Are Staycations Here To Stay In Our Post-COVID World? | Ansal University

1. ARE STAYCATIONS HERE TO STAY IN OUR POST-COVID WORLD? Among the various industries that have been hit hardest by the economic recession bright on by COVID-19, the hospitality industry definitely tops the list. With the borders of most countries and cities being sealed and the continuing ban on international travel imposed by many countries, the hospitality sector has been facing a major crisis. There has been zero to minimal business for most operators within the industry for the past several months and sadly, things are not looking too bright in the near future as well. However, all hope is not yet lost as the concept of staycations is gaining much popularity among people keen on enjoying a holiday with their family or friends after COVID-19. Staycations – Getting Familiar With The Term For most people, staycations might seem to be an unfamiliar term that has been developed during the COVID-19 crisis. However, professionals trained at the ​best college for hotel management​, are well-versed with this term. A staycation can be defined in the simplest terms as a vacation enjoyed by individuals or groups within a short distance of their homes. Such holiday is extremely cost-effective and safe as compared to a proper vacation since the participants get to enjoy various leisure activities available close to their home and do not need to make arrangements for overnight boarding and lodging or a multiple-day accommodation for the entire group. Revival Of Staycations Staycations were quite popular before the advent of easy means of travel and the availability of significant amounts of disposable income. However, over the past several decades, the concept of staycations has become somewhat obsolete due to various reasons. But now, thanks to COVID-19, the idea is getting revived. While most people are reluctant to give up their holidays completely, they are seeking options that help them to prioritize their health and well-being above everything else. Moreover, with the travel restrictions still on at most places, people are likely to avoid travelling a long distance to unknown locations, where they might not be sure of the healthcare facilities available locally or even the assurance of completely safe and hygienic accommodation options. Most Common Benefits Of Staycations As mentioned before, staycations have emerged as a popular tourism trend in the COVID era. In fact, many experts believe that staycations might play a critical role in reviving the hospitality industry over

2. the course of the next several months. This can be better understood by considering the following aspects of this method of holidaying. Enhanced Safety For Tourists Since staycations do not require the holidaymakers to travel too far, they are assured of their own safety as well as the safety of their loved ones. They can easily gain detailed information about local hotels and tour operators and the type of services offered by these establishments in terms of observation of key safety precautions. This can help them to plan their outing accordingly and ensure that they can have some fun rather than constantly worrying about issues such as hygiene, sanitation, and the risk of contacting COVID-19. Enhanced Hygiene In Hotels The hotel, as well as F&B sectors, will need to focus on hygiene and sanitation to a significantly greater extent to draw customers. People will prefer to stay at hotels that guarantee the observation of all the essential safety guidelines and regulations in the most stringent manner. Moreover, they are also likely to recommend the same hotel to friends or acquaintances visiting the city. The likelihood of such guests staying at the hotel for longer durations and preferring to have meals prepared in-house is quite high, which can ensure great short and long term benefits for such establishments. Local Tourism Will Get A Boost Staycations can be responsible for boosting local tourism in a significant manner. It will inspire people to revisit local hot-spots they might have visited only as kids or maybe not even then. In the craze of vacationing at exotic holiday destinations, people often ignored the tourist hubs situated within their own towns and cities. However, all this is likely to change as people are likely to show a greater interest in exploring sights and structures within the vicinity of their homes, which they might have considered unworthy of their time and attention earlier. This will, in turn, ensure the proper maintenance and even restoration of local attractions which will further enhance their appeal. Great Fun At A Fairly Lesser Cost The whole point of a vacation is to have fun with family or a group of friends and well-planned staycations can help in ensuring the same in a far more cost-effective manner. The holidaymakers may not be able to enjoy the service of the professionals trained at the best institute of hotel management, but the joy and thrill of spending fun time with people they love will remain the same. Moreover, they

3. can save quite a decent sum of money on travelling, accommodation, and meal expenses to be incurred at even a remotely famous holiday destination. Original Source: https://www.harishgade.com/are-staycations-here-to-stay-in-our-post-covid-world/