When will we start to travel again?

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the effect on the tourism industry is hitting the news daily. As we all wait patiently for refunds for Holidays that we will never go on, we hear reports of the once seemingly robust travel businesses that are suffering, the jobs that are at risk and the aircraft that are grounded.

So what will happen to travel? Will we ever smell the spices in the Red City of Marrakesh again? Or marvel at the wonder of the Taj Mahal? Lazing by the pool as a family, our Children running bare feet, sun kissed and happy? Right now it feels like a distant memory as many of us are at home, waiting for the Government to give us back our freedom. Whilst it may be a first world problem, we do indeed live in the first world and travel gives us something so much more than just a new sight to see or a glass of sangria with our loved ones. Travel is more profound than that.

Travel is wonder, awe, freedom and grounding. Travel inspires us to work harder, to dream bigger and to explore what it is to be human. A life well lived, is a life well travelled. How can we appreciate the beauty of our own corner of the world if we have nothing to compare it to? Travel allows us the opportunity to enrich ourselves and our `Children, as we explore different cultures, traditions and ways of life. It shows us all that we do not have to live our lives in the way in which we are accustomed, there are so many other options open to us. The experience of 4am Yoga in Thailand, or indulging in a huge Pizza slice in New York, seeing and appreciating the traditional fishermen in Sri Lanka or being affronted by the poverty of the Indian slums all adds to our make up, it helps us shape and mould who we are and who we become.

But what about our own Country? The beauty of travel is not only wrapped up in distant shores, some of the most beautiful sights can be seen right here in the UK. Suffering the bracing winds of the Giants Causeway as you are hunting for Finn McCool in County Antrim, or crabbing on the pier at Dittisham in Devon, hiking in Scotland or building sandcastles in Tenby are all memories of mine that are embedded in our home country.

Yet right now all we see is anger. We are told in no uncertain terms, "Go Home" "You are not welcome". We have turned on our own as neighbours report second home owners and local councils close car parks and barricade public toilets. There was a sigh of relief in our household when Boris announced that we could now travel as far as we liked for exercise within England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland making their own rules) or if we wanted we can sit in the park and enjoy a picnic. Playing sport with members of our household was back on the agenda as was a small chink of light that I may be able to see my best friend for a walk together in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, keeping our 2m apart. . Yet it seems that we have become a nation of angry complainers, no longer do we have the pack mentality, the compassion, kindness that has always made us a Country to be proud of. We are scared, frightened and we are opinionated, our curtains twitch when we see an unusual car pull up next door, or we see a family going to the seaside and we recoil at the ridiculousness of them. "How could they? there will be a second peak soon!"

Yet what we don't see, is that the car that pulls up next door is a volunteer who has come to check that your shielding neighbour is OK, or its a child dropping off a birthday card for the best friend that they haven't seen in weeks, the family at the seaside, they have a picnic and buckets and spades. They are parents trying their best to keep some type of normality for their Children.

So what about travel in our own Country? In the smaller beautiful areas of our Country? The local infrastructure has been blamed for the misogynist views, the angry outbursts and the fact that Mabel at No.62 knows more about the second wave than the scientists protecting our Country. Possibly they are right. In fact probably. No one wants to see a packed beach or a crowded street. Yet it does beg the question, If a second home owner lived at their cottage in the Lakes full-time there still wouldn't be any more hospitals.

So how do we go forth and resume some normality?

Its all about baby steps, small progressive ways to get back to normality. Boris gave us a chance to do that when he set out the 50 page roadmap yet our fear of judgement and the constant reprisal of others stops us moving towards our new version of normal. Why can't we reopen some of the tourism industry? Why can't second home owners go and enjoy the freedom of their home in South Devon, breathing in the sea air and enjoying the garden that they have worked hard to pay for? Or a family that needs a break from their London flat to give their Children chance to walk in the Country air and climb trees away from others. Has the effect on the mental health of our Children been considered? We have taken away their friends, their Schooling, their play parks and their team sports. We have removed everything that makes them who they are. So why can't a family book a self contained cottage with a garden to play in? Or walks filled with fields or streams to splash in? Maybe its time we all learnt to live towards our new normal, this virus is scary and its claimed thousands of lives and yet we can not just stop. Every day we get older, our businesses suffer, our mental health takes another blow as someone passes another opinion on how we should and should not be living our lives. Lets find our new way forward together.