Taking off and landing in the same city? According to the New York Times, it is the latest fad among airliners, orphans of flights suppressed due to the pandemic. The example perhaps a bit extreme but it is indicative of the creativity that the travel industry to re-launch the sector after the forced lockdown.

Already planning for recovery

According to IATA estimates, worldwide air transport expenditure is expected to rise to $598 billion by 2021 with a recovery of about 38%. A Euromonitor study shows that Western Europe is expected to recover pre-COVID levels in 2022, while it could reach 110% by 2025.

Relaunching, but how?

One of the enabling factors of the recovery will have to be increasing use of technology, greater attention to targets such as families and Generations Z and Y, as well as nature, luxury, wellness and niches such as glamping and eco-pods, also considering that 51% of tourists today want environmentally friendly accommodation solutions. According to Euromonitor, 64% want to travel more sustainably in the coming years, 60% will look for destinations they consider safe and 76% say that after COVID has become more aware of sustainability.

Proximity and nature, short-range and safety for the medium and long-range will have to be combined to ensure comprehensive sustainability of the recovery in the sector. All themes will be addressed at BIT 2021, at fieramilanocity from May 9 to 11, in a full programme of conferences that BIT has already defined well in advance to help operators in these months to find their way on what the hottest topics to prepare for next year's expected "rebound".