Smart working. Distance learning. Open, airy and socially distanced spaces. While they are looking forward to welcoming leisure tourists again, several destinations are coming forth with exciting new contingency plans. Each taking advantage of its particular characteristics.

Working from paradise...

Destinations in the Caribbean, such as Anguilla, have chosen to address the now substantial cohort of WFHs (Workers From Home) suggesting they swap their dreary home office for a Caribbean paradise, working from the island for up to 12 months. Anguilla has several aces to play. An 18-hole golf course, cool chiringuitos on the beach, casual and fine-dining restaurants and tiny islands on the open sea to explore between a Zoom and a PowerPoint presentation. And safely, too, because the island was declared COVID-free by the WHO in June 2020. For more details www.beatcovid19.ai.

Mauritius is another tropical dream destination that focuses on distance working by offering a new long-stay visa to the more and more international visitors who wish to move to the COVID-safe island for work, leisure or perhaps to enjoy their retirement in peace. For more details www.mymauritius.travel/it.

Equally interesting is the case of Hawaii where business opportunities meet a social commitment. The Movers and Shakas project provides benefits, such as free return flights, to the people who choose to move temporarily to the islands, provided they also engage in voluntary work. More details on www.moversandshakas.org.

...and also meditating and relaxing

Destinations are looking to wellness and mindful well-being, as well as work, to attract post-pandemic tourists. This is the case in Malta that is aiming to create a new type of composite product capable of generating authentic experiences by combining the local potentials with the concept of personal regeneration through travel. An example? Distance yoga and meditation courses held by expert Maltese masters in some of the most beautiful sites of the archipelago. It is a way to advertise destinations that strong of a mild climate all year round, lend themselves to mindful, relaxing holidays in view of the reopening. For information www.visitmalta.com.

In short, the destinations are not watching from the sidelines and are preparing for 2021 with strategies that will fully unfold in the spring. And the best place to preview them will be BIT 2021, the first tourism event to return to fieramilanocity from May 9 to 11.