests, waterfalls and rolling acres of coffee plantations. Coffee farms and homestays and the unmatched Coorgi hospitality make a unique blend.

Roughly four hours drive from Bangaluru International Airport, you cross Madikeri to reach the splendid coffee farms spread over several kilometres. If you are lucky, you will enjoy the soothing aroma of blooming coffee flowers all along the drive to coffee farms.

Coorg gets heavy showers and it is green with rain-forests. Coffee grows here under cool and green shade. A visit to coffee estate called Flying Squirrel owned by Indian professional tennis player Rohan Bopanna would be a good idea. His estate’s master blend coffee processed from smooth beans tastes delicious.

Turkey

This country bordering on a mix of Middle Eastern and European customs has been a great admirer of coffee. Coffee house culture and backgammon boards keep the Turkish souks live with high energy. Spirited conversation over nargile (smoking Hookas )and coffee is an important part of the Turkish way of life, relaxed and complacent.

Turks love to talk and that can go to great lengths even in the most unpredictable callings. Coffee fuels conversation and cupfulls are consumed with undiminished gusto.

The long tradition of Turkish coffee culture has bred countless customs traced back to the elegant functions of the Ottoman courts. Amazing facts come up ,it takes forty coffee makers to make a brew for the Sultan. Little does it surprise us to learn that a Turkish female is selected as a bride based on her coffee-making skills. Failure to brew a perfect cup would lead to a break up as well.

Turkish coffee is not a drink to be sipped slowly rather it is gulped down in a few short slurps. Later the thick dark slimy leftover is put on the plate to draw fate lines of co drinkers. Which way their wheel of fortune turns could be as sweet or bitter as the beverage itself .

Turkish coffee tasting tours and learning the tricks of a perfect Turkish brew are popular among overseas travelers. The guided tours are highly interesting and educative. They take you to famous Turkish coffee houses.

Japan

When the Japanese refer to the first wave, in the instant coffee era, Kissatens were what they usually meant. Those were local coffee bars introduced much before the western Cafe culture had started growing roots into the nation’s beverage consumption profile. Coffee helped people get social connect.

In the early 20^th century, the launch of Kissatens in Japan was a route to an outlandish cult seen with suspicion. Hanging around geisha houses or tipping a waiter would receive a similar social response. Today, however, cafe culture has won a new height of respect in the country. It is considered a habit in good taste and creative values that predates the influx of commercial networks.

Amid the exotic origami or mingei decor, coffee is prepared cup by cup with carefully studied pour over (frequently a funnel is applied). The domestic concoction (buendo kohli) is a deep roast, offered in a frail-looking tiny cup, invariably with a cute little saucer to go with, teaspoon and a pint-sized pitcher of cream that precisely takes in enough to make your single-serving match the exact tone of deep buff.

Jun Kissa, a unique style of having coffee in special places (cafes) evolved after the war and still appeals the young generation. The added nostalgic flavor perhaps enhances the coffee drinking experience. Coffee may not be the traditional beverage in this country, but it has gained more acceptances leading to innovations in the drink.

Columbia

There is more to this beautiful country than narcotic bosses and underworld warlords.

Columbia produces some of the finest coffee in the world and traveling to this country is absolutely safe. No big cheese would ever poke his nose they are far too busy tied up in their own business. Regions of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindio known as coffee triangle presents guided tours to coffee plantations.

Sampling and exploring the farms are definitely value-adding and you can take an extended ramble to the picturesque Valle Cocora. Cloud forests ending in sheer drops into the Pacific Ocean and wax palm plantation are intensely gripping. Hot springs of Santa Rosa del Cabal and the city of Salento with a clear outline of majestic mountains are fascinating in one word! Good hotels are around and it takes a rough 5 hours ride from Medellin to make it to the triangle.

Sweden

Did you know Swedes are the heaviest coffee drinkers only to be beaten by the caffeine freaks, the Finnish consumers? Drinking coffee is favorite pastime among Swedes and coffee time is a compulsory break. They have a name to it and call it ‘ Fika ‘ which connotes relaxed hours relished over coffee in the company of friends and close acquaintances. Usually, sweet cinnamon bread rolls go with coffee.

This was a beverage, a prerogative of the elite society back in the late 18^th century. Coffee and pastry houses called Kaffeehus and Konditon were in vogue. Stockholm, Gotenburg and Malmo are dotted with coffee houses. Some of the top-notch Scandinavian coffee joints are here. Swedes are as proud as punch about their top grade coffee shops and state of the art brewing methods. Drinking coffee is a big time socialization among Swedes.

Dos and don’ts in coffee tourism

Whether you visit a coffee farm or enjoy the special coffee drinking culture in cafes and bistros, you need to be aware of specifically permitted practices to make your coffee tourism memorable.

Study about the coffee culture of a particular coffee tourism destination before the visit. Know the etiquettes like how to hold the cup and drinking process and follow it accordingly.
Check the weather condition of the place and coffee harvesting season.
Know the details beforehand from your travel booking agency or the guide before setting out for the trip.
Strictly follow the rules and regulations while you are on the trail.
Take interest in every detail right from coffee bean harvesting, picking, packaging and grounding.
Take part in coffee-making classes wherever possible. You will enjoy it more.
Put on suitable clothing while venturing into the farm to prevent insect bites.
Buy local produce to support the local community.
Do not touch coffee beans or pluck flowers without any permission
Take care not to spoil the natural environment by littering it with plastics and other garbage. You may end up paying heavy fines.
Do not disturb the locals busy plucking. If you want to be a part of the bean plucking process, take necessary permission.

Train bragging – Can this growing travel trend help in sustainable tourism

Karin waited at Goteborg train station deep in thought over the current publication of European Geographical Studies. She was trying to concentrate but a vein on her temple throbbed with fury. Not after a row with hubby Jan for overdone veal. Not even little Oliver’s poor grade in mathematics bothered her much. It was aimed at those dopes traveling by air. Could people be so irresponsible to environment!

Every flight leaves behind a trail of filth gently settling down over the city. Each whit of carbon finds a way into lungs making pulmonary disorders a Swedish household malady. People should be traveling by train for a reason and it is strong enough to offset their craving for air travel. In fact, brief flights are more injurious to environment than the long haul ones. Emission of 250 gm of Co2 for every passenger-kilometer should book everyone on board to the crime of homicide. It is utter neglect of the surrounding air, shutting your senses to burning environmental issues where distances below 500 kilometers could easily be done by train.

Boarding the green rail

Hi-tech Swedish trains are a green and pollution free option to travel and could reach you faster.
For a comparison, long haul flights looked less damaging. They spewed gas, estimates kind of averaged out at 110 per passenger -kilometer. It is an offense against humanity,after all, length of flight is only an excuse.

Night train to Ljungby arrived in stilly mode shortly as smooth as a knife through butter. Europe is way too fast and modern in infrastructure. Technological strides have been very big and acoustics have been brilliant, you can hear a pin drop. Karin collected her luggage, buttoned up her fur coat at the collar and boarded her steps had a clear sense of purpose. At least she had done her bit, changing traveling habits of those airborne morons isn’t her business.

Train bragging, the growing travel trend

Green travel is spreading fast. ‘Tagskryt ‘ also known as train bragging is the new rage in Europe. Who would bother to fly and pollute the environment with carbon emissions when an alternate means exist? Train bragging is a national pride among Swedish commuters as much as their aversion linked to ‘Flygskam’ or flight shame is quite strong.

Trains run on electricity with almost no carbon footprints. Besides they are far cheaper modes of travel less painful on your wallet. The most powerful debate in favor of train travel is its ability to deliver access to natural panorama.

Ample scope of exploring landscape and nature in its raw form exists in train journeys. A definite form of wellness travel is guaranteed in train travel as against the long formal waiting time at airport terminals contributing to stress. Lengthy customs checking, jetlags and soaring prices of air tickets may be going against air travel.

Damage to air quality is the Achilles heels of airlines. Flight shaming arising out of environmental concerns may soon force fleets of aircraft to stay grounded. Unless environmental issues are resolved by use of eco-friendly bio-fuels, the planes would find it hard to get an air-connection.

Rolling the wheels of train bragging

Sustainable travel trends of 2020 would certainly see more people opting for train travel instead of flying. Do we see a similar situation outside Europe? We will investigate this area later.
It all started in Sweden when a 16 year old student Greta Thunberg went up in arms against air travel. She is one of the most vocal climate activists practicing her convictions instead of preaching dos and don’ts.

Personal involvement is far effective when influencing mass opinion.
Her target of raising consciousness about the impact of air travel on climate was achieved in a two week trip around Europe most of it by train. Later she did a solar-powered yacht trip to the US and Chile from Plymouth, England on a climate seminar. The flight shame movement in Sweden is fast gaining ground ever since Thunberg stepped into the scene.

Relationship between frequent flights and the falling quality of atmosphere wasn’t a new find. It was there with voices of protest coming up from different quarters. However, it lacked in force and thoroughness until the little girl Thunberg took up the challenge. Fighting the demon of global warming is already a stressful project, now pollutants released by flights have taken a new bend aggravating the issue.

Sensing alarm for the flying industry?

Studies reveal there would be a drop in growth of the US air travel from 2.1 % to 1.3 % which is alarming for the aircraft production industry. Order booking numbers for both Airbus and its competitor Boeing would slump by 110 every year. These companies would take the hit of falling revenues as predicted by the bankers to the tune of € 2.8 billion annually. Flight shaming movement would be a clear threat to Airbus’ reputation that has controlled a market segment of 57 %.

Is Train bragging catching up beyond Europe?

Responsible travel is the watchword as if saying goodbye to planes would add a fresh lease of life to planet earth. Flight aversion is not a growing cult in Sweden alone climate consciousness it is spreading fast to neighboring nations too. Studies by the Union Bank of Switzerland reveal a sharp downward trend in flying habits and instead, train trips are endorsed.

A sample survey of 6000 folks across Germany, France, UK and US interviewed, disclose a 21% drop in air travel records over last year. Just 16 % of British interviewees admitted they weren’t flying any longer but 24% of Americans still couldn’t shake off flight addiction. A big blow is coming up for aircraft makers as UBS has announced its fears about future of air travel. Airtravel across the European Union would register a growth of 1.5% only annually against a forecast of 3%. Flight shaming movement looks like it’s going to put the airlines business to doom anytime soon.

Sustainable travel is a prime target in travel plans bringing green travel in focus. Among people moving from London to Scotland, train bragging is clearly visible. Commuters look keen on washing away carbon footprints as well as onus together opting out of air trips.
If flight shaming has started digging the grave, train bragging has ceremoniously been hammering in the nails into the coffin where the prospect of airline industry lie.

Ditching the sky

The source of the phrase ‘flight shame’ is traced to Swedish singer Staffan Lindberg’s decision to stop traveling on plane. The vision of damage to climate has shaken him up pretty much. Carbon emissions from flying planes are equated with smoking. It is as offensive a habit if not more. The latter is confined to personal health hazard which is a matter of choice though not advised for sure. But the former is far more universal and is encroaching into a domain that you have no right to harm.

Across the globe the trend of cutting down on air travel has gone conspicuous. Environmental awareness is transmitting fast, perhaps faster than the planes themselves. In Europe, 21 % flyers admitted that they won’t go up again in air in future trying to put an end to their contribution to air-pollution. For a contrast, there is every reason for train riders to celebrate their carbon neutral travel choices. They are cleaner, greener and as quick for short distances. Train bragging would rule the future of travel it seems.

So we have a glimpse of future world where airplanes are banished to hangers. They stand idle with folded wings awaiting an inglorious fate for onward demolition and sale of parts for alternate consumption as scrap. People will cut down on flights to meetings; they would take the train instead. They may opt for videoconferencing altogether instead of flying to a meeting for the sake of a greener environment. I am afraid this sustainable travel would come at a price and travel time will be the first casualty.

Flight shaming – Not always the right path

Now are we talking about all kinds of air travel including vacation trips and serious urgent hauls which if missed may end in loss? Climate poisoning simply doesn’t analyze if it is caused by flying holiday makers or by patients being carried by air -ambulance to specialty clinics. So whatever fractional gain in environmental health achieved by saying no to planes could be annulled by lengthy train journeys failing passengers in their commitments.

Emergencies for medical reasons are more important than climate conscious movements leading to aircraft boycott. Urgent dispatch of the sick and victims of an accident to hospitals is a case in point. At least for long trips, reaching destination fast can save a life. Trips by air done in an hour would be dragged to more than a day by train.

Duration matters

Will this option for carbon neutral travel make good the losses arising from overall delay in life?
Flight shaming or train bragging whichever angle you see the trend of travel is a radical shift. Deteriorating quality of atmosphere from smoke pumped from aircraft is mostly an obsession with the European travelers. The chief reason is geographical. From one end of a country to the other travel options don’t make much difference in time gained or lost countries being small. Even movement from one country to other within Europe is just a few hours away. Two extreme ends of Europe, Denmark and Italy could connect in less than 5 hours by train.

For that matter, high speed train connects Paris and Luxembourg in little over 2 hours. You can travel by train while enjoying the scenic beauty and ensure you are not ruining the ecosystem. The entire Europe features a manageable size where you go places by train and still not lose out on important time schedules.

For other continents like the Americas, Asia and the Down Under, their sheer size would make end to end train travels a time consuming affair. The size of the countries included are large enough what to talk about continents! In Africa, the terrain is inhospitable and the run is along wilds inhabited mostly by dangerous big fives.

Train travel would be far too risky even if the tracks are laid. Railway infrastructure in other parts of the world still does not catch up with European standards to guarantee a smooth and speedy travel. So doing a leisurely train journey in vast countries like Russia, China, Brazil and India would mean staying away from work for a length of time just not affordable.

In Sweden, the employment policies are relaxed making long train journeys possible. Swedes enjoy a minimum of 25 government mandate days of paid annual leaves in addition to normal holidays. So long train trips staying away from workplace isn’t a big deal. For a comparison, the US incumbent policies are more stringent offering no paid vacations. Doing long train journeys is simply not possible it would lead to loss of pay.

As inference for most parts of the world, flight shaming is more of finding a scapegoat rather than locating appropriate sources of air pollution. Cement and concrete producing plants contribute to a substantial proportion of Co2 poisoning of atmosphere. Why isn’t a movement coming up in any part of the world to explore possibilities of more eco-friendly cement alternatives?

Sustainable tourism is limited in train bragging

In all probabilities, train bragging doesn’t sound sacrosanct. It is not a solution to keep atmospheric pollution under control in one hand and meeting travelers demands on the other. A number of conflicting targets concerning travel and its impact on climate need a tradeoff. Outright vilification of a specific mode of travel and glorification of another mode is not a fair answer.

Whatever may be the result of efforts made to free the atmosphere from carbon clog, Thunberg’s endeavor is commendable. Her tender age and her deficiency in motor coordination could not place a barrier to her efforts. It is like throwing down the gauntlet outright no matter how far she succeeds in her mission. At least she has given a dedicated try.

Vietnam ranks top among post covid travel destinations – know the top attractions

The conflict of political interests had spewed venom, but not enough of it to make this beautiful country accept defeat. Neither could Covid 19 pandemic. Vietnam with one of the least infected cases in the world and zero mortality till today when the write up is being created has started easing social restrictions from 23rd April. Many sites of attraction have opened or are about to reopen. There might be some entry restrictions allowing a fixed number of tourist footfalls per day to avoid any new surge of infections. This would be the new normal for every tourist destinations and is likely to stay for the next couple of years or so.

Non-essential services have also opened barring the discos and parlours. Although international flight operations are yet to resume, vacationers can plan in advance to visit this country after lifting of international travel restrictions.

A mountainous terrain sharing borders with China, Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam had its blueprint drawn up in heaven no doubt. Tourism in Vietnam saw record highs last year with a 20% rise in foreign tourists.

I was fortunate enough to get hooked on a 4 days tour package. From what I could gather tourism here is undergoing a massive transformation. What attracted me most is the beautiful fusion of Western offerings with authentic Asian aesthetics. This is what I have been looking for since long! Sand and sea continue to be huge crowd pullers. If you are looking for a luxe touch, recent developments will give you the feel.

Arrived at Noi Bai International airport, Hanoi and met the cab driver holding a sign with my name on it. The cab was fine but a little cramped without much luggage space to boot. He had packed the car with his chattels and drove me to the hotel.

Day 1:

P.C. hanoifreelocaltours

My first visit was to Ho Chi Minh Complex, a place of social gathering. Vietnamese people pay respect to Uncle Ho, the founder of the Vietnamese communist party. It’s almost a pilgrimage attended with fervor. The complex is captivating with prim garden, memorials, pagodas and their elegance making a lasting impression on the mind.

The house where he stayed is a typical traditional Viet living unit raised on stilts; a simple structure reflecting modest lifestyle. This house has a garden and a small tidy pool where a koi family swims in grace. In the complex stands the one pillar pagoda, in the centre of a lotus pond.

The structure, the quintessentially sacred entity in the country is symbolic of the lotus flower. The sanctum inside the pagoda is dedicated to Vietnamese Buddhist goddess Quan Ann. She has an image built inside a tiny temple. Leafing through guidebook I was reassuring if I was missing any spot. A monk was studying me from a small distance and came closer, asked my nationality in fluent English.

A conversation started, he took to Monkhood at 11. A pack of Mevius he carried apparently did not matter with the potentially delicate issue of smoking among religious people. I was about to ask but checked my curiosity I may be invading privacy. We walked and crossed the complex fringes; I admitted how amazing his country was. Nothing compared to what it used to be, was his reaction.

Pain in his voice indicated wound in the heart. The war had left a legacy of damage on crop, infrastructure and life. The road to recovery seems long but not endless. Viets have iron grit, they have proved it and they will prove again! He lit a Mevius cigarette, puffed a long drag and bade goodbye. The man was lost in the crowd.

Visiting time: All weekdays except Monday and Friday

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 7.30 AM- 10.30 AM

Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays: 7.30 AM-11.00 AM

Winter Season time (from 1^st Nov-31^st March of the following year): 8 AM- 11 AM

Fares:

Ho Chi Minh Complex: Free

Ho Chi Minh Museum: 40.00 VND

Ho Chi Minh’s House: 40.000 VND/adult

Dress Code: sleeveless shirts, tank tops, shorts, miniskirts not allowed.

Camera, mobile phones and video recording not permitted. Children below 3 years are not allowed.

The Temple of Literature:

P.C. culturetrip.com

My next stop, the Temple of Literature. My guidebook was the only trustworthy companion, didn’t go experimenting for a hired guide. Things can go tricky. People pose for photographs and demand money. In Coliseum in Rome, I have heard, dummy gladiators pose for photographs, they look amusing. You never know if there is a string in between at the other end lies a motive for money extortion. Any discord may invite a fight with the gladiator and that is very real. Quick conversion of amusement into threat takes you by surprise!

Built in 1070, it was a recognized seat of learning and one of the most appealing spots in the country. The building gets a clean up on a regular basis and much of the knowledge shared with students was on the premise of Confucian philosophy. Perhaps proximity to the Chinese border in the north could be an explanation.

Architecture belonged to traditional Viet School, its patios, galleries and causeways were used by the nobility. At the outset the doors were opened only to aristocrats’, later merit took over class. The Temple of Literature is set in a pristine stretch of turf with rows of trees and peppered with applause in travel magazines. The trees are very old and offered relaxed shade to students.

Opening hours:

All days of the week except Saturday

From April-October (summer): 07:30- 17:30

From October – April (winter): 08:00 – 17:00

Entrance fee as on 2017:

Adults nearly $ US 1.3/head

Students: $ 0.7/head (student ID required)

Children below 15 years: Free

Dress Code: Sober and casual; no short skirts, pants or tank tops

The Museum of Ethnology:

P.C. Holidify.com

My next drop-in was to the Museum of Ethnology. It is a wonderful journey into the culture and lifestyle of ethnic tribes of Vietnam. A potent canvas in color and a revelation of untouched areas of civilization left me spellbound. Exhibits ranged from stuff of everyday use to tiny models of dwelling houses reflecting a sense of aesthetics among different ethnic tribes.

It included an auditorium, a library and a research centre, all of them focused on a crucible of cultural blend in regional diversities. The museum showcased around 15000 artifacts including photographs and audiotapes. It supplied an effective and interactive link with the museum visitors. The display boards were in English and French. In the evening I was scheduled for a Cyclo ride in Hanoi. You experience the traffic and the fun of it as you hit the roads.

A tight knot inside me was building up in the first few minutes of ride and it rang a bell. Almost the same feeling that I had in a ‘giant wheel ride’ back home in a neighborhood carnival! At least that was what I recall. That was Kolkata and this is Hanoi. Kolkata feelings chased me to Hanoi. After some bargaining we settled at a price, the Cyclo driver looked very clever. A glint in his eyes assured an exciting jaunt. But an artful smile somehow betrayed a vulpine craft I needed to guard.

Fate has made him learn from life, bitter lessons in his struggle for survival. Rush hours in Hanoi saw stifling heat going up a several notches. Unpleasant experiences may come in between you and the joy of travelling. Overcharging for rides, sale of street food at a price like highway robbery is not uncommon. It would be unwise to agree to prices quoting numbers alone. The mention of currency is important. Don’t be surprised if you hear him say “I have asked my price in USD”. And you have been figuring out your budget in Viet Dong. (1USD = 23000 Dong approx) Just think of the enormity of rip off!

You feel so obviously cheated and barely can ever conceive that the ploy could be so blunt and yet forceful. The crook shouts out, giving a sticky slant to the event, forcing you to agree to spare a bad scene. Not knowing the language is a handicap!

It was a strange paradox that I felt vulnerable and yet cool on the cyclo. It’s usually the driver who is in front of you in a ride. On a cyclo the scene is different; he operates from the rear as if putting you up as a shield. I felt open to traffic rushing in! Hardly any road rules exist here in busy streets, scooters run in all directions without any rhyme and reason. The moment you fear a collision the cyclo driver saves you from disaster.

His control over the ride is par excellence, steering the cyclo smooth and easy winding through a rush, mad and all screwed up. Yet no road accidents happen my salams to his skill! Vehicles shot at us and we dribbled past, soon I was quite enjoying the ride. The Old quarter of Hanoi is amazing and dotted with restaurants, colonial buildings, parks, schools and market places.

The driver was bubbling with energy and would stop at places educating me on the history of Vietnam, edifices and memorials. A little English and the rest in sign language worked for us. He knew the Old Quarters like the back of his hand.

Opening Hours:

Daily from 08:30-17:30. Closed on Mondays.

Hoan Kiem Lake and Water puppet show

P.C. Vietnamtravelguide

Centrally located this lake is a cynosure vibrant with life. When I reached, the sky had turned red. Tourists at waterfront bars were busy with sundowners. The lake shelters soft-shelled turtles. They are revered here and just about lauded to a status of celestial entities. The water was a shimmering gold in the dying rays of the sun disguising its actual color. A dark green sheet with ripples lapped the banks, it was a treat!

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a much sought after tourist haunt. It is a rich Vietnamese folk art of the Red River Delta and connected with rice farming and harvest. The sheen of light and fireworks added more flux to the puppet dance. Bought tickets and occupied seats, wished the gap between rows were wider, not enough leg space to relish a relaxed evening.

Puppets looked amusing in color and action. They danced to folk music, the puppet masters hid behind curtain maneuvering the rope- tied puppets with surprising adroit. One end of the rope had the puppets and the other end tied to poles worked from behind the curtain. Cute little dancers were made from some light wood else they would sink like dead weight.

Day 2: Hanoi – Ha long overnight cruise:

Itinerary included a trip to Halong Bay on an AC minivan. On the Bay, the cruise was on ship Athena. We reached Ha Long in 3 hours. The view was breathtaking. Rock formations broke water and the cruise was in the surreal waterscape. The horizon was a thin line between the sky and placid water. Athena was a dream ship lithe and streamlined!

I had booked an Executive suite with balcony on the first deck. The suite was well furnished; had a wonderful time spending 4 hours on the Bay. The sail was breeze along water corridors in between limestone karsts. Junks and sampans moved past us, they must be sailing to preset appointments. The ambiance was too good to be true exalted by scrumptious Viet cuisine served on board. Much of it was seafood caught fresh from the Bay.

Small bamboo boats were dwarfed by Athena. Boatmen alternated use of limbs working the oars. Sometimes it was both the hands and sometimes they rowed with legs alone relieving shoulders .Must be hell of an effort, the expressionless faces did not show any fatigue though. Bay eagles occasionally dived for a living.

It is not easy in the sky, not easy on the boat either. Struggle for existence is everywhere and from the privileged luxury suite I felt a little guilty. The cruise continued to the second day and had an amazing stopover. Before that it was a pulsating night with booze and band, DJ’s and dance on the floor whoopee.

Rounds of onboard games made the holidaymakers high and happy. The late night ball ended in a hearty dinner and some quality sleep on a snug king size bed. Sung Sot cave in Bo Hon Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ship docked on the pier, we set foot on the rock. Way to the cave was lined with trees the atmosphere was serene with an exotic appeal.

It was way cooler inside the cave; stalactites and stalagmites fell and rose responding to dictates of the geological clock. Hundreds of neons lit them up in an alien luster. Cruise ship Athena cut across emerald water further east towards Bai Tu Long Bay. Here tiny islands are scattered and the beaches are lonely and tranquil. The rush of tourism is low and the impact of commercialization negligible. The islands are thick with rainforests and the habitat remote and wild.

Day 4: Cu Chi Tunnel:

Arrived Ho Chi Minh City last night. Cu Chi Tunnel is rich in history marred with war casualties and gun smoke. The incredible web of tunnels has a significance being witness to the war. As much as the infamous Tet offensive being a turning point for the country. Guerrillas of Vietcong fighting an uphill battle against South Vietnamese troops were episodes of epic scale.

Now, the US and Alliance forces stepping in, the war took a more violent form. Hideous throwback inside Cu Chi was in the vibe. Conversation between tourists fell to whispers who were introduced to brief video snippets of painstaking tunnel construction. A lot of blood and sweat had been shed, a ceasefire was certainly imperative.

An underground bastion for arsenal, supplies and infirmary, it was a one-stop cover for Vietcong troops. Endurance and launching counteroffensive was the key to staying alive. A quaint river close to the tunnel had ducks and water buffaloes in peaceful coexistence. Neither the serene rice fields echo the shriek of carnage nor do lush woods remind us of defoliants used to devastate the land. The tunnel trip ended with tea and cassava, the frugal diet soldiers ate. Retired to Saigon hotel and more trips waited post lunch.

Independence Palace:

P.C.Nickswandrings.com

The Reunification Palace built as a renovation on the site of the erstwhile Norodom Palace, the imposing building is a grand affair; its design is the brainchild of architect Ngo Viet Thu. During the war, the president of South Vietnam resided and functioned from here. Its historical significance marking the end of war had been theatrical when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through its gate.

It is hot and humid out here making beads of perspiration on the eyebrow. The sprawling lawn and fountain went well with the overall grandeur. The crowd was cosmopolitan, tourists and locals were in a tension-free slow motion footslogs approaching the palace interior. The interior featured luxury with decorative. Separate rooms for conference, office work, living, dining and corridors were all spick and span. Visitors were flocked around mementos and exquisite furnishings with a European influence.

Notre Dame Cathedral:

P.C. atlasobscura.com

Trip to Notre Dame Cathedral was preceded by an incident. Honesty in crowd is rare but not unlikely depending upon chance factor. My lost wallet was handed over to me by a local. Didn’t realize when it slipped out, he stared at me and smiled. A silent communication bridged our thoughts. He looked happy having helped a stranger and the man found a room of respect inside me.

The Cathedral is a goliath edifice ringing somber tone of faith and its twin spires stood high in the sky. The foundation was strong enough to support ten times the weight of the cathedral itself. No wonder it had lived through the ravages of war. But much of the tiles, originally French, could not escape damage.

They were later replaced by products of Saigon kilns. As a consequence of the French subjugation of the region, the Roman Catholic Church had set up a religious base for the French people here.

In 1962, Pope John XXIII blessed the Saigon chief Cathedral and the status of basilica was bestowed. We have the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica since then. Arches and glass panes are an epitome of French art they shot back the evening sun in a sublime tapestry of color.

The Central Post Office:

This imposing building is the largest post office in South East Asia close to Notredame Cathedral. A reminiscent of French colonialism, the post office is an example of careful conservation. Though very much oriental in essence in few pockets in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the echo of French occupation is strongly felt. The building’s arched windows with wooden shutters bore a sharp contrast with Oriental upward-curving roofs.

The post office looked like a huge cathedral and a big portrait of Ho Chi Minh hung at the far end of the building. Glazed flooring, panels and sleek looking counters and benches amazingly stood in a great visual balance with medieval arched ceilings. The interior captured a bygone era featuring old phone booths, letter writing desks and glue pots.

The atmosphere had an old European charm only if not the large portrait had been a grim reminder that I was at the heart of a strife-torn nation. The sun had touched the rim of the world soon dusk will be all-pervasive. The temperature started to wane as I made headway towards Saigon hotel.

Mekong Delta cruise:

My last day of stay in Vietnam was kind of a hurry exploring the Mekong Delta. This is a big river with tributaries emptying into the South China Sea.

Started at 6.30 morning, a bus ride from hotel reached us to Delta port of My Tho. To call Vietnam tour super without doing Mekong cruise is underselling its tourism potential. The small fuel-powered boat cut across smoky water. After a while, we got somewhat used to the chug of the engine. Herons flew low over us letting out squawks.

We left My Tho far behind and moved into a more scenic landscape. Viet rustic setting is splendid, vast stretch of paddy fields seemed never ending. Houses along banks were built on stilts giving them an iconic look. A very familiar construction identity in Southeast Asia but why on stilts, there aren’t any threatening wildlife in this region except Mekong crocodiles. Flooding could be a reason. River water overflows banks in monsoon causing havoc.

We touched the mooring at Kimmy chocolate factory supposed to be the largest in South Vietnam. Chocolates are handmade and delicious, a little bitter though and capable of matching strength with the branded ones.

We sailed on low tide keeping close to the left bank. Biodiversity is amazing with a large number of animal species. Vietnam tigers are up north and on a steady march towards extinction. Low water level exposes more of the bank leaving rotten fruits, plants and dead matter that may have been washed ashore. It becomes a feeding ground for scavengers. We skimmed the bushes, a fishing cat came in view.

Next, we came up to a fishing village. Houses were erected on stilts! Nets were stretched taught, fastened to poles and hum of flies went on and off in a rhythm. Children flocked around tourists with expectation in their eyes. Unfortunately, I had nothing to share except smiles and a brief photo session. They weren’t a bit camera shy.

The heat was slowly rising it was noon. We were treated to Viet lunch rounded up with fruit and honey. Lunch done we were sailing towards Bang Lang stork sanctuary. This is a peaceful refuge for birds located in Thoi Bin hamlet. Our boat hit the jetty and from here we were to go walking.

P.C. Alotrip

We crossed a wooden bridge and went through orchards; trees were laden with ripe fruits. Felt like scrumping a few if not the guide had warned us against grove centipedes. These insects must be very repulsive although fried versions in Saigon street food kiosks didn’t look bad. Twenty species of Storks and we could see only a few of different sizes. Not only the storks, herons, egrets, ibises and flamingos had made a large and noisy rookery.

Before sunset, more storks were foraging the marsh for evening grub. Shutters clicked and treasured images captured. This sanctuary is a natural development in the early 90s. More birds started inhabiting getting signals of security and assurance of food. Storks find a position among locals. The birds are a symbol of hard work and integrity. My thought chain was broken our guide had asked us to call it a day; walked backed to the jetty carrying wonderful memories and heart full of love.

Why not opt for a Nakation next outing

Nakation aka clothing-optional vacation (some may call it Nacation) is a hot topic in the global tourism circuit. Tourists, both males and females, crowding beaches and resorts are enjoying ditching the clothing. Cruises too are boarded by people who love stripping themselves to a rising crescendo of delight. It is not that they have stripped themselves of the fundamental human modesty. Neither have they scraped themselves of the basic decorum of civilization.

The fear of public embarrassment is overshadowed by intense bliss bringing nature closer once the clothes are removed. Simply put, the need to wear clothes in these nude vacation spots appears meaningless. Attire is undesirable confinement that binds your freedom to shackles. A free-spirited philosophy here you don’t equate nudity with sex fired by lust leading to promiscuity with basic instincts gone awry.

Back to nature:

The proverbial back to nature club is right here in the Nude vacation destinations. Clothes advocated by a refined society are essentially seen as a barrier between a human body and nature. All the boons and pleasures loaded in the surroundings are denied so long we are in clothes. This feeling is quite strong and viral among a class of people who unanimously agree upon having nude vacation destinations.

Does Nakation have a future?

Well, the travel pundits say ‘ absolutely ‘. The travel destination nudity is fast picking up steam. Within a few years, it will run into a billion-dollar industry. The state of Florida is already seeing a swell nude tourist crowd. Beaches here are practically crawling with nude enthusiasts; it is the new name for dollar machine.

Back in 2003, estimates published by Forbes magazine on nude recreation is big news to reckon. It will bloom into a USD 400 million industry. Numbers reported by the State Tourism Department disclose a huge revenue gain for Florida.

Last year, the Sunshine State of Florida had an infusion of USD 7.4 billion from leisure inspired by stark naked holidaymakers going bananas. But keep in mind it is a controlled fit of ecstasy where basic moral codes are not taken over by turpitude.

Millennials like it too

Media relations officer for the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) Mary Jane Kolassa comes up with insightful revelations on nude vacation. A random sampling puts most of the nude beach vacationers in the age group of 45 and onwards. However, she holds that the mix is on a constant move, mature adults are now accompanied by millennials and Gen Xers.

Pure whites, Hispanics and Black Americans go hand in hand in a delirium of heightened exultation from nude beach experience. Just as going off the grid brings us closer to digital detoxification, shunning the clothes removes the uneasiness of banishment into trappings of fabric.

A great leveler:

It breaks the barrier of differentiation based on the price of the suit you are wearing. It makes the boundary line of classification between the aristocrats and proletarians disappear. Without the quality of dress wound around you, a celebrity sun- tanning beside you is no bigger than what you are! The concept sells like hot cake and looks like a significant factor behind the popularity of nude vacation destinations.

Nude vacation, breaking the traditional concept:

Nude vacation beaches are not a novel concept. They have been in the tourism scene for some time. Nude resorts have been a comparatively new fad. But innovations in nude tourism have travelled pretty much now covering sea cruises as well. Special mention goes to Castaway Travels having headquarters in Texas. They rent out cruises where passengers would like it all dressed up or completely nude is just a matter of choice.

According to estimates projected by Donna Daniels, the joint owner of Castaway travels this year’s sale would book 7500 passengers on three chartered voyages conducted by Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity. To spice up nude cruises, fun and entertainment are programmed in. They include adult comedy shows, costume nights and body painting.

What is driving Nakation?

Most of us have a stereotyped life set in a formal straight jacket. Regular chores of waking up, feeding, caring for family, commitments, going to the office and coming back seem monotonous . There is another side to it, and that’s the rebel inside.

It craves for more liberty and self-expression, it is his instinct that has made man break free and enjoy more freedom. This is sort of mapped into genes, some may want it wild and some moderate and for some it is dormant.

Suppressed longings are nothing unusual; it looks around for social approval. A nude vacation trip feeds this desire. The adrenaline rush from Nakation perhaps gives the same excitement as from snorkeling, mountain trekking and nature camping.
A psychological block is but natural when it comes to undressing in public, but when you are a part of a large nude group and merriment things may turn therapeutic. It kind of help removing the block and Nakations offer the right platform.

In Nakation resorts, exhibiting your nude self will not invite any legal litigation. Nor is the act of viewing your co- tourists exhibiting their naked bodies is banned by law. This triggers encouragement to release the exhibitionist self within us bringing in gratification. If you have a chiseled body by God’s grace, it will be a cherry on the cake.

Besides, nude vacation resorts with its liberal tone are believed to boost self-confidence. With a setting charged with excitement, these gardens of Eden promise, subscribe to their immense marketability. It is all very delicate and refined and yet so primitive and beautiful that it strikes a chord deep inside!

Nakations arouse our inquisitiveness that is fundamental to human nature. At the same time, it balances the relationship between the open exhibit of nudity and satiating curiosity. This wouldn’t have been possible in a regular and normal holiday camp.

Development of the trend:

The desire to display one’s nude self is a 16th Century concept. It has come a long way and what we have now are Nakations with featured amenities. These holiday resorts are completely equipped with facilities to take on growing visitors’ footfalls. Restructuring tourism ideas have taken Nakations far beyond concepts of tanning nude on beaches. Nude tourism has been extended to hiking, canoeing, skinny dipping and along more exciting avenues.

Mass desire to go off the grind stripping down to bare skin is where the secrets lie. Moreover, the class demarcation between blue and white-collar tourists will disappear once there are no collars at all to make a social divide. This concept of equality has a powerful mass appeal that Nakations are selling. It somehow brings out your inner mettle, your identity mark. Not the classy outward show of affluence and superiority made-up by the expensive clothing.

For Nakations, it would be an incomplete anecdote without a mention of Nick and Lins, a Belgian couple in mid-30s. Co-founders of Naked Wanderings they have made a recent global trip “as naked as possible”! Blogging all the way their experiences they were the brand ambassadors of naked tourism, glorifying the cause and the brainwave. Nakation brings a shower of benedictions’. You travel light, you feel free, good for your spirit and great for your skin!

Physically irresistible attraction:

Once you undo your clothes, you can feel the kiss of breeze all over. Putting no clothes on feels comfortable than captivity inside a shirt and if it’s soaked in sweat it’s the worst thing around. Removal of the dress gives your skin a space to breathe and relish every moment of exposure to air, sunlight and a starry night.

Nakation resorts eliminate stress. Initially, there may be inhibitions and embarrassments, but when you feel you are not alone, joy will overtake discomfiture. In fact, on the other way round if you are the only dressed tourist among champions of nudity you will feel being the odd man out.

Once you dispense with your clothes, shed your vanity and inhibitions you feel you belong deeper into mankind. Your essence is described by the stuff you are made of and not the clothes that may make you look like what you are not.

15 amazing Nakation experiences you can only have without your clothes on:

Sauna and splash in a Finnish Nakation:

A modest sauna is very much a part of the Finnish culture. A fair degree of impartiality can be seen in the society where everyone is treated equal and this turns into a craze. A sauna bath is seen as a great populist public place where once stripped, the pedigree that differentiates people vanish.

Men and women irrespective of the age group are nude in a Finnish nakation, it is a lifetime experience. Here you enjoy every inch of your nude self dipped in warm and caressing water. For a change, you may leave your sauna and plunge into a Lake freezing cold. That done run back to the cozy sauna and spend carefree moments. Isn’t that wild and vehemently alluring.

2. Visit Austria’s Aqua Dome:

Austria’s Aqua Dome located in Tyrol region is a wellness retreat mirroring the excellent sauna culture of the nation. This is a super theme park both in terms of size and awesome services. The facility includes seven saunas packed with surprises unique to each of them. In addition, a ‘glacier room ‘ and a ‘salt pool’ that will keep you buoyant are equipped and designed with state of the art amenities.

You can relish all of it only if you join the fun naked. You will find other tourists from different social brackets and nationalities. One feature common to all of you is, everyone is nude and that way all are equal at least judged by free and frank body gestures. Initial hesitation will melt away and you start feeling normal and comfortable in the company of people looking so dignified in their birthday suits!

3. Magical nude moments in a Russian Banya:

Language may turn a barrier and a cause of puzzlement for foreigners visiting a traditional Russian bathhouse known as Banya. The sight of nude people huddled in a sauna cleansing each other under a shower is certainly amusing.

Many engaged in a spree hitting themselves with birch twigs is perplexing to outsiders. There is a beer session where the group drinks in a lounge. There isn’t any barrier though, you can also join the gang and drain the glass to your joy. The only thing you need is keep your dress in a closet and step in nude.

4. Dine at Bunyadi in London:

London’s Elephant and Castle is currently non-operative for financial reasons but soon hopes to reopen once the financial crisis is solved. The theme of this joint is being close to nature. It is a vegan dining experience where guests are all nude and the wait staffs are nude as well. Food served is paleo diet taken almost raw as was eaten by cave men. Elephant and Castle is a unique experience for sure.

5. Japanese Onsen

Japanese Onsen or hot springs form an important part of Jap culture where visitors remove their dress completely and enjoy the kiss of warm showers. Your clothing discarded you feel more interactive with nature. Hot springs do good to eliminate ache from your bones and muscles. Nudity removes reticence.

6. Jimjilbang in Korea:

Here is the idea is to get a wonderful exposure to Nakation in its entirety. Less emphasis is placed on nature’s interference with human entertainment bordering on nude rapture. Here you strip yourself and get into warm water for a bath.

In big and modern Korean cities, Jimjilbang comes with additional facilities. Barbers and restaurants, relaxation corners and movie houses come at a price. These are remarkable entertainment centers leveraged around the theme of nude tourism. You can spend the whole day here completely immersed in comfort.

7. Turkish Bath:

Turkish bathhouses are as famous as they originate from a tradition running back into centuries. In Turkey, taking a communal bath is a sort of ritual. Pleasant surprises exist. While you lie on the hot stone, attendants will scrub you clean. Remember while all this is being done, you are in a bare towel to guard your modesty.

Warm hot tea is served while you relax on a couch in the lounge. It is a wonderful feeling as you sense your tension melts away. It is as hassle-free as the way you got yourself rid of the clutch of your clothing.

8. Naturist resort in Australia:

Naturist resorts invite people in their birthday suits. They can be fairly top notch to average ones. You will find every service here; sauna, boozing lounge, cafeteria and all of them only with a difference. The guests are all stripped to their bare skin.

Some unique on-beach nakation experiences:

9. Samurai Beach, New South Wales, Australia:

The beach is amazingly pristine, wonderful and is quite famous for nude barbecues. Surfers, fishermen and beach buffs from all age groups are seen here. They are all in a jovial mood. Nudist clubs from the Newcastle visit the beach once every year for fun and gambol. They wear nothing except smiles on their faces and spark in their eyes. You can join them in the game the rule is you got to go naked

10. Zandvoort beach, The Netherlands:

In The Netherlands, nudity is encouraged and scope for nude entertainments is plenty. Zandvoort beach is quite famous in nudist circles and an annual New Year’s Day morning is celebrated for skinny dips. People roll in sand and surf in a mood of merriment and it is a treat to watch. Even more would be the excitement to join the crowd in the clean fun they have a ball in cold water.

11. Black’s Beach, Southern California, San Diego, US:

This beach is guarded by the Torrey Pines Cliffs and you got to access it along a half a mile downhill trek. The University of San Diego being close by, the beach is frequented by students in summer. It is a big and crazy summer and you can spot beach enthusiasts lying completely naked. You can join in too no one will raise an eyebrow.

12. Sovinje, Island of Pasman, Croatia:

This is an appropriate beach in Croatia to realize your wildest fantasies in a nude holiday. Restaurants, malls and cafes are in plenty set in a line along the moorings. There is no dearth of greenery, pine trees stand in a row throwing shade on sand. Sea water is clean and clear inspiring swimming, snorkeling and paddling.

13. Wreck Beach, Vancouver, Canada:

This Canadian beach is a fabulous nudist beach located at the bottom of a long and scarped pathway. The trail originates from the campus of University of British Columbia. It is easily accessible and the oldest nude beach where you are not prosecuted for not putting on clothes. It is legally approved to go naked so long you keep your humor within limits.

14. Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Columbia:

This nude beach is made famous by mid thirty nude couple Nick and Lins. These travel bloggers of ‘ Naked Wanderings ‘ fame had made a worldwide sensation. Access to this beach has two alternatives. Either you row your boat for long hours to reach it or choose to trek along dense jungles.

15. Point Addis, Victoria, Australia:

This Aussie nude beach is vibrant with activities and fun like Frisbee, yoga, sunbathing and swimming. From Melbourne, you take the Great Ocean Road to reach this beach. It is simply picturesque all along the drive with spectacular cliffs hanging over ocean water. The crowd is an amalgam of all age groups and going nude on the sand and surf isn’t a big deal.

Dos and don’ts on a nakation:

Nakation hotspots are great for those seeking a completely carefree clothing-optional vacation. But these recreation spots come with specific rules and etiquettes which may seem more than a residential school. Here’s a short guide on what you are expected to do and not to do while on a nakation:

Ensure the destination is clothing-optional:

Hearsay information or reading somewhere about a beach/resort being clothing-optional may not really mean so. Do enough research and get information from authentic sources that the destination is meant for nakation. If you are unsure, keep your clothes on. Public nudity is condemned in many places. You may be slapped with a hefty fine.

2. Look for Naturist Resorts:

These are ideal for those looking for entirely clothing-free nakations. It can be family-friendly or adult-only resorts. You are likely to get many options suiting your budget.

3. Never ever stare:

Viewing and staring are two different approaches. You should never stare, point or giggle on somebody while on a nude beach or resort. There is nothing wrong to look at your fellow nude vacationers. You may need to interact and greet each other. All these are common etiquettes but there should be nothing beyond this

4. Do not expect chiseled bodies:

Well, if you expect chiseled models or handsome blokes around, you may be disappointed. Keep your expectations realistic. Nude-patrons come in various shapes, sizes and colors. You are likely to see all normal humans enjoying nakation.

5. Avoid taking pics:

Never take pics of anybody without their consent. This is applicable to all tourism destinations. Check whether photography is allowed in nude beaches or not. After all, clicking a naked subject is always debatable. Even if you don’t mind getting yourself clicked naked, explore where it can end up. It may create awkward moments. Never forget the possible harms that can arise from social media sharing.

6. Avoid sexual activity and public display of affection:

If you are enjoying nakation with your partner, maintain your dignity in public display of affection. Too much of it can offend others and spoil the ambience. Such activities have led to the closure of many nakation spots in the past. For a more intimate experience, you can opt for private beaches and resorts.

7. Keep your clothing on while visiting certain public areas:

While nudism is permissible on the beach, it may not be acceptable in specific public spaces like cafes, eateries and parking lots. Be in your clothing when visiting these places.

8. Keep your body protected from sunburns:

Too much exposure to the sun can be damaging for your body especially the sensitive areas. Those sensitive areas normally covered by swimsuits can be badly damaged. Cover those areas with a thick layer of sunscreen. You can use a towel for extra protection.

Essentials to pack for Nakation:

Soft and comfortable towel long enough to cover your body
Bathing suit
Enough stock of sunscreen
Hat
Jumper
Sarong
Light jewelry
A pair of goggles
A pair of flip-flops
Insect repellant
Cooling gels
Enough stock of hydrating lotion
Cooler box to carry water and beverages
Condoms and sex-items

Nakations are getting popular but may not be to everybody’s likings. One should be open-minded free from inhibitions to enjoy this naturist vacation. Even if they seem exciting to you, check with yourself whether you will be comfortable with it. Trying something new adds spice to your life. At the same time, you also need to be prepared so as not to get a cultural shock. Travel is evolving in new forms, why not have a taste of a different kind?